'Doctor Shin' Song Ji-in: "Reunited with Writer Lim Seong-han After 'Marriage Contract Divorce Symphony,' Worried About Playing a Middle-Aged Mother" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

• TV Chosun weekend drama 'Doctor Shin' — Interview with actress Song Ji-in, who played the role of Hyun Ran-hee

Actress Song Ji-in shared her thoughts on reuniting with writer Lim Seong-han after 'Marriage Contract Divorce Symphony.'

On the morning of the 6th, an interview with actress Song Ji-in from the TV Chosun Saturday-Sunday drama 'Doctor Shin' (script by Lim Seong-han (Phoebe), directed by Lee Seung-hoon), which concluded on the 3rd, was held at the HB Entertainment headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

'Doctor Shin' is a medical thriller about a genius doctor who challenges the realm of the divine and a woman who loses her soul as her brain deteriorates overnight. It is writer Lim Seong-han's new work, approximately three years after her 2023 TV Chosun drama 'Miss Durian' concluded.

Song Ji-in received praise for her portrayal of Hyun Ran-hee, the biological mother of Momo (played by Baek Seo-ra) and a gallery owner, skillfully expressing her desperate maternal love for her daughter and her complex desires.

In the drama, Hyun Ran-hee, an authority on brain surgery, shocks the audience by making a radical proposal to Shin Ju-shin (played by Jeong I-chan), Momo's fiancé, to be the subject of a 'brain change' surgery herself, marking the beginning of a shocking narrative. She later successfully undergoes the brain change with Momo, leading the dramatic and unconventional plot developments.

On this day, regarding her thoughts on the conclusion of the drama, Song Ji-in said, "It was meaningful to reunite with writer Lim Seong-han. Although my role was scheduled to exit midway, I felt as though I ran and finished the race together until the end, which was touching. Thank you for your many interests."

Regarding the radical setting of 'brain change,' she said, "When I first received the script, I thought, 'What is this? Are they really going to do this?' It was fun. Some might call it melodramatic, but doesn't the world contain many kinds of stories? It was surprising and admirable that even after such a long career, the writer continues to pursue novelty. It was also a role of a mother with an adult daughter, and since it was my first time playing a mother, I had some worries, but I participated with enjoyment."

How was the reunion with writer Lim Seong-han after the 2022 conclusion of TV Chosun's 'Marriage Contract Divorce Symphony' (hereinafter 'Marriage Contract')? Song Ji-in said, "I am grateful that she gave me a love call once again. Although there were rumors that the writer was a scary person, as seen on the Eun-eunhyang YouTube channel, she is actually a sweet person. She does scold sometimes, but working with her feels good. She shows great consideration for actors' perspectives. After the first broadcast, she gave feedback that my portrayal felt like a sincere maternal love."

She continued, "When I was offered the role of Hyun Ran-hee, I thought, 'Not Momo (played by Baek Seo-ra) or Geum Ba-ra (played by Joo Se-bin), but Hyun Ran-hee?' I believe the writer said, 'I think the role of Hyun Ran-hee would suit you well.' I tried to make internal and external changes for the character. I was worried that I might not look like a mother externally. Even the hairstyle was suggested by the writer. When Hyun Ran-hee first appeared, the writer wanted to convey a feeling of, 'Where did this woman come from?' and a powerful presence." She explained the behind-the-scenes story of the role.

This role was also a challenge for Song Ji-in. She said, "At first, I had great worries: 'Have I become an actress who now takes on middle-aged roles?' and 'Can I do this well?' But in the end, I feel glad that I took the challenge. I wondered why I should be afraid of not being able to do other things later, so I took the challenge, and I feel good that it turned out to be a good choice."

She added, "There's nothing we can do about aging, is there? I think it's natural. I don't think I want to keep playing the role of a young and pretty college student forever. I thought taking on the role of a mother with a young daughter was a good experience. I referred to many wealthy older sisters I see at the Cheongdam-dong mart. Rather than trying to look older on purpose, I tried to show a fashionable image."

The chemistry with new actors Jeong I-chan, Baek Seo-ra, Ahn Woo-yeon, Joo Se-bin, and Cheon Young-min is also indispensable. Song Ji-in expressed her gratitude, saying, "They must have had many difficult parts themselves, but I was grateful that they approached me first."

She continued, "I intended to take on the responsibility as a new actor was involved, but when I went to practice, everyone was doing so well. I just had to do well. Jeong I-chan has a really nice voice, so I thought, 'This is Shin Ju-shin.'"

Regarding Baek Seo-ra, who acted as a mother and daughter, she said, "We met frequently during the practice period and exchanged recordings. In scenes where Momo and I appeared overlapping, the filming time took almost twice as long, so our chemistry gradually improved. Although I don't have a daughter, I tried to build a bond for the mother-daughter acting, and I expressed my satisfaction."

She did not omit praise for Jeong I-chan. Song Ji-in said, "He is a polite young man, so I wanted to get closer and started making jokes first. I even thought, 'Am I, an older sister, speaking foolishly?' When I think back to my own rookie days, I used to feel anxious, 'Can I really greet a senior like this?' He is a worrier. I was worried that this new group of friends might be the same, but they didn't seem awkward and adapted quickly. They are really smart and talented young people."

Although 'Doctor Shin' generated tremendous buzz, it left some regret in terms of viewership ratings. According to Nielsen Korea, the viewership rating survey company, 'Doctor Shin' started with a 1.4% rating for its first episode. Although it showed strong momentum later, it delivered a poor performance compared to other dramas by writer Lim Seong-han.

Regarding this, Song Ji-in revealed, "It would have been better if the ratings had been higher, but I wasn't disappointed because the buzz was so huge. When I went to other filming sets, people would say, 'I heard they are changing brains in a drama these days,' and I would reply, 'That's me.' I felt that the industry recognized that level of buzz."

She also added, "'Doctor Shin' will likely be a turning point in my filmography. It was a challenge, and since I showed a new side of myself for the first time, I hope it becomes a good opportunity."

She continued, "I really want to thank the viewers for enjoying the drama. Watching dramas in real time isn't exactly a relaxing activity, is it? Even I sometimes binge-watch after the series concludes. I feel grateful that viewers watched it while having active conversations on real-time chat, which I consider 'true love.'"

(To be continued in Interview ②)

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.