Jang Donggun, 54, Reveals Changed Face

Actor Jang Dong-gun became a hot topic after revealing his recent appearance with a changed face, and singer Hwanhee also recently addressed attention on his altered looks after posting a selfie. In photos from a party released by fashion magazine Dazed Korea, Jang Dong-gun amazed netizens with his smooth, wrinkle-free facial lines and youthful beauty. Hwanhee explained that the angle of his selfie didn't properly capture his real appearance.

Recently, South Korea's film industry has seen a string of "10 million viewer" movies, and a commonality among these films is that their lead actors are mostly in their 50s and 60s. Representative examples include Hwang Jung-min (53) and Jung Woo-sung (51) in "12.12: The Day," Choi Min-sik (62) in "Exhuma," and Ma Dong-seok (53) in "The Roundup: Punishment." This is further highlighted by the fact that many other leading actors like Song Kang-ho (57), Lee Byung-hun (53), Lee Jung-jae (51), Sol Kyung-gu (57), Ryu Seung-ryong (53), and Kim Yun-seok (57) are also in their 50s and 60s. It is rare for blockbuster solo lead roles to be given to younger actors, and among actresses, those in their 50s such as Kim Hye-soo (53) and Yum Jung-ah (51) are also active in leading roles.

In the past, from the 1960s to the 1990s, actors in their 20s to 40s like Shin Seong-il and Ahn Sung-ki enjoyed their prime, and actresses often moved down from leading roles or retired after their 30s. However, the situation has changed since the 2010s. Actors like Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Jung-jae, and Jang Dong-gun, who were leading actors in the early 2000s, continue to dominate the screen even 20 years later. Due to a lack of young star actors to replace them, there are concerns that "the screen is aging."

The cause of this phenomenon is attributed to South Korea's low birth rate and aging population. Those in their 50s constitute the largest demographic group, followed by those in their 40s and 60s, while the population in their 20s and 30s is relatively smaller. Consequently, it is analyzed that the leading roles in films are inevitably being reshaped around actors in their 40s to 60s who have high recognition and can build empathy. Furthermore, as Generation X reaches middle age, there is an increase in consumption that realizes their own tastes, and a tendency to continue consuming stars they were attached to in their youth. This is supported by the fact that over 12% of BTS's fandom is over 50, and middle-aged and older adults have a significant influence on music streaming time.

In Hollywood, USA, actors in their 50s and 60s like Tom Cruise (61), Brad Pitt (60), Robert Downey Jr. (59), and Keanu Reeves (59) are still leading box office success. Many actors, such as Sylvester Stallone (77) and Clint Eastwood (94), remain active even at advanced ages. This indicates that a similar phenomenon is occurring in the United States, where the low birth rate and aging population are not as severe as in South Korea.