You guys, there's no doubt that Kim Bum ~stole the show~ with his portrayal of Lee Rang (also known as Yi Rang) in Tale Of The Nine-Tailed! The series, which is about mythical nine-tailed foxes or gumihos, is the actor's first drama after finishing his mandatory military service. For most Pinoys, Kim Bum became a household name when he starred in the 2009 drama Boys Over Flowers as rich and artsy playboy So Yi Jung, the love interest of Ga Eul (Kim So Eun).
In Tale Of The Nine-Tailed, Kim Bum plays a half-human and half-gumiho named Lee Rang. He has a painful backstory and holds a grudge against his older half-brother Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook), who ~abandoned~ him to go after his first love Ah Eum (Jo Bo Ah). Hundreds of years later, Lee Yeon is still waiting for Ah Eum's reincarnation in modern-day Seoul and poor bb fox Lee Rang is still hurting.
"I think [Lee Rang's] biggest charm is that he faces his feelings frankly," Kim Bum shared in an email interview with Cosmopolitan Philippines. Yup, we got to ~*chat*~ with Kim Bum about the show, and here's a bunch of new facts we learned about everyone's OG crush:
What made you decide to work on this project?
"Firstly, I think the role, Lee Rang, is very attractive, and he's also lonely, which makes people want to accompany him. In addition, the drama is based on Korean fairy tales and legends, which is very intriguing. I also looked forward to working with the directors, screenwriters, and actors of this show."
What is the coolest thing your character did in the show?
"In the first episode, Lee Rang approached Ji Ah by teleportation and then got back to his body. It's the first time he teleported, which is one of his abilities. That's awesome."
What was it like working with Lee Dong Wook? How did you prepare for your role as half-brothers?
"Lee Dong Wook and I are from the same company. We've known each other for a long time. However, this is my first time working on a drama together with him. I learned a lot from him during filming. And I felt at ease with him by my side. Lee Dong Wook is very kind. His presence helped me focus on my acting."
Could you tell us more about your character's relationship to Kim Yong Ji's role Yoo Ri?
"The relationship between Lee Rang and Ki Yoo Ri is different from that in other dramas or movies. Their relationship is more about friendship and willpower rather than love. They make up for each other's shortcomings."
What's your most-recommended Lee Rang scene from Tale Of The Nine-Tailed?
"I'd like to recommend the scene of the Korean Dynasty in Episode 4 where I was slashed by Lee Yeon. Because all the misunderstandings and plots begin from that scene."
What role do you like playing the most? The "good guy" or the villain?
"No preference for me. Even villains have their own distinct beliefs. As an actor, I'm ready to play a villain anytime."
It seems like you and Lee Dong Wook like to play jokes on each other. Were there many improvised performances when acting together?
"I like to be playful. So [does] Lee Dong Wook. He patted my head after I escaped from the haunted area in Episode 9—that was impromptu."
Lee Yeon loves to eat mint chocolate ice cream. Does Lee Rang have any special requirements for food? Do you have any food that you dislike?
"I think Lee Rang loves to drink. When I travel, I tend to look for some gourmet shops. I'm not picky about food. There's no food that I dislike or cannot eat."
Lee Rang is a 600-year-old gumiho. What do you think of immortality, personally? Do you want to be an immortal being?
"No, I don't want to be an immortal being, because I do not wish to see my loved ones die."
How was the atmosphere during filming?
"I think people can tell from the behind-the-scenes [videos] that the atmosphere was relaxing, and I could focus on acting happily. The character Lee Rang is lonely in the story. But at the studio, many people were there with me, as well as you guys (the audience) who love me from afar, so I felt warm during filming. Not lonely at all."
Do you still keep in touch with the cast members of Boys Over Flowers?
"I'm very close to Lee Min Ho. He sent a coffee cart to the filming set of Tale Of The Nine-Tailed. We are good buddies and meet up once or twice a month."
Besides this drama, what keeps you busy nowadays given that there's a pandemic going on?
"Other than filming, I usually kill time by watching movies, dramas, or doing sports. I prefer staying alone rather than meeting people."
If you could go anywhere you want to now, where would you want to go most?
"Anywhere. I think many audiences now live a similar life as I do. Once the situation gets better, anywhere is okay as long as I can go out."
Please say something to the fans!
"I know you're having a hard time as well. Thanks to you guys who love Tale Of The Nine-Tailed from afar, the filming process was very interesting and fun. I wish to see you guys again soon."
Tale Of The Nine-Tailed is available for streaming on IQIYI. Kim Bum's next known project is a drama called Law School, where he will star opposite Reply 1988's Ryu Hye Young. Based on Kim Bum's Insta posts, they've already started filming the show!
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