Health supplement brand Dr. Phyto announced on October 8 that Won Bin had been selected as its first official model and released new promotional photos and a digital commercial featuring the actor.
In the photos, Won Bin wears a black turtleneck while holding a clipboard, drawing attention for his longer hairstyle covering his ears and the back of his neck.
Although he continues to appear in advertisements, Won Bin has not taken on a new acting project since the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere.
His prolonged absence from acting was also discussed earlier this year on MBN’s Kim Ju-ha’s Day & Night. Host Kim Ju-ha said Won Bin told her that the strong image associated with The Man from Nowhere had affected the kinds of acting offers he received.
Kim also said Won Bin keeps his hair long partly because he does not know what kind of role could come next and wants to remain prepared if a future character requires longer hair.
Netizen Reactions
The sampled comments were mixed but generally sympathetic, with some defending Won Bin’s choice to live comfortably through occasional commercial work while others expressed frustration that he has stayed away from acting for so long.
1. Leave him alone... He’s living his own life... As long as he can make a living, what has Won Bin ever done — gone around badmouthing people or hurting anyone? If I had the means, I’d want to live like that too... I support him.
2. Honestly, he could probably live comfortably for the rest of his life just by resting and occasionally filming a commercial. I’m jealous.
3. What’s wrong with filming commercials... I wouldn’t come back either if I were him. If he did a movie or drama, the media would hype it up as his “first comeback in years!!” and then people would complain that his acting, looks or interpretation of the character didn’t meet expectations, say you can’t beat aging, and so on ã…‹ã…‹ã…‹ Even if he wanted to come back, the pressure would probably make it difficult. The natural timing for a comeback passed a long time ago.
4. Yeah, whether he does commercials or whatever, who cares? He’s just living his life doing what he wants... It’s just that his face feels too wasted... ã… That handsome face is only being shown to Lee Na-young!! These days, all kinds of guys come out acting like they’re handsome, so part of me really wants him to come back and reestablish the hierarchy with his visuals.
5. His looks overshadow it, but if you look at his career, he’s actually a pretty solid actor too. He hasn’t retired, and supposedly casting offers still come in and he personally discusses them, but they keep falling through for various reasons. Before you know it, it’s already been 16 years.
6. Everyone wants to make money comfortably without exhausting themselves.. He probably figured it was more worthwhile to make quick money from short gigs than spend months struggling through a movie only for it to flop and get dragged online.
7. I’m jealous he was born with such an easy lot in life — handsome, well-built, rich and basically semi-unemployed.
8. At this point, it’s more accurate to say he retired. He’s been on hiatus longer than he was active ã…‹ã…‹
9. Not doing your actual job with a face like that is a crime.
10. Please appear in a project. Those looks are way too precious to waste on commercials alone.
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