The nationwide fitness project '24-Hour Health Club' is opening.
On the 29th, the production presentation for KBS2's new Wednesday-Thursday drama '24-Hour Health Club' (written by Kim Ji-soo and directed by Park Jun-soo and Choi Yeon-su) was held at The Saint in the Sin-dong area of Guro-gu, Seoul. In attendance were director Park Jun-soo and actors Lee Joon-young, Jeong Eun-ji, Lee Mi-do, Lee Seung-woo, Park Seong-yeon, Lee Ji-hye, and Hong Yoon-hwa.
'24-Hour Health Club' is a comical romance (comic romance) featuring a fitness enthusiast, the director Do Hyun-jung (played by Lee Joon-young), who oversaw the dramatic transformation of overly anxious fitness members. Director Park Jun-soo, known for his work in 'Gauss Electronics' and 'Music's God', teams up joyfully with writer Kim Ji-soo, who demonstrated her delicate writing in 'Postpartum Care Center'.
Director Park Jun-soo said, "I didn't feel burdened because of my previous works. It's hard to talk about the challenges I faced, but I was thinking about how to convey this work well to the viewers. I also contemplated if it could appeal more to younger audiences. While it would be nice if KBS had good ratings, I wanted to create a comedy that could appeal to all viewers through other platforms as well."
Park added, "I'm not sure if there's a special strategy, but the content itself talks about the body, and I think people's interest and curiosity about their bodies have increased, which I believe makes the theme appealing to younger audiences."
Lee Joon-young plays the role of the fitness enthusiast Do Hyun-jung, who was born smaller than a 1.5 kg dumbbell and has rewritten his life solely through exercise. He engages in a fierce survival game between being a business owner and a trainer.
Lee Joon-young stated, "Do Hyun-jung has to have knowledge that bodybuilders need, so I studied a lot. It was different from the exercises I normally did. I realized how amazing and intense these athletes live. Before starting this project, I compromised a lot about exercising, but after finishing this project, I believe I would still be happy and smiling as a result, and I'm less afraid of exercising now." He added, "For this project, I needed to bulk up. I exercised whenever I had time and managed my diet. Since the set was a gym, I also exercised in between shoots."
Lee Joon-young is continuing his prime with recent works such as 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and 'Weak Hero Class 2'. He mentioned, "I feel confused and grateful for the success, but I've also been told that the character captures how I can do comedy more than in the previous two works. I am looking forward to it," adding, "I, Lee Joon-young, am quite funny."
Jeong Eun-ji plays the role of the fitness beginner Lee Mi-ran. After parting ways with her beloved foods, Mi-ran starts her journey at the health club and experiences hell. The focus is whether Mi-ran, who begins exercising in despair over love and life, can successfully reboot her life by meeting the overly passionate trainer Hyun-jung.
Jeong Eun-ji shared, "In terms of body changes, Lee Joon-young started to bulk up and ate more protein than I did. My start in exercising was due to a herniated disc, and perhaps it has allowed me to stay healthy and have a healthy image. While filming, the meaning of exercise became clearer, and I feel gratitude that I met this character through my disc and exercise. After filming, the value of exercise has increased. Through body changes, I realized I could control my body. I wondered if I would be able to manage while filming and participating in Apink activities, but fortunately, I received a lot of help from those around me. I now want to maintain a correct posture, which is a change in my mindset compared to before."
Jeong Eun-ji discussed her chemistry with Lee Joon-young, stating, "There were many surprising ad-libs on set. I also have quite a few ad-libs, and he creatively uses his body with rich imagination and expression. That was stimulating. The ad-libs led to a good rally between us, making it enjoyable." Lee Joon-young commented on Jeong Eun-ji, saying, "She always came dressed as if she would work out any moment. That was a bit intimidating. Her charisma is remarkable, and being an idol-turned-actor, she really pays attention to discipline. Initially, I felt I needed to respect her since she is three years my senior, but as time went on, I realized how diligent she is, and she made the set a place filled with laughter. I felt like she was harmless, like a mood maker."
Lee Mi-do plays the role of the health club employee Rosa. She is a skilled manager who handles demanding members and views the newly appointed director Do Hyun-jung as an intruder, keeping a close watch on him. Her presence will add vitality to the storyline.
Lee Mi-do mentioned, "I was so glad to have the chance to use a healthy body, but while we were filming the drama, we only talked about exercise when we met in between shoots. We checked each other's bodies and gave each other feedback. Everyone is knowledgeable about exercise, and they help with feedback and posture, making it even harder than with personal trainers. I generally like working out, so it was great to have this opportunity to exercise properly."
Lee Seung-woo plays the role of Alex, who is responsible for being the health club's happy virus. Unlike Rosa, who views Do Hyun-jung as an intruder, Alex has unwavering trust in him and brings positive energy to the atmosphere. Lee Seung-woo stated, "From the moment I decided to do the drama, I practiced diligently. I had to maintain a baby face while working out intensely, and it was a struggle. In the beginning, each character has a distinct personality and there's a bit of growling at each other. I could be mistaken for a baby just sitting still, so I didn't go to the dermatologist."
When Lee Seung-woo said he went to the same gym as the other actors, Lee Mi-do humorously remarked, "The production staff put us all together. They are watching us!" To which director Park Jun-soo joked, "There are a few CCTV cameras there."
Park Seong-yeon plays the leader of the 'Trouble Maker' trio, Lim Seong-im, at the health club. Lee Ji-hye plays Yu Bu-young, the second member of the trio with weak physical strength, while Hong Yoon-hwa plays the youngest member Park Dul-hee, who registered at the health club to lose belly fat. The three women, each with unique stories, are expected to support each other like real sisters.
Park Seong-yeon said, "I was going through menopause at that time, so I didn't really need to act. It felt like real-life acting. The trio sometimes plays the role of the comic relief, and having done such roles several times, I gained a lot of know-how. I thought a lot about the balance among the trio of witches while acting."
Lee Ji-hye stated, "As the second member, I tried to maintain my stance. When the eldest sister speaks, I endorse her, and when the youngest provides the weight center with laughter and charm, I praise her for being cute. I assumed this position as the second member, but sometimes, when Hong Yoon-hwa delivers lines, she would hit me and I ended up out of the frame."
Hong Yoon-hwa mentioned, "I maintain the weight center. While working on the project, I greatly felt that being healthy in mind and body brings happiness. It hit me even more after the drama ended. I reflected on things I didn't know about or had neglected. After the project, I worked harder and lost 17.3 kg so far. My bigger goal is to try to lose 40 kg. It's not just about aesthetics; I want to live a tomorrow where both my body and mind are healthy. I believe there are many like me, and if there are people letting go of their health, I hope they can see me and enjoy the drama until the end."
Lastly, director Park Jun-soo noted, "I hope the viewers can relate to the idea of eating delicious chicken breast. I wish this drama could be one where they can gain something while laughing." Lee Mi-do added, "This work is for everyone who loves exercise, those who are currently exercising, and those who are struggling because they cannot exercise. I hope everyone can gain energy while watching."
Lee Joon-young said, "I want to present myself as an honest and down-to-earth actor, even outside of the frame, and I hope you all get healthier watching it." Jeong Eun-ji added, "Since this is a drama related to exercise, I think viewers will enjoy it, but I also believe that since it's a drama, it might not perfectly capture how athletes actually perform. There might be exaggerated or lacking parts, but I hope viewers can appreciate that it's not just about exercising but also that life resembles exercise in many ways."
KBS2's new Wednesday-Thursday drama '24-Hour Health Club' will premiere on the 30th at 9:50 p.m.
[OSEN]