His longest running endorsement deal came to an end, too.
Earlier this month, a post on theqoo gained much attention as the title read, “Issue: Won Bin Confirmed to Return to the Screen After 14 Years.” The post soon garnered over 75,000 views as netizens got excited to see the huge news about the actor’s return.
After an initial wave of disappointment at the fact Won Bin is not actually returning to the screens…
…the actor’s decision to skip even the screening event has convinced most K-Movie fans to believe he has retired from the entertainment business—at least from the acting aspect of it.
[“Where Are You, Won Bin?” Co-Star To Miss The 20th Anniversary Event For Taegukgi]
Actor Won Bin will not attend the 20th-anniversary event of the movie Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War. According to the film industry on the 25th, a press conference will be held on the 30th ahead of the re-release of Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War.
For this event commemorating the 20th anniversary of its release, director Kang Je Gyu, who directed the movie, and lead actor Jang Dong Gun will attend, but not the co-star Won Bin.
— TV Report
That said, as of January 2024, one of Won Bin’s longest-running brand endorsements with Dong Suh Foods Corporation has been terminated. He was the face of “T.O.P” instant coffee product for 16 years since 2008.
Won Bin’s fans, who had been hopeful thus far, are starting to lose faith. Following the latest news reports involving the actor, most have—though reluctantly—accepted that his career has long been over and that he must be content with his “FIRE” (Financial Independence, Retire Early) life outside the spotlight.
- “Acting is also just a job. If he doesn’t want to keep doing it, then he can quit. That’s up to him.”
- “I don’t think people should be referring to him as an actor, though. He’s more like a model, since all he does is shoot advertisements. Haha. Just saying, it’s not fair to keep calling him an ‘actor.’”
- “I think his career as an actor is at the end. We should accept that he has retired from the entertainment business. It’s clear he doesn’t want to act anymore and would rather stick to shooting advertisements only. I think it’s great that he can still get endorsement deals and support himself without ever really being active.”
- “I wonder if he has a management company.”
- “He’s basically a non-celebrity at this point. Let him live life.”
- “Yeah… It’s time for us to let him go now.”
- “Too bad.”
- “But I miss him… I understand how much pressure it must be to pick something to work on as a grand return. But I wish he would, and I wish he’d come back.”
- “Let him live his life. It sucks to be a part of the public that misses him. But it’s up to him to decide when he wants to retire.”
- “He’s living that FIRE life, haha. We’re all envious.”
- “He doesn’t owe [the attendance] to anyone, though. People really need to stop making a big deal out of nothing.”
- “Well… It’s not like he has to go to the screening.”
