'Trustworthy' Onara to 'Godfather of sitcoms' Park Young-kyu, 'The land of villains' presents a breakthrough in sitcoms amidst the broadcasting industry's recession.
On Dec. 12, a production presentation for the new KBS 2TV Wednesday-Thursday drama 'The land of villains' (written by Chae Woo and Park Kwang-yeon, directed by Kim Young-jo and Choi Jeong-eun) took place at the Stanford Hotel located in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Actors Onara, So Yu-jin, Seo Hyun-cheol, Song Jin-woo, Park Young-kyu, and Choi Ye-na attended the event to discuss the work.
'The land of villains' is a situational comedy drama that depicts the sometimes rough yet warm daily lives of K-zoomma sisters and their quirky families. Actors Onara and So Yu-jin portray the villainous K-zoomma sisters, while Seo Hyun-cheol and Song Jin-woo play their respective husbands.
Through this, Onara and So Yu-jin meet the audience with their acting after a long time. Onara last acted in 'Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow', which concluded in 2023, while So Yu-jin returns to the screen with a new project after two years since the 2023 drama 'Lovers'.
Alongside comedy veterans Seo Hyun-cheol and Song Jin-woo, the 'Godfather of sitcoms' Park Young-kyu, known for 'Spoonful of Wind', has joined the cast. Choi Ye-na, a former member of the girl group IZ*ONE, is also making her sitcom debut after tasting acting in the web drama 'A Teen's World Season 2'.
Kim Young-jo, head of the KBS Drama Center, expressed attachment to the work, saying, "It's a sitcom that has been a long time coming." He noted, "I planned this project. I started planning in 2023, and now it's airing. Initially, I thought about how difficult it is to live in our country. People are overwhelmed by competition, and in this fast-paced world, I felt we need time to relax, which is why I started planning this project."
He said, "I realized there haven't been sitcoms in today's world. I thought about what kind of sitcom we should do, and it turned out to be a family sitcom. It needed to be lovable and silly. I wanted people to laugh and relax while enjoying lovable and silly characters. Making something that is lovable and silly is far more challenging than making it look cool. The most essential thing to achieve this was the actors. We needed actors who excel in comedy and are lovable. Working with these actors during tough shoots is a great happiness and charm."
Onara, who took the title role, expressed, "I think meeting a sitcom is destiny for me. I often have many sitcom-like thoughts and actions. Just when I thought a sitcom might never come, the director called me. Many people are rewatching old sitcoms while having meals, indicating they miss them. At such a time, KBS quickly produced it, and I'm honored to work on an enjoyable project with great actors. Just yesterday, we filmed until dawn, but I can still smile here because of the happiness I feel. I hope our happiness translates into happiness for the viewers as well."
So Yu-jin also shared, "I feel the same way as Onara. Recently, my daughters have been asking me, 'Mom, do you know 'Spoonful of Wind'?' and 'Do you know 'Highkick Through the Roof'?' They say their friends are rewatching these on YouTube. I thought the trend was returning, and when I received a role as if by magic, I was delighted to participate not just for my kids but for the whole family to enjoy watching. Our set is truly happy. I believe we are participating in a way that can share joy with the viewers. We are filming with the hope that those who have nothing to smile about will find joy while watching 'The Land of Villains.'
Park Young-kyu, who has been beloved in many sitcoms including 'Spoonful of Wind', remarked, "It has been 27 years since I started 'Spoonful of Wind' in 1998. Already, 27 years have passed. Back then, I said, 'Why are you doing that, father-in-law?' but now I've become 'father-in-law' myself. Time transforms an actor's life and roles, and now I have two daughters and two sons-in-law, becoming a father and a grandfather. It's quite a profound feeling."
He continued, "I often ponder how the comedy code I possess can resonate with the lives of others as I age. While working together, I've thought a lot about various ideas. Thankfully, I met great actors like my eldest daughter Onara, my second daughter So Yu-jin, and both sons-in-law. Watching the director while filming alleviated the tension I've felt due to my age. I believe the effort we've put in will result in a project that is enjoyable, engaging, and resonates positively with our audiences, ensuring we deliver pure and refreshing laughter."
Having such a senior actor alongside her, Onara now leads the O family in the title role. Surely, there would have been pressure on her alongside veteran Park Young-kyu. Onara admitted, "I feel so honored to be Onara rather than Park Nara, and I'm embarrassed every time I meet him. This isn't my fault but rather that of KBS and the director," she said with a smile.
However, she emphasized, "Even if we work hard, one single action from Park Young-kyu can make us feel humbled. He can make people laugh just by breathing. Since this is my first sitcom, I was curious about how it would turn out. I worried that perhaps it wouldn't be funny for us. But I feel grateful that he keeps things grounded. I may be Onara, but it feels like I should take precedence as Park Young-kyu's daughter."
Park Young-kyu then replied, "I have taken Onara's family name, making it Oh Young-kyu. Actors must adapt to the passage of time. It is an honor to act with such a beautiful and talented daughter at my age. Whether she has the last name 'Oh' or not is irrelevant." He added with a smile, "When I read the script, it seems the director considered all these factors for the casting. I will play a father who's concerned about his daughters dating Onara's character, questioning whether I'm crazy. I feel like this role is somewhat similar to my real life, and it hasn't posed many challenges."
