Actors Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee are coming together as a task force team to create "Divorce Insurance."
On the 24th, an online production presentation for tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama "Divorce Insurance" (written by Lee Tae-yoon, directed by Lee Won-seok and Choi Bo-kyung) was held. Attending the event were director Lee Won-seok and actors Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee.
"Divorce Insurance" is a pure coverage office romantic comedy that introduces a divorce insurance product to deal with divorce, the hottest disaster of our time, from a team of innovation product developers at an insurance company comprised of the best brains. Director Lee Won-seok, known for films such as "Killing Romance," and writer Lee Tae-yoon, known for works like "The Tale of Nokdu," "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim," and "The Great Seducer," collaborated on this project.
Director Lee Won-seok, making his first drama directing debut, said, "Drama is a challenging task and I was not confident, so I initially declined the proposal, but during a conversation with writer Lee Tae-yoon, he recommended the script, and before I knew it, I found myself agreeing to it. That's how it started." He further elaborated on the keyword "pure coverage office romantic comedy," noting, "Loving actors appear as insurance company employees who bear the scars of divorce and go through the process of creating divorce insurance to prevent others from suffering such pain. The script itself was different from other dramas, as it had a unique and creative worldview that attracted me. It's like a milk tea of a drama."
Director Lee emphasized, "There is a differentiation in the fact that I am the director. I wanted to show a world that is somewhat different from reality. I aimed to create a misalignment in the drama by inserting realistic characters and stories into a fairy tale-like setting. When you watch the drama, the world of the characters appears distorted. I wanted to exaggerate their world for the audience."
He continued, "I was captivated by the word 'new beginning.' For people who have failed in love, that failure is a new beginning. I wanted to show the stories of people who create their inner worlds instead of the selves seen by others. The script reflects that all happiness and decisions come from my choices. I aimed to convey that theme. I believe viewers will gain courage from watching this drama."
"Divorce Insurance" is already drawing attention before its release due to the synergy created by reliable actors like Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee. Director Lee noted regarding the casting, "Personally, I love Lee Dong-wook. I had a mindset that I should work with him no matter what, and when I received the script, I remembered a clumsy photo of Lee Dong-wook and decided to submit the script. Lee Joo-bin is someone who listens well to others, and although she recently experienced a divorce and has some pain, I felt she could portray a character who tries to appear resilient." He added regarding Lee Kwang-soo's casting, "I was looking for someone sensitive, and Lee Kwang-soo fit perfectly." As for Lee Da-hee's casting, he explained, "I wished for her to be everyone's ideal, and no other actor could replace her."
Notably, "Divorce Insurance" has become a hot topic because everyone involved—director, writer, and lead actors—shares the surname "Lee." In response, director Lee Won-seok remarked, "I only realized this after we had completed all the castings. They all have real names, not stage names." Lee Dong-wook added, "It was not intentional at all. Many of the other actors do not have the surname Lee. However, it was surprising that those in the lead all share the same surname."
While Lee Dong-wook appears to be a perfect man with all the qualifications and expertise, he plays the role of 'Noh Gi-jun,' an insurance actuary at Plus Insurance's innovation product development team, who has experienced three divorces. His wallet and soul have been drained through three marriages and three divorces, yet he confidently reveals his divorce experiences despite societal prejudice. With the belief that divorce is indeed an unexpected disaster of life in an era where divorce rates are skyrocketing, he decides to develop a divorce insurance product.
Lee Dong-wook commented on the character Noh Gi-jun, saying, "Many people ask if it's burdensome to play a character with so much divorce experience, but it wasn't. As you will see later, Noh Gi-jun's divorces are not anyone's fault. The character acknowledges the differences in personality that lead to divorce. I thought I could portray that character well." He expressed a desire to show Noh Gi-jun's lovability and said, "I am going to put in a lot of effort, but I wonder how it will be received."
In particular, Lee Dong-wook noted, "It's been about 6-7 years since I did a romantic comedy. It feels like it's been a while, so I'm thrilled to experience it again. The best part was that my body felt comfortable. The process of syncing up on the comedic aspects and witty banter was very enjoyable." He also shared about his dynamic with the other actors, saying, "It was effortless. While discussing prior to shooting is essential for any production, that was also easily agreed upon. They were so accommodating with any ad-libs, which was really exciting and fun."
