THE FIRST TEASER
CRIMINAL MINDS KOREA
THE PHOENIX EYE
THE PHOENIX EYE
The Opening of the Teaser: The Phoenix Eye
CRIMINAL MINDS KOREA
LEE JOON GI
IS
WHAT THE WORLD WANTS
Let’s face it. Make no bones about it. The South Korean and global fans are going to watch the South Korean version of Criminal Minds only because of the intoxicating and mulit-talented Lee Joon Gi. The A-list actor is the globally most famous and popular Hallyu Superstar not only because of his incredible acting talents and skills but also his gorgeous looks and charismatic aura. It is therefore not surprising that the top-billed actor has melted uncountable hearts and cracked open many others too. His dramas and movies are not to be missed.
Harry Bring, the producer of Criminal Minds, tweeted his support for the Korean production. It is noteworthy that he has specially mentioned Lee Joon Gi’s name.
The top-ranked actor is second to none when it comes to acting talents, accomplishments and accolades. In an industry fraught with rampant politicking, one sometimes wonder if his niceness is a recipe for being bullied and taken advantage of by the industry even though he is not a pushover.
Many fans believe that Lee’s pairing with Moon Chae Won is magical. It is hoped that the other sterling members of the cast would perform up to expectations. The audience expect to be entertained but it is inevitable that some viewers would watch it to satisfy their curiosity about the ‘remake’ and compare it with the American original.
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THE PHOENIX EYE
IN
THE TEASER
Lee Joon Gi: Gorgeous Phoenix Eyes
Those who love Lee Joon Gi: Rejoice. The Criminal Minds Korea teaser trailer not only gives the viewers a sneak peek into the drama but also makes the ladies’ heart thump hard.
The opening of the exciting and amazing Criminal Minds teaser stamps the signature of the Korean people in the drama and pays a stunning tribute to Lee Joon Gi’s Phoenix Eyes. This special tribute puts the beauty of Phoenix Eyes into perspective.
Lee Joon Gi: Beautiful Phoenix Eyes
The Eye that is spotlighted is representative of beautiful Phoenix Eyes. Lee Joon Gi’s beautiful Phoenix Eyes are considered a national treasure or an institution of South Korea by his enthusiastic fans. Other than Korea, Phoenix Eyes, an East Asian feature, is also closely linked to China.
‘The Eye’ in the Teaser
The opening scene of the teaser shows the opening of one of Kim Hyun Joon’s Phoenix Eyes. Eyes, as they say, are ‘The Windows To The Soul’. Think of the honed vision of the cinematographer as he, with consummate skill, artistically opens the Criminal Minds Korea trailer with the gradual opening of the Phoenix Eye of Kim Hyun Joon, a NCI investigative agent.
It must be noted that The Eye in the teaser conjures up the image of the probing eye of the investigator whose investigative work absorbs him.
Once fully opened, one can see vitality, energy and a sense of life in Hyun Joon’s eye. And through his opened eye, he is able to gain insights into certain truths that may have long eluded him.
The gradual opening of the eye of the phoenix signifies the phoenix's revival or reawakening. As soon as it rises from its ashes, it is reborn into a new bird. The mythical fiery bird supposedly dies, and then rises again from the ashes with renewed strength and vigour. When it fully wakes from its 'sleep', the flaming bird would be something to contend with.
  
Flashes of light: Flashback?
      
THE DRAMA
SEEN
FROM
HYUN JOON’S PERSPECTIVE
The stories in Criminal Minds Korea are probably told from Kim Hyun Joon’s perspective, therefore the significance of The Eye. The Eye sees things. Vision furnishes one with perception and understanding.
As the original Criminal Minds fans know, all the FBI profilers have painful back stories which mould them into what they become in the series.
Kim Hyun Joon has also been tormented by some painful past experiences. If his past is very traumatic, it is as if he has 'died' from his sufferings but if he overcomes his troubles, he will rise again just like the phoenix which rises from its ashes.
In the opening sequence, blinding flashes of light accompany the opening of The Eye. Are they indications of flashbacks of some traumatic events?
Vogue Korea July 2017
The Phoenix: The legendary fiery bird
Some viewers of the teaser claim that The Phoenix Eye belongs to Moon Chae Won. Her manager seems to support the claim on Instagram.
 
