Kim Jae-won cast as male lead for upcoming drama

Kim Jae-won [KBS]

Actor Kim Jae-won has been cast as the male lead to an upcoming MBC TV series set for release around April, according to his agency Dazzle Entertainment on Monday.

An official at Dazzle told 10Asia over the phone that Kim will star in the drama whose title is translated into "Do You Hear My Heart" opposite singer and actress Hwang Jung-eum.

The show will mark Kim's return to the small screen in over four years -- his last acting role was in TV series "Hwang Jini" after which he entered the military in 2009 to fulfill the two-year duty required of all Korean men.

Upon his discharge from the National Defense Ministry in late January, he had said he will decide on a movie or drama soon and expect to work on it toward the middle of the year.

Kim's new drama, about a cheerful family, is set to air after current weekend series "Flames of Desire" ends its run in late March.

Kim made his debut in 2001 in the SBS sitcom "Honey Honey" and rose to fame through MBC's romantic drama "Romance" alongside actress Kim Ha-neul.

He has since starred in other TV series “Rival” (SBS, 2002), “My Darling Patzzi” (MBC, 2002) and “Wonderful Life” (MBC, 2005) and also in comic romance film “100 Days With Mr. Arrogant” (2004) with actress Ha Ji-won.

Kim will be visiting Japan this month, holding a series of fan meetings in Osaka on February 19 and 20.

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Jessica Kim jesskim@