PARK Jin-pyo casts KIM Myeong-min

Kim Myung-min will star in Park Jin-pyo's "Closer to Heaven" (Nae Sarang Nae Gyeote, English translation: "my love by my side") alongside earlier cast Ha Ji-won. KIM will replace kwon Sang-woo who dropped out. KIM will play a Lou Gehrig's disease patient who remains upbeat.

With "Closer to Heaven", PARK returns to the romantic tearjerker genre. He previously directed the acclaimed "You are my Sunshine". Filming should start in the beginning of 2009 for a release in next year's fall.

KIM starred this year in "Open City" as a police detective on the trail of the criminal gang lead by Son Ye-jin's character.

Yi Ch'ang-ho (KOFIC)

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