He is currently in his fourth marriage with a wife 25 years younger. Park Young-kyu shared, "Having experienced it, friends often ask me about my wife, who is significantly younger, and how it feels. I responded to Onara saying that my heart is still racing, suggesting that I would love to live a life where my heart continues to race even as I age. I believe that is not a bad thing; loving someone sincerely for your happiness isn't something negative."
Even Park Young-kyu, known as the 'Godfather of sitcoms', admitted, "I do feel nervous. A sitcom is all or nothing. If it's successful, that's wonderful; if it fails, it's painful. I've experienced both sides of that coin. The thought of failure is daunting. Fortunately, seeing the director and the cast together gives me confidence that it won't disappoint, and I'd like to play a fun character as well." Song Jin-woo chimed in, "It's reassuring to have you around, teacher. Just a single 'Hey' from you brings laughter and keeps everyone grounded."
Kim Young-jo recognized the challenging atmosphere in the broadcasting industry, saying, "I have never felt so anxious about ratings in my previous works, but for this one, I feel the pressure. It's a long-awaited sitcom revival with a wonderful intent, but there's worry that if things go wrong, it may prevent sitcoms from being attempted for a while."
Nonetheless, he noted, "Making people laugh is indeed quite difficult. Humor varies from person to person; for some, a scene may be funny, while for others, it may not be. It's not a matter of conformity. We need to create a relatable environment for the viewers. We aim to project themes that resonate with them, such as the ending of patriarchy. The sitcom boldly concludes the patriarchal themes led by the character Yadong Soon-jae and focuses on the stories of Onara and So Yu-jin's two sisters. A new era has arrived, after all. Our television is generally tailored for female viewers, and it's a fact that male audiences can feel excluded. This is a reality that we aim to reflect in our work, which will have to be performed by actors who understand the balance between naturalness and exaggeration, and I believe everyone gathered here knows this best."
Above all, he stated, "From an industrial standpoint, sitcoms are necessary. The market is struggling and chaotic, but if this project succeeds, it may create opportunities for talented actors who are not Hallyu stars to shine without massive production budgets. This is about creating a platform for them to work, providing job opportunities for our staff as well; that was my vision in 2023. Hence, I worked hard to bring this to fruition."
Actors were calm regarding their concerns about sitcom acting. Onara remarked, "Some might worry that the heightened tension seen in the highlight reel could be overwhelming. But those scenes are edited extremes. I think the director has managed the balance of intensity very well. As we perform, we ask ourselves, 'Is this okay?' and constantly communicate to adjust."
So Yu-jin added, "While some may have reservations about the sitcom genre, we are primarily performing in a dramatic tone. It's more of a family comic drama with some comedic elements blended in. We are working hard to ensure these aspects naturally resonate with the viewers. We will put in extra effort so you can see us from that perspective."
Choi Ye-na, who is making her acting debut, stated, "This is my first work in terrestrial TV, and I found it challenging and intimidating. However, while filming, I have learned so much from my wonderful seniors who immerse themselves in their roles. Observing the situational ad-libs and reactions from the veteran actors has taught me how to engage and perform. I'm having a waiting and exciting time working on this project, and since my first terrestrial role is a sitcom, I feel so happy every day. Please love our sitcom even more."
Recently, Onara shared, "Just yesterday, I had a phone call with my dad, Park Young-kyu. He told me he feels so happy to be acting with his two daughters. He said he wants to add Onara and So Yu-jin to his family register, showing his deep affection for this project. I feel like I follow my father's sentiment closely. It's touching to think he would want to register my two friends as his daughters."
In response, Park Young-kyu stated, "It's essential to have a compatible counterpart in acting. When that happens, sparks fly. Filming with my two daughters made me happy yet confused about acting. Just yesterday, during a rushed phone call, I mentioned, 'Dad, we'll talk about that tomorrow!' and it really shall happen. I want to showcase to viewers how beautiful this meeting of characters has been."
Finally, director Kim Young-jo announced, "Our work will consist of 24 episodes. It differs from how things were done in 'Spoonful of Wind.' We used an ENG style similar to the American sitcom 'Modern Family.' However, we invested much more effort. 'Modern Family' humor translates well in English, whereas our style requires strong slapstick and situational elements. Our work will be distinct both from Park Young-kyu's 'Spoonful of Wind' and 'Modern Family'. I wanted to show that despite the many struggles of our nation, there are still ways to joyfully and harmoniously live together."
So Yu-jin expressed, "I really hope to film a Season 2. We will make an effort to be loved by many people," while Song Jin-woo also added, "We hope to see everyone again at the production presentation for Season 2 of 'The Land of Villains.'"
'The land of villains' will premiere on the night of the 19th at 9:50 p.m. Following that, it will air weekly on Wednesdays and Thursdays at the same time.
[Photo] OSEN Reporter Ji Hyung-jun.
[OSEN = Yeon Hwi-sun reporter]