Music Director of '100 Days of Lies': "I Wanted to Depict Hope, Not the Sense of Defeat of the Japanese Colonial Period"

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Kim Tae-sung, the music director for '100 Days of Lies,' revealed behind-the-scenes details about the production.

The tvN 20th Anniversary Special Project weekend drama '100 Days of Lies' (directed by Yoo In-sik and Kim Yun-jin, written by Ryu Bo-ri, produced by Studio Dragon and Romantic Crew) reached a peak in suspense as Lee Ga-kyung (played by Kim Yu-jung) went undercover in the Jo Seon (총독) district, the heart of the enemy territory, as a spy for the National Salvation Corps, starting from the third episode broadcast on the 17th. Additionally, Lee Ga-kyung and Sato Hideo/Kim Tae-woong (played by Park Jin-young) became more deeply entangled, amplifying the charm of a spy romance that oscillates between tension and excitement.

According to Nielsen Korea's ratings survey for paid platforms, the drama surpassed its highest rating of 10% in just four episodes, ranking first across all channels, including terrestrial broadcasters. It also secured the top spot among tvN's target demographic of men and women aged 20 to 49 across all channels, including terrestrial networks.

Another force that underscored the production's high quality was the music. The soundtrack, which captured viewers' attention from the pre-broadcast teaser videos, delivered an overwhelming sense of immersion by blending with the intriguing storyline, sophisticated visuals, and the actors' captivating performances. Music director Kim Tae-sung, who boasts a prestigious filmography including the movies 'Exhuma,' 'Extreme Job,' and 'Myeongryang,' as well as the drama series 'Yumi's Cells,' 'True Education,' and 'SKY Castle,' enriched '100 Days of Lies' with sounds that alternate between grandeur and delicacy.

Music director Kim Tae-sung, who is collaborating for the second time with director Yoo In-sik following 'Wonderful World,' stated, "It was when I was in the midst of working on the music for my previous project. The director cautiously told me, 'I am making a Romeo and Juliet story set during the Japanese colonial period, and I would like you to work on it with me.' That work turned out to be '100 Days of Lies.'" He continued, "At first, I thought the setting of being a 'spy' was merely an obstacle blocking love. The idea that it was a simple love story was a complete misconception. As I read the script, I realized it was not just a love story but also a sincere account of the independence movement. The way the narrative and character arcs were densely constructed was truly fascinating."

He added, "The two things I grasped first were maintaining the dignity inherent in a period drama and infusing hope into the story of young generation independence fighters. For the adults' storyline, we proceeded with a classic approach, but when Ga-kyung appears, I wanted the music to beat alongside the pulse of the youth, filled with excitement and hope. I disliked the sense of defeat that flows through stories set against the backdrop of the Japanese colonial period. Rather than that sense of defeat, I wanted to depict the approaching hope," revealing the overall concept and focus of the music.

The main theme that decorates the opening of each episode was also born from this sentiment. Music director Kim Tae-sung said, "While working on the teaser trailer, a piece of music suddenly came to mind, which I developed together with music director Choi Jung-in. It was designed to blend the strings of Italian classical cinema with modern contemporary classical music. It serves as the overarching role for the hope, excitement, and tragedy of each episode." He further revealed, "There are almost no individual character themes in this drama. There is a theme for one veiled figure, but all other themes are placed between people."

Regarding the theme songs for the two couples, he explained, "The theme for Ga-kyung and Hideo (Tae-woong) is characterized by the whitespace that captures the atmosphere of excitement in that moment. It expresses the process of a solitary dream growing into a shared dream between two people. In contrast, the theme for So-ran and Philip contains a more mature and profound love." He added, "Underlying the love themes of both couples is love for their homeland. I embedded this meaning throughout the music so that it could expand beyond romantic love to encompass love for the nation and future generations."

When asked about his 'favorite track,' he pointed to the scene where Lee Ga-kyung first steps into the Jo Seon (총독) district, stating, "The temperature of the tragedy in this story rises from that moment. Although we do not know what will unfold next, viewers intuitively receive the temperature of that moment. Another favorite is a song that the dead convey to the living. It is a song made from the words in letters, and music director Choi Jung-in and I worked very hard on the lyrics. Since it appears in various versions within the drama, I hope you will listen closely," expressing his affection for the piece.

Finally, music director Kim Tae-sung hinted, "There are key themes in each episode, and these themes accumulate layer by layer to reappear in the later episodes. If you listen carefully, you may discover something more interesting." He added, "Songs with lyrics will also start appearing one by one. Please be sure to pay attention to the carefully crafted lyrics. There will be plenty of hidden emotions there."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original