Although the beautiful Moon Chae Won has pretty eyes, her eyes are definitely not Phoenix Eyes. Could creative make-up skills plus the masterful interplay of light-and-shadow used in cinematography make her eyes look like Phoenix Eyes?
There is the distinctive Phoenix Eye curve at the inner corner of The Eye in the teaser that is missing in Moon Chae Won’s eyes. The outer part of The Eye is in the shadows so it makes the overall eye shape indistinguishable. If it is really her eye, she must have created the eye shape with make-up. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
But Lee Joon Gi’s fans would unquestionably be indignant if people claim that The Eye that is featured in the teaser is not his eye.
The Phoenix Eye, as seen in the teaser, is lined with eyeliner. If it is Lee Joon Gi’s eye, the not-so-distinct crease above his eye has been clearly defined with a pencil liner. An eyelash curler has done wonders to the eyelashes on the upper lid. Mascara has been applied to the upper and lower lashes. Fans of Lee Joon Gi would like to imagine that Kim Hyun Joon is being prettied up for some fun event in Criminal Minds Korea. Masculine 'red-blooded' man with guyliner. Black leather biker jacket, black skinny jeans and black leather boots. Or, men’s 80’s rocker wig, a pretty dress and funky stilettos shoes. Scarlet or Blood-red lipstick (Think Prince Wang So or Vampire Kim Sung Yeol). Wild dancing and singing on the stage.
Lee Joon Gi’s eyes are breathtakingly gorgeous. If you have heart palpitations when you gaze at his eyes, you would have already known that his eyes have been wired for connection with admirers.
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SOME INTERESTING
TIDBITS
The teaser trailer continues with hazy shots of the silhouettes of the seven (7) profilers of the NCI bureau, an arm of the NIS (National Intelligence Service) as they move from the shadows towards the blinding light. Eagle-eyed fans would not have missed Lee Joon Gi's sexy swagger.
If the South Korean version has not deviated from the original US Criminal Minds, viewers will get to see a similar first episode of Season One entitled, ‘Extreme Aggressor’ at the start of the airing of the drama. A shot of a kidnapped victim being confined and chained to an iron cage is shown in the trailer.
South Korean version of ‘Extreme Aggressor’: Season 1 Episode 1
 Public Enemy: A victim in Season 5 Episode 15.
Or perhaps, it is a killer who has slashed his own throat?
Next, a serial killer creates fear with the cruel and cold-blooded slashing of his victim's throat. Or perhaps this shows a killer who has slashed his own throat?
 Extreme Aggressor: Season 1 Episode 1?
In another shot of what should be Episode 1 of Season 1 again, the bloody fingernails of the victim would soon be clipped by the serial killer and rapist.
Moon Chae Won
Then, Lee Joon Gi is shown listening hard for something that could give him some clues to capture the unsub (unknown subject). He hears something strange. Just observe the emotions in his Phoenix Eyes and imagine the trembling of his Cupid Bow Lips.
     
Then, the viewer is given a fleeting glimpse of a forensic criminal scientist in a white protective suit photographing the crime scene.
The viewers are teased with another shot of the seven profilers.
 (l) Yoo Sun, Go Yoon, Moon Chae Won, Son Hyun Joo, Lee Joon Gi, Lee Sun Bin and Kim Young Chul
Let your imagination run wild with this shot
There is a high-speed car chase right across Seoul, the South Korean capital. The profilers, Kim Hyun Joon (Lee Joon Gi) and Han Seon Woo (Moon Chae Won) must be frantic with worry as they weave in and out of the traffic. Hyun Joon does not hesitate to slam his foot on the accelerator.
But the profilers don’t seem to be in a police car. Had they turned on their hazard lights and blasted their horn, nobody would have dared to remain in their path. Were the NCI profilers not afraid that they might cause an enormous pile-up on the busy thoroughfare?
A member of the EOD seems to have captured a suspect and managed to pin him to the wall.
  
