Director of "The 100-Day Lie" Praises Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin-young: "A Passionate and Sincere Love"

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Director Yoo In-sik directly revealed behind-the-scenes stories about the direction of "The 100-Day Lie," the reasons for casting the actors, and future points to watch.

As tvN's 20th-anniversary weekend drama "The 100-Day Lie" (directed by Yoo In-sik and Kim Yun-jin, written by Ryu Bo-ri) enters its mid-season, Director Yoo shared various stories related to the work.

Director Yoo stated that he first encountered the initial proposal and draft script three years ago, saying, "I was drawn to the unique setting and genre. I had always admired love stories unfolding amidst the turmoil of the times or spy genres featuring resistance fighters."

He continued, "While reading the proposal, I felt something hot spreading within my chest. There were characters who did not confine themselves to typical genre frameworks but made fierce choices, staking everything they had at every moment," adding, "I had a premonition that following these characters would lead to the completion of a very passionate story."

He specifically revealed that he was attracted to the setting where the story begins at Gyeongseong Station and the protagonist Lee Ga-kyung (played by Kim Yoo-jung) appears as a pickpocket.

Director Yoo explained, "Trains and railways were symbols of modernization, but they were also means of invasion and colonial rule. I thought Gyeongseong Station was a space that could symbolically represent Joseon during the Japanese colonial period, particularly Gyeongseong."

He added, "I thought it would be magnificent to have both the protagonist and the villain appear in a beginning where white steam billows from trains and various languages mix together."

Regarding the character of Lee Ga-kyung, he said, "She is talented, intelligent, mischievous, and bouncy, but she is a character who wants to leave somewhere due to the despair of not being able to achieve anything on this land," adding, "I thought she would become a strong driving force leading the work in a different direction from existing period dramas."

He cited the genre appeal combining espionage and romance as a differentiating factor of the work.

Director Yoo stated, "There is tension arising from the setting of being an informant, the paradoxical situation of falling in love while trying to win over the enemy's heart, and the heartbreaking story of lovers standing precariously on the edge of a blade," adding, "There are sweet romantic comedy scenes, as well as breathless espionage action."

He continued, "Because the protagonists, who hold the status of interpreters, operate in Gyeongseong where Japanese, English, and Chinese are mixed, there are many scenes communicating in foreign languages," explaining, "You will be able to experience the unique tension that arises from the combination of interpretation and espionage."

He then asserted, "The story of people who sacrificed themselves for the great cause of their country's independence flows throughout the work. I am confident we can deliver a heavy, lasting emotion."

He also revealed affection and trust for the actors. Regarding Kim Yoo-jung, he praised her, saying, "If you list the words describing Lee Ga-kyung—sparkling wit, quick reflexes, smooth acting skills, and beauty that cannot be hidden—you can feel how well actor Kim Yoo-jung suits this role."

He continued, "Most importantly, it is the energy Lee Ga-kyung possesses. She is a character who does not lose her vitality despite poverty and contempt, trying to fly toward the world," adding, "I felt that same energy in actor Kim Yoo-jung when I actually met her. As expected, Kim Yoo-jung burns like a flame in this work," expressing his satisfaction.

Regarding Sato Hideo, also known as Kim Tae-woong, played by Park Jin-young, he explained, "He is a young man who deeply contemplates his identity. On the outside, he strives to live as a Japanese person, but inside, he is full of self-awareness and anxiety as a Joseon person."

He continued, "Actor Park Jin-young has very clear eyes. Looking at those eyes brings up the word 'youth,'" adding, "Every time the character is hurt, shaken, or moved, his eyes tremble slightly and tears well up, making even the viewer feel the same emotion. His clean acting without pretense is a great charm."

Regarding Yoo So-ran, played by Kim Hyun-joo, he introduced her as, "A character who has gone through harsh trials, thinks only of revenge, and pushes herself to her limits, but is a mature person who gives people trust and strength as the leader of the National Salvation Corps."

Director Yoo stated, "Because she is not a character with many expressions or words, the actor needed a persuasive aura in themselves," adding, "Actor Kim Hyun-joo is a deep, warm, and sincere person. Looking at her gives you trust and a feeling of wanting to lean on her. I think the inner depth accumulated by the actor over a long time created that depth."

Regarding Lee Mu-seung, he said, "Every time I see him, I feel his lines are good. Standing in a suit and a middle-parted hat, he looks like a scene from a noir genre graphic novel," adding, "It doesn't seem the nickname 'Lee Mu-seung Laurent' was given just because of his name."

He also evaluated him, saying, "In any scene, he expresses precise emotions that are neither excessive nor lacking while showing fresh interpretations beyond expectations. He is an actor who always injects good tension."

Jin Seon-gyu, who plays the final villain Sato Shinichi in the drama, was revealed to have acted as a mood-maker on the actual filming set.

Director Yoo said, "When I actually met actor Jin Seon-gyu, he was cheerful and kind as I had heard. He was an actor whose mere appearance made flowers of laughter bloom," adding, "In the drama, he plays a terrible war criminal, so I also worried about what would happen if he looked too nice."

However, he highly evaluated Jin Seon-gyu's acting skills, stating, "On the editing room screen, there was Sato Shinichi, a creepy human being burning with desire and malice. It must be the result of preparing fiercely and immersing himself more than anyone else."

He also gave hints about future developments. Regarding the pneumatic tube construction site at the Government-General of Korea building revealed in previous broadcasts, Director Yoo explained, "The fact that a pneumatic tube system was built inside the Government-General of Korea is a product of imagination different from actual history."

He continued, "At the time, the Government-General building was a structure intended to showcase Japan's modernization using the latest technology. I judged there was plausibility in the setting that they tried to establish the pneumatic tube system used in the United States and Japan in Joseon as well."

He specifically noted, "Many situations requiring interpretation arose during the process of introducing Western cutting-edge technology, and I thought it would be good to use as material for espionage," adding, "The opening ceremony of the pneumatic tube system in the drama appears as an important project the Government-General is devoting great effort to. It will be the background for a very tense incident."

Finally, Director Yoo shared the message he wanted to convey in the work. He said, "I thought of independence activists who dedicated their short lives of twenty-some or thirty-some years to their country. They were young and had no responsibility for losing the nation, nor any obligation to risk their lives to jump into the independence movement," adding, "So how did they come to make the choice to sacrifice themselves for the community? What was that heart, and can we truly empathize with that heart? We held onto these questions."

He continued, "I cannot say this drama found the answer, but it is a story diligently drawn while holding those questions in our hearts," emphasizing, "The protagonists tell countless lies to survive, but they never deceive themselves before their conscience and love. That is why their love is passionate and sincere."

He added, "If viewers can touch that passionate heart even a little, and if they can warm their hearts with its warmth when recalling this drama in the future, that alone will be meaningful enough."

Meanwhile, Episode 7 of tvN's weekend drama "The 100-Day Lie" airs at 9:10 p.m. on the 31st.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original