Lee Joo-bin plays the role of 'Kang Han-deul,' an insurance underwriter born anew through divorce. Having lived with the belief that enduring hardships is the solution, Kang Han-deul resolves to become a completely different person after her divorce, sporting a 'fun personality' and joining Noh Gi-jun's divorce insurance development team. Gaining courage to take a step forward in the world, she begins to develop a new kind of relationship with Noh Gi-jun.
Returning after her role as the 'Queen of Tears,' Lee Joo-bin said, "The script was fresh, and I felt a deep connection with the themes of the drama, which led me to decide to participate. I wondered when I would have a chance to work with such amazing actors again." She further explained, "My character, Kang Han-deul, appears fragile, but while working, she exhibits a cool side that adds a remarkable aspect to her career. Occasionally serious, she has cute and quirky moments, and I hope viewers will see that side of her positively."
Lee Joo-bin mentioned, "There were many spontaneous moments created on set, leading me to wonder if they were premeditated or scripted. I wasn’t the one leading those, but playing the role of someone responding to ad-libs was really enjoyable for me."
Lee Kwang-soo perform as 'Ahn Jeon-man,' a cautious and meticulous safety-first advocate. True to his safety-focused personality, Ahn Jeon-man proposes accident prevention measures and suggests efficient insurance programs. He joins Noh Gi-jun's divorce insurance project and embarks on the greatest adventure of his life. Though he tries to appear cool, he is secretly timid and struggles alongside the other members of the divorce insurance development team, encountering a turning point in his life.
Lee Kwang-soo shared, "He plays a brainy role. Among the characters I’ve portrayed until now, this one is the smartest. The lines include many intellectual terms I've never encountered before, so I’m personally looking forward to it. I think it would be interesting to see how this individualist character grows within the divorce insurance team." Lee Kwang-soo added, "There’s an ad-lib we created in a series with Lee Dong-wook. I wonder if viewers will get to see that during the broadcast. It will probably come across like a small drama within the drama, and I’m excited about it."
Lee Da-hee plays 'Jeon Na-rae,' a financial mathematician who views the world purely from an investment perspective. Unable to resonate with the idea of fully committing to one person just because of marriage, she quickly divorces after her honeymoon due to differing values. Confident in all her choices and decisions, the resolute Jeon Na-rae gradually experiences changes in her life after joining Noh Gi-jun's divorce insurance team as a special advisor.
Lee Da-hee explained, "The character has a clumsy side when it comes to love. In the beginning, she's the top predator in her area, but as the story progresses, she starts to integrate into the team. Jeon Na-rae is characterized as someone who has no regrets in her choices and stands confidently. I felt I could showcase my strengths through this character better. Also, I wanted to closely work with the cast and experience director Lee Won-seok’s direction, which led to my decision to participate."
Lee Da-hee added, "In the early stages, I shot scenes with Lee Kwang-soo, and despite not having seen him for seven years, there was no awkwardness. We filmed comfortably, and I realized chemistry would emerge naturally from the first shoot. Lee Joo-bin brings a supportive dynamic, which made it more comfortable. Though it was challenging at first with Lee Dong-wook, we became at ease while sharing meals. I believe the chemistry that emerges without any discomfort will be evident on-screen."
From director Lee Won-seok to the cast, they emphasized that "Divorce Insurance" is a drama filled with excitement, chemistry, empathy, healing, and laughter. Regarding what to look out for, Lee Dong-wook said, "Instead of focusing solely on divorce, viewers might reflect on where they stand in life and how fulfilling they are. I hope they enjoy watching while pondering these questions." Lee Joo-bin mentioned, "The drama doesn’t just take place in the office. It showcases many beautiful places in Korea, making it visually enjoyable. Please anticipate the stories of the episode protagonists." Lee Kwang-soo stated, "There are diverse characters, so you might find some relatable. It will be fun to identify those characters." Lee Da-hee remarked, "The character narratives are depicted in a very fascinating and engaging way."
Meanwhile, tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama "Divorce Insurance" will first air on the 31st at 8:50 p.m. and will meet global viewers through the streaming service Amazon Prime Video.
[OSEN]