Misery, thy name is serial killer. Kim Hyun Joon seems so utterly miserable in a situation which is fraught with danger and uncertainty.
The image is a moving, emotionally complex portrait of grief. His eyes reflect a man scarred by pain, suffering and helplessness. It is, indeed, a depressing picture of a man who has had a traumatic experience.
Hyun Joon: Distraught
Is his forlorn countenance the result of his failure to stop one of the bombing incidents? The feeling of failure and helplessness for not being able to stop the creeps and the monsters from doing their evil work seems to gnaw at his heart.
What uniform is Hyun Joon wearing? It looks like camouflage jungle fatigues. Does it mean that he is serving in the military? From the next two images which are taken from Lee’s Instagram, Hyun Joon seems to be examining a bombed site. He is wearing a uniform which is similar to the one in his image in the teaser.
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CRIMINAL MINDS KOREA THE CAST  
(l) Yoo Sun, Go Yoon, Moon Chae Won, Son Hyun Joo, Lee Joon Gi, Lee Sun Bin and Kim Young Chul
The three leading thespians of the drama are Lee Joon Gi, Son Hyun Joo and Moon Chae Won. The supporting cast includes Lee Sun Bin, Go Yoon, Yoo Sun and Kim Young Chul. All the agents are profilers in the NCI which is an arm of the NIS (National Intelligence Service).
Since the drama is the South Korean version of the original, the Americans do not expect a cloned version of their drama series. Wouldn’t it be boring and tedious to see so many similar features and stories from the original drama? The South Koreans must be given leeway to make the series their own. It would be insanity on the part of the West to expect the two dramas set in different cultural worlds to be similar. Even the differences between the original Bu Bu Jing Xin drama, 'Scarlet Heart' (China) and and the adaptation, 'Scarlet Heart Ryeo' (South Korea) are ginormous.
AN
ORIGINAL
CHARACTER
KIM HYUN JOON
(Lee Joon Gi)
Kim Hyun Joon, Lee Joon Gi’s character, is reimagined to showcase South Korean culture and traditions. Hyun Joon’s 'original' character is the only one that is different from the rest of the members of the NCI team. His unique character has no equivalent in the original Criminal Minds drama. It is speculated that Hyun Joon, NCI's Investigative Agent, would have a combination of outstanding characteristics, perhaps with some naughtiness thrown in.
In his interviews with Marie Claire Korea and Vogue Korea, Lee Joon Gi discussed his character, Kim Hyun Joon. He reveals in one interview that 'his character would be refreshing, lively and vastly different from his NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent role in his 2007 drama, 'Time Between Dog And Wolf'.
As the tale goes, Kim Hyun Joon is newly transferred to the NCI Bureau. He is supposedly the most proactive and assertive member of the NCI. It seems that the audience would be able to see and understand the entire team through Hyun Joon’s eyes.
Kim Hyun Joon is an enigma. Although the profiler is all heart and charm (caring, compassionate, self-sacrificing), his impulsiveness and flippant attitude makes him a question mark in the NCI team. But, surprise, surprise - Hyun Joon always transforms as soon as he arrives at the crime sites. His personality always does a one-eighty as he magically slips into the skin of the profiler. Passion. Intensity. Seriousness. And, Hyun Joon would play a pivotal role as the bridge between the victims and the investigation bureau.
At the beginning of the drama, Hyun Joon is a thorn in the side of the team and is drawn into conflicts with the other team members perhaps because of some quirky attitude. Like the rest of the profilers, Hyun Joon had traumatic experiences in his youth. However, his crime analysis work acts as a powerful spur in his personal development and brings him to a deeper level of self-awareness and maturity.
When the flawed profilers cast aside their differences and work like a family, Hyun Joon becomes an invaluable member of the team. It goes without saying that the profilers’ heartwarming friendship and genuine camaraderie make them all 'whole' again.
Lee Joon Gi admits that he likes to be fully immersed in his character and portray multiple layers of emotions. Fans believe Lee would certainly bring an emotional depth and complexity to his character in Criminal Minds Korea that would make him a global favourite.
Would it be too much to expect the very athletic actor to showcase his multiple talents, including his martial arts and sharp shooting skills in some very suspenseful action scenes? Will he flaunt his dancing, singing and comedic skills to lift the tension in the dark and serious drama? His athleticism, sense of humour and masculine charms will surely draw the attention of both the male and female viewers and win their favour.
THE NCI TEAM LEADER
KANG KI HYEON
(Son Hyun Joo)
Son Hyun Joo plays Kang Ki Hyeon, the cold and unsmiling NCI Team Leader who is considered the best profiler.
NCI BEHAVIOURAL ANALYST
HA SEON WOO
(Moon Chae Won)
Moon Chae Won will play Ha Seon Woo, NCI’s cool and sophisticated Behavioural Analyst.
NCI MEDIA LIAISON OFFICER
YOO MIN YEON
(Lee Sun Bin)
As expected, Lee Sun Bin plays NCI's Media Liaison Officer, Yoo Min Yeon.
NCI BEHAVIOURAL ANALYST
LEE HAN
(Go Yoon)
Go Yoon plays Lee Han, another NCI Behavioural Analyst who is the youngest profiler, and a genius.
NCI TECHNICAL ANALYST
NANA WANG
(Yoo Sun)
It is not surprising that Nana Wang, NCI’s Technical Analyst, is portrayed by Yoo Sun as the fans have been given some clues earlier. She is also the resident computer hacker.
FOUNDER OF NCI
BAEK SAN
(Kim Young Chul)
Kim Young Chul is Baek San, the founder of NCI.
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THE LAUNCHING
OF CRIMINAL MINDS KOREA 
TVN is launching Criminal Minds Korea on 26 July 2017 (Wednesday) at 10.50 pm KST (Korean Standard Time), airing two episodes every week on Wednesday and Thursday.
It was previously speculated that when TVN decided to open their new Wednesday-Thursday 10.50 pm drama slot, they had it in mind that Criminal Minds Korea would be its pioneer. It is indeed flattering to the cast, especially to Lee Joon Gi, the lead actor.
Criminal Minds Korea is TVN's biggest production. The Korean version of Criminal Minds will differ from the original series in that the stories would be told from a different angle. The US version places emphasis on the investigative process but the South Korean version would inject multi-layered complexity in the characters and the stories. The Criminal Minds Korea fans hope that South Korean creativity would not be stifled and that there would be more deviation from the original American drama.
The settings of the various stories are vast ranging. It has been reported that the stories have, so far, been shot in Seoul, Paju, Goyang, Incheon and Cheongju. Global fans would be very excited. Imagine - a tour of South Korea!
With the leading actor, Lee Joon Gi in the driver's seat and being given the top billing, Criminal Minds Korea is definitely destined to be a stupendous hit and late-night cult drama.
The fans are all ready: they are impatient for 26 July 2017 to arrive. The Gentlemen are eager to be thrilled but the Ladies are just waiting to be horrified. In actual fact, the females are trying to keep their mounting excitement under wraps. They are waiting for their fantasies to begin – they just want to watch the magnetic male lead - the very handsome, sexy and masculine Lee Joon Gi in action, to ooh and aah at him and maybe, to cry with him!
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