ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Defects' writer Ahn So-jung conveyed the character synchronization rate, the behind-the-scenes of writing, and the message of the work.
The new Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Defects' (directed by Oh Gi-hwan / written by Ahn So-jung / produced by Group Eight, Take One Studio), which will first air on July 21 (Monday) at 10 p.m., is an action thriller that depicts the desperate survival and revenge of children who barely survive after being abandoned by their adoptive parents. Based on a Kakao webtoon that won the 'Best Creativity Award' at the International Content Market SPP 2017 and has recorded over 51 million views, it is garnering hot interest even before its broadcast.
Ahn So-jung, the writer of 'The Defects', said, "I was a reader who enjoyed the original webtoon, and I was impressed by the shocking subject matter and the sophisticated direction," revealing the motivation behind her writing. She continued, "I often hear news about parents who regard their children as possessions or tools. While the drama is definitely fiction, it made me think that similar things might actually be happening somewhere right now. Through this work, I hope that viewers can reflect on the role of parents and the meaning of family, remembering that there are no perfect parents or children in the world."
In particular, Ahn noted that she wanted to express the complex emotions of characters whose self-love supersedes maternal love through the protagonist abandoned by their adoptive parents and the character Kim Se-hee (played by Yum Jung-ah) who dominates them. She also highlighted the narrative of the non-blood-related family created by Kim Ah-hyun (played by