If you enjoy historical dramas, the news that actor Jang Hyuk is returning to this genre is certainly intriguing.

I'm the same way. If Jang Hyuk appears in a trendy drama or a typical rom-com, I would first check what the project is about, but knowing he's in a historical drama makes me want to watch it right away.

That's how well Jang Hyuk fits into historical dramas.

He excels in martial arts action and has strong facial features. Even when wearing armor and wielding a sword, he looks completely at ease, and his unique voice and gaze work to his advantage in historical settings.

Now, with age and experience, he brings significant gravitas not only to the role of a young general but also to that of a powerful figure or seasoned commander.

Jang Hyuk's experience in historical dramas is also impressive. His role as Daegil in 'Chuno' is still representative of him.

And considering characters like Gang Chae-yoon in 'Deep-rooted Tree', Lee Bang-won in 'My Country', and Park Gye-won in 'Red Heart', he has portrayed a wide variety of roles in historical dramas.

Especially memorable is his portrayal of Lee Bang-won in 'My Country'.

While his earlier performances in historical dramas were characterized by a strong physical presence, in this work, he created tension just by sitting still and observing his opponent.

That's why I'm looking forward to 'Munmu'.

However, there are definitely concerns about the project itself. According to what has been revealed, it will cover events from the late reign of King Yeongnyu of Goguryeo to the Battle of Gyeonggukpo in 676.

Just calculating from the Battle of Jupil Mountain in 645 to the Battle of Gyeonggukpo spans a whopping 31 years.

Considering the events that occurred during that time, it's immense. There were wars between Goguryeo and Tang, the fall of Baekje, and the downfall of Goguryeo.

And the alliance between Silla and Tang turns into a war again. This is the most concerning aspect of condensing all of this into 28 episodes.

Personally, I think starting from around the time of the Battle of Hwangsanbeol and focusing on King Munmu and the Silla-Tang War would make for a much more engaging drama.

After the fall of Baekje and Goguryeo, the direct conflict between Silla and Tang has not been adequately visualized in many productions.

From Silla's perspective, it's a highly dramatic situation. After centuries of conflict with Baekje and Goguryeo, now the Tang, who once attacked them together, is seeking to dominate the Korean Peninsula.

Just yesterday, they were allies, and now they must fight for survival against a superpower.

This is not just a simple war story. It inevitably involves diplomacy, negotiation, betrayal, and political calculations.

If done right, it could become a very interesting political historical drama.

I believe this is where actors like Jang Hyuk can truly shine. Jang Hyuk has already proven himself as an actor who wields a sword well and rides horses skillfully.

Now, I would prefer to see Jang Hyuk quietly sitting and reading his opponent's intentions and making political decisions rather than shouting on the battlefield.

The production cost of 30 billion won is also something to consider.

While that amount seems substantial, when you think about the need to create large-scale battles multiple times in a 28-episode historical drama, it's hard to see it as a comfortable budget. The production team is said to be utilizing AI technology, and I'm curious to see how effective it will be on screen.

Still, I understand the direction of focusing production capabilities on major battles like Jupil Mountain, Maesoseong, and Gyeonggukpo. It's better to create three important battles well than to show ten poorly executed ones.

Ultimately, the success or failure of 'Munmu' will depend on how densely they can compress over 30 years of history into the short span of 28 episodes.

If not done carefully, we could see the fall of Baekje, the fall of Goguryeo, and suddenly find ourselves at the start of the Silla-Tang War in the last few episodes.

That's my biggest concern. Yet, I still have high hopes. Such large-scale, authentic historical dramas are rare these days.

Moreover, this project aims to cover the late Goguryeo period, the fall of Baekje and Goguryeo, the Silla-Tang War, and the Battle of Gyeonggukpo.

And above all, Jang Hyuk is in it. He has already proven himself multiple times in historical dramas. Now he has enough experience to portray a character entangled in power and politics.

As a fan of historical dramas, I find it quite exciting that Jang Hyuk is returning to such a period piece.