Writers Lee Seung-hyun and director Park Seung-woo portray the real lives of associate lawyers in the Seocho-dong legal town.
The new weekend drama from tvN, 'Seocho-dong,' which will premiere on July 5 (Saturday), was created by Lee Seung-hyun (writer), Park Seung-woo (director), CJ ENM Studios (planning), and Chorokbaem Media (production), and it depicts the joys and sorrows of five associate lawyers (lawyers employed by a law firm and paid a salary) commuting to the Seocho-dong legal town daily.
The synergy expected from the script based on the experiences of writer Lee Seung-hyun, who is a current lawyer, and the sensuous direction of director Park Seung-woo is eagerly anticipated. Meanwhile, Lee Seung-hyun and Park Seung-woo have begun to arouse curiosity by revealing everything from the motivation behind the writing to the directing points.
Writer Lee Seung-hyun, who has been interested in writing movie scripts since college, recalled, "The things I saw, heard, and experienced while working as a lawyer, along with the emotions and thoughts I felt, piled up unknowingly. I wanted to fill the somewhat unfamiliar world of lawyers with emotions and stories that anyone can empathize with. I thought that the story would be better portrayed as a drama than a movie, and that is how I began to write the first line of 'Seocho-dong.'"
Director Park Seung-woo noted, "Since the two previous works I directed were rich in genre, I developed a desire to tell 'the story of those around me.' During that time, I encountered 'Seocho-dong,' and was drawn to the fact that the author, who is a current lawyer, presents the real stories of lawyers." He shared the reasons for choosing the project, stating, "At our first meeting, seeing the author in a suit just after leaving work and with a weary expression convinced me of the chemistry between the two of us."
Describing 'Seocho-dong' as "a drama about life and living," Director Park Seung-woo explained, "It captures realistic conflicts and daily concerns that employees face each day, rather than portraying the mission of a legal professional or the struggle against evil. We all worked hard to ensure that the portrayal of associate lawyers feels like the people around us," emphasizing that the production focused on realism.
Writer Lee Seung-hyun added, "I wanted the main characters' lives to be filled with lawsuits rather than having them enter into the turmoil of cases. I think the biggest difference is that the protagonists are ordinary people that can be seen around us." He also shared a humorous anecdote, saying, "Finding a well-dressed and beautiful lawyer like the actors in real life is impossible. Every time the teaser was released, I heard from colleagues, 'Where are the lawyers who look like that in Seocho-dong?'" which elicited laughter.
Lastly, writers Lee Seung-hyun and director Park Seung-woo identified points of interest that would enhance the enjoyment of viewers watching the realistic work life of associate lawyers. Lee Seung-hyun said, "Many excellent actors have actively participated in our work. I think it will be enjoyable to see how each of them portray their respective characters."
Director Park Seung-woo also stated, "This drama features not only the five main characters but also excellent actors who willingly joined us. The enjoyment of watching their performances will be a key point that brightens 'Seocho-dong.'" He expressed expectations for the actors' performances, adding, "We put effort into satisfying the five senses of our viewers. I think it will be incredibly rewarding if you enjoy the sounds of the city that are always heard in our daily lives, the atmosphere of the seasons, and the food served on our tables."
The new weekend drama from tvN, 'Seocho-dong,' which intensifies curiosity with the candid behind-the-scenes stories of writer Lee Seung-hyun and director Park Seung-woo, will premiere on July 5 (Saturday) at 9:20 p.m.
[Photo] tvN
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