'Wild Thing' actor Oh Jung-se's 'I Like You' craze sparks star challenge with aespa's Winter and others

As the film 'Gunche,' released on May 21, continues to dominate in box-office terms, the film 'Wild Thing,' directed by Son Jae-gon and released on June 3, is raising expectations for a possible turnaround by earning higher audience scores.

'Gunche' has surpassed 4.82 million cumulative admissions and remains at the top of the box office. The later release 'Wild Thing' has also been performing solidly, crossing 600,000 admissions within a week of opening. What is drawing attention is its audience score: 'Wild Thing' has posted an 8.64 rating, ahead of 'Gunche' at 7.95, while its CGV Golden Egg index has climbed into the low 90 percent range, creating a sense that momentum could shift.

The film follows Triangle, a mixed-gender group that once ruled the music scene, as its members reunite 20 years after disbanding and attempt a comeback. Leader Hwang Hyun-woo has been living as a livelihood-driven broadcaster, Byeon Do-mi as the daughter-in-law of a chaebol family, and Gu Sang-gu as a rapper burdened by debt. They come back together for a performance they see as their last chance, only to find their path blocked by former rival Choi Seong-gon and the head of their former agency. The comedy that unfolds through these clashes is being received as a work that gives middle-aged audiences nostalgia while offering younger viewers fresh entertainment.

Gang Dong-won plays Hwang Hyun-woo, Eom Tae-goo plays Gu Sang-gu, and Park Ji-hyun plays Byeon Do-mi. In particular, Oh Jung-se, who plays Choi Seong-gon, has been drawing an enthusiastic response from audiences and is enjoying popularity that rivals, and even exceeds, the buzz around Gang Dong-won.

The song 'I Like You,' performed by Oh Jung-se, has become popular enough to be described as a sensation. As of 11:30 a.m. on June 12, its music video had exceeded 2.02 million views, while the stage video had recorded more than 1.66 million views. A wide range of stars, including Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Mu-yeol, Kim Seon-ho, aespa's Winter, Kyuhyun, and Lalal, have taken part in the challenge, underscoring Oh Jung-se's rising popularity. The track has also entered Melon's HOT100 chart.