The cast of the Tving original "Running Mate," including Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sik, Choi Woo-seong, Hong Hwa-yeon, Lee Bong-joon, and Kim Ji-woo, has launched an explosive campaign.
The production team for the Tving original "Running Mate" (directed and written by Han Jin-won, produced by Billions Plus, Ace Maker Studio, Running Mate Cultural Industry Specialized Corporation, and provided by Tving), which will be released on June 19, revealed character stills of No Se-hun (Yoon Hyun-soo), Kwak Sang-hyun (Lee Jung-sik), Yang Won-dae (Choi Woo-seong), Yoon Jung-hee (Hong Hwa-yeon), Park Ji-hoon (Lee Bong-joon), and Ha Yu-kyung (Kim Ji-woo), who have jumped into a student council president election that is more competitive than entrance exams.
"Running Mate" is a high teen cheerful political drama about No Se-hun, who becomes the target of ridicule from the entire school due to an unexpected incident, being nominated as the vice-presidential candidate in the student council election and navigating various schemes to achieve victory. The story is expected to present unique enjoyment through the rising desires and emotions of youth amidst the fierce student council president election, with friendships and warm growth stories shining through. Above all, it is receiving intense attention as it marks the directorial debut of Han Jin-won, co-writer of the Oscar-winning screenplay for "Parasite."
As the synergy created by the vibrant young actors including Yoon Hyun-soo, Lee Jung-sik, Choi Woo-seong, Hong Hwa-yeon, Lee Bong-joon, and Kim Ji-woo is drawing focus, the character stills released on this day heighten expectations. The contrast between No Se-hun's camp with Kwak Sang-hyun, Yoon Jung-hee, and Yang Won-dae's camp with Yang Won-dae, Park Ji-hoon, and Ha Yu-kyung is particularly interesting. No Se-hun, who aims to break away from his 'dark history' and dreams of a life reset, runs for the position of student vice president. His calm demeanor unexpectedly masks a sense of anxiety, hinting at the rollercoaster of a month he has experienced. It raises curiosity about how No Se-hun, who did not belong to either the mainstream or non-mainstream, will create a twist in the midst of the significant change represented by the student council election.
Captured was Kwak Sang-hyun's camp student council president candidate "Kwak Sang-hyun," who chose No Se-hun, previously the object of ridicule for the entire school, as his running mate. With a charming smile that attracts attention just like a 'human boutique,' confidence is evident. It raises anticipation about why Kwak Sang-hyun decided to "pick" No Se-hun and what chemistry will emerge between the two very different candidates in the election running mate. The unique aura of Yoon Jung-hee, the final running mate in Kwak Sang-hyun's camp, is also intriguing. Rational yet somewhat timid, Yoon Jung-hee surprisingly aligns well with the hardworking No Se-hun. Her intense gaze hints at the qualities of a top student who may alter the dynamics of the election.
The Yang Won-dae camp, which opposes Kwak Sang-hyun's camp, is equally formidable. Yang Won-dae, exuding confidence from head to toe, possesses not only leadership but also determination. His shining ambition raises curiosity about the election strategies he has developed from his experience as a former student vice president. Park Ji-hoon, No Se-hun's close friend and the 'top influencer' from Youngjin High School, radiates joyful energy just by looking at him. With an incredible charm that draws attention anywhere, he becomes a rival for his close friend No Se-hun in the election race. Ha Yu-kyung, the 'first love' from Youngjin High School, possesses a delightful visual along with a competitive spirit and determination that raise anticipation for her activities.
After stepping into the student council president election, everything has changed for No Se-hun, Kwak Sang-hyun, Yang Won-dae, Yoon Jung-hee, Park Ji-hoon, and Ha Yu-kyung. The unpredictable election, where going crazy means winning and winning means it being real, has already created anticipation for the fierce stories of youth clashing.
Yoon Hyun-soo, who will portray the multifaceted growth of 'No Se-hun' amidst the emotional whirlwind, noted, "Se-hun is an outsider but a pure student. I wanted to show his transformation and growth as he unexpectedly meets various people in different situations. I focused on depicting the real side that only teenagers can demonstrate." Lee Jung-sik, who plays 'Kwak Sang-hyun,' who chose No Se-hun as his running mate, said, "Kwak Sang-hyun seems infinitely soft at first glance but can also appear infinitely cold. Various personas will dynamically interact and evolve throughout the eight episodes."
Choi Woo-seong, who plays the student council president candidate from the Yang Won-dae camp, said, "Yang Won-dae is a friend dominated by strong leadership. He continuously leads those around him toward his goals and always creates situations favorable to himself," highlighting Yang Won-dae's appeal. Hong Hwa-yeon, who stars as 'Yoon Jung-hee,' the brains and intellect of Kwak Sang-hyun's camp, expressed her affection for the character, stating, "Yoon Jung-hee is someone you can never hate. While she appears confident and arrogant, she internally feels shyness and loneliness."
Lee Bong-joon, active as the mood maker who adds laughter and vitality, said, "Park Ji-hoon is a character that naturally brings a smile just by looking at him. I thought about sincerely approaching all the characters I interact with, and that naturally created a chemistry that seemed to happen without me realizing it."
Kim Ji-woo plays the role of 'Ha Yu-kyung,' the vice-presidential candidate from Yang Won-dae's camp in Youngjin High School's first love story. Explaining the character, she said, "Being surrounded by many friends, Yu-kyung is someone who can get along well with everyone without any rough edges. As she becomes a vice-presidential candidate, moments arise where her perseverance and competitive spirit are activated for the first time."
Director Han Jin-won stated, "When all the stories have concluded, I hope that each viewer's favorite character remains in their hearts." He added, "I put a lot of effort into casting actors who possess distinct charms and personalities that don't overlap. Particularly, I focused on discovering actors with great communication and mutual idea exchange," further stimulating expectations for chemistry.
Meanwhile, the Tving original "Running Mate" will be fully released on June 19 (Thursday) on Tving.
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