Nambeol Casting: Seo Kang Jun Eyes Big-Screen Return Alongside Lee Byung Hun in a Joseon-Era Action Epic

Some casting news makes you sit up straight. This is one of those stories. On October 13, JTBC reported that Seo Kang Jun is considering a role in Nambeol, a…

By Reetam Bodhak

October 13, 2026

2 min read

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Some casting news makes you sit up straight. This is one of those stories. On October 13, JTBC reported that Seo Kang Jun is considering a role in Nambeol, a hard-boiled martial arts epic already stacked with talent. Production company Hive Media Corp confirmed he is in talks. For fans, it could mean a long-awaited return to the big screen.

What Is Nambeol About?

Set in the early Joseon dynasty, the film follows nine warriors of different skills and social ranks. They sail to Tsushima Island to rescue captives abducted by Japanese pirates. Think rugged, high-stakes, and very much a team story.

The Confirmed Cast at a Glance

Here is who is already on board, according to Soompi’s report:

Actor	Character	Role in the Story
Lee Byung Hun (Wikipedia)	Im Eok	Leader of the warriors
Go Youn Jung	Ae Ryeong	Strong-willed, independent fighter
Lee Do Hyun	Bo Gyeong	Leads the punitive expedition
WOODZ (Cho Seung Youn)	Cheot Nom	Skilled archer with exceptional marksmanship
Park Hae Joon	Miyoshi	Leader of the Tsushima-based pirates
Lee Kwang Soo	Hwa Bong	Explosives expert, gunpowder specialist
Seo Kang Jun	Not disclosed	In talks
Lee Sang Yi	Not disclosed	Reportedly in talks; agency yet to comment

Why Seo Kang Jun’s Possible Return Matters?

If confirmed, this would be his first big-screen appearance in roughly five years, since A Year-End Medley in 2021. It would also be his first historical action role on the big screen. That is a big genre leap for an actor best known for drama work. Fans can watch him in Undercover High School on Viki while they wait.

His character hasn’t been revealed, and the deal isn’t final. So treat this as a strong signal, not a done deal.

Production Status

Nambeol is in the final stages of pre-production, with filming scheduled for the second half of this year. No release date has been announced.

Why This Ensemble Has Buzz?

Pairing a seasoned star like Lee Byung Hun with a younger wave (Lee Do Hyun, Go Youn Jung, WOODZ) gives the film a rare cross-generational pull. Add a pirate villain and an explosives expert, and you have the ingredients of a proper adventure.

Follow more cast announcements and film updates in our Entertainment section, or browse our Movie news. If you like action thrillers, don’t miss our take on Vijay Sethupathi’s Train finally getting its December 4 release.