Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, perfect in character and character... 'Nice Guy' Writer "A Miracle Like Frost in Midsummer" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kang Hyun-ju, the writer who penned the script for 'Nice Guy,' expressed her affection by describing her collaboration with actors Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun as "a miracle like frost in midsummer."

Recently, director Han Tae-seop and writer Kang Hyun-ju of the recent SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'Nice Guy' shared various insights through a written interview with StarNews.

The drama 'Nice Guy,' which concluded on the 20th, is a romantic drama depicting a tense war between Shin Seo-ri (played by Lim Ji-yeon), a nameless actress possessed by the soul of a notorious Joseon villainess and turned into a "villain," and Cha Se-gye (played by Heo Nam-jun), a villainous chaebol known as a monster of capitalism. The romantic chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun received praise, and the final episode, episode 14, achieved a national viewership rating of 11.8%, marking the series' highest rating.

Regarding the great love the drama received from viewers both domestically and internationally, Writer Kang stated, "I was able to freely write the narratives and characters I wanted to see myself, and I am simply moved that people loved this story. As a rookie writer, I feel as though I have received a signal that I can continue to build stories like this."

When asked about the secret to the drama's popularity, Kang replied, "Ultimately, everything boils down to love." She added, "I believe the romantic comedy genre has great inclusivity. Within a story where people meet and save each other in a miraculous way, I wanted to convey love while hoping viewers would embrace life positively. I hoped they would feel it like a light rain soaking through clothes, and I am glad it reached the viewers."

What was the main focus during the writing process? Kang explained, "I believe dramas must breathe the air of their times and live alongside them. In that sense, I strived to emphasize timeliness and realism. Since the narrative of summoning past characters to the present through fantasy could easily become a story floating in the air, I hoped it would be depicted as logically as possible. This is why I deliberately skipped the familiar rites of passage common in time-slip dramas and focused on maintaining momentum."

She continued, "For instance, we avoided starting the opening sequence with a climax scene corresponding to the character's past life, such as a poison death scene, or excessive comedy depicting confusion while failing to adapt to modern life. I believed that although Seo-ri came from the past, portraying her as a sharp and independent female character would resonate with today's viewers."

She further added, "In the end, I hoped that after enjoying the drama, viewers would think, 'Yes, life is still worth living.' I wanted to convey that life is precious precisely because it contains pain and sorrow, allowing us to feel joy and happiness, and that we should hold the hands of those we cherish and live this life together."

She also expressed gratitude for Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun, who led the drama with their outstanding acting skills. Regarding Lim Ji-yeon, Kang described her as "the heart and engine of the drama," stating, "Thanks to Lim Ji-yeon, the drama could start with its engine running. Above all, she loved Seo-ri and this work with her whole heart."

She continued, "Even during the grueling filming schedule in the dead of winter, she would message me to ponder over a single scene or line, asking about the writer's thoughts. She is already one of the actors who Han Min-guk-eul (CEO), yet her intense and sincere approach made me feel happy as a writer to see her delve so deeply."

Regarding Heo Nam-jun, she said, "He was the very success or failure of this romantic comedy. The character Cha Se-gye was as challenging as Seo-ri, yet he precisely targeted and hit that complex and ever-changing charm. When I watched the broadcast at home, I felt that he had truly possessed the role of Cha Se-gye. Those eyes and expressions are absolutely impossible to produce through acting alone; I believe he made Cha Se-gye entirely his own, to the point where one cannot imagine Cha Se-gye without Heo Nam-jun."

Writer Kang expressed her emotion, saying, "Meeting two actors who were perfect in both skill and character in my first work was a miracle for me, like 'frost in midsummer.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.