Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin-young in '100 Days of Lies': Writer Says, "I Must Have Been an Independence Activist in a Past Life"

*This content was translated by AI.

Writer Ryu Bo-ri expressed strong trust in director Yoo In-sik and the cast of '100 Days of Lies'.

The new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama '100 Days of Lies', scheduled to premiere on October 10 at 9:10 p.m. (screenplay by Ryu Bo-ri, directed by Yoo In-sik and Kim Yun-jin), is a 100-day espionage romance set in the heart of enemy territory between a top pickpocket from Gyeongseong who is a spy and an elite translator from Jo Seon (총독). Director Yoo In-sik, known for his exceptional direction in series such as 'Romantic Doctor Kim Sa-bu' and 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', has joined forces with writer Ryu Bo-ri, who earned acclaim for her delicate storytelling in works like 'Do You Like Brahms?', making this drama one of the most anticipated releases of the second half of the year. As the countdown begins with 'D-100', raising expectations, writer Ryu Bo-ri (hereafter referred to as 'Writer Ryu') directly addressed questions about the drama.

Before beginning her writing process, Writer Ryu reflected on the lives and sacrifices of independence activists, asking herself repeatedly: "If I were in their place, with a family to care for, could I have willingly dedicated my life to Korea's independence movement? Even if independence were achieved, it might happen after I was gone. Could I still have staked my life on the independence movement? In that dark era when no one could foresee the future, what kind of belief allowed independence activists to walk this path?"

Regarding this, she said, "The time spent writing '100 Days of Lies' was a journey to find answers to questions that had long lingered in my heart. Ultimately, I arrived at 'love.' Even if I were to die, there is a desire to show brilliant light to those I love more than my own life. It may sound cliché, but it is an emotion that cannot be explained without love. Could this have been the bright torch that guided those who carried out the independence movement during dark times? Throughout writing '100 Days of Lies,' I tried never to forget this sentiment." She conveyed her deeply thoughtful and sincere intention behind the script.

Highlighting the first unique aspect of '100 Days of Lies', she pointed out that it tells the story of a spy planted by independence fighters within Jo Seon (총독). "It is already well known how much hardship independence activists faced due to spies sent by Japan to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. But what if we had also sent spies into the heart of Japan's empire? Especially if those spies were young girls from the very bottom of society at that time," she said. "Starting from this question, '100 Days of Lies' tells the story of a pickpocket girl whom the world considers insignificant shaking up Jo Seon (총독), which sits at the top of that world. I hope the 'IF (what if)' imagination conveyed by '100 Days of Lies' brings both satisfaction and comfort to viewers."

She continued, "The second unique point is translation. Translation offers a window into the speaker's truth and secrets, yet it can also be used to distort that truth into falsehoods and deliver it to the other side if one chooses." She added, "The characters in this drama speak different languages. This imbalance and asymmetry in language ability will create intense suspense within the story and add tension to both the espionage and romance elements," further building anticipation.

Speaking about her collaboration with director Yoo In-sik, she said, "I started writing the script without even imagining working with him. It felt as though I had been an independence activist in a past life, and that I had gained an army of thousands by working with the director. Although Director Yoo was already famous for his excellent character, after working together directly, I feel the rumors were far too modest." Her witty remark drew laughter.

Writer Ryu added, "Despite being a senior in every respect, he respected me as an equal partner throughout the production period. He made great efforts to accurately understand the intentions behind every line of dialogue and stage direction in the script, constantly confirming whether his understanding aligned with my own. Working with a director who respects the script so deeply is truly a blessing for a writer." She especially remarked, "In every scene from the preview footage, I kept thinking, 'This is what a drama directed by someone who allows no compromise and relentlessly pursues the highest level of perfection looks like,' expressing her admiration repeatedly.

She also showered praise on the cast. Regarding Kim Yoo-jung, she said, "Given that 'Gyeong-gyeong's' acting skills and ability to lie are central to the plot's plausibility, we needed an actor who could captivate both the characters in the drama and the audience. The role required someone capable of fluently speaking Japanese and English, possessing the diligence to portray a character with wide emotional range, and having explosive power to convincingly depict significant transformations. That answer was actress Kim Yoo-jung." She expressed confidence in the casting decision. Regarding Park Jin-young, she said, "Park Jin-young was already renowned for his delicate acting and had long been highly recommended by those around him due to his diligent attitude on set. Although I have watched almost all of his works since his debut as an actor and supported him, I cannot count how many times my heart raced and tears welled up watching Park Jin-young's eyes, face, and voice as he portrayed 'Tae-woong' in '100 Days of Lies.' If the word 'sincerity' were to take human form, it would be actor Park Jin-young."

Her trust in Kim Hyun-joo, who had worked with her on a previous project, was exceptional. "For the role of 'Sorang,' who must handle tragic backstories, sorrowful romance, and action as a sniper, I could not think of anyone else," she said. "Sorang picked up a gun for revenge but is not merely a strong character. She must portray various aspects of her humanity, including her romance with Gyeong-gyeong and her melodrama with Philip. I hope viewers will personally witness how actress Kim Hyun-joo brought these multiple facets to life."

Regarding Lee Moo-saeng, she said, "He was our first choice for the role of 'Philip,' which we hoped to cast together with the director. We entrusted him with the role because we believed he could carefully build up what lies beneath a cold exterior. Throughout filming, actor Lee Moo-saeng fully captured Philip's inner turmoil." As for Jin Sun-kyu, she remarked, "His appearance on camera is so drastically different from his everyday self that it feels unbelievable; seeing 'Sato' on screen and then meeting actor Jin Sun-kyu in person can make you momentarily unsure of who you're looking at. From the beginning, he showed great enthusiasm for this project, especially living in Japan for two months to prepare for his Japanese lines. We could watch with reassurance as that effort shone in every single line of Sato's Japanese dialogue," expressing her gratitude.

Finally, Writer Ryu said, "In historical dramas, period pieces, or science fiction, there must be a reason why 'we' today should watch this story. While writing '100 Days of Lies,' I constantly reflected on that reason." She continued, "Although we each live our own lives, those lives are never separated from the society, community, and era to which we belong. The story of Gyeong-gyeong, who only thought about leaving Joseon, walking into the midst of a storm, began with this thought. I hope that after the drama ends, the faces of the characters in this story remain long in viewers' hearts," further heightening anticipation for the upcoming premiere.

Meanwhile, '100 Days of Lies' will premiere on October 10 at 9:10 p.m.

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*This content was translated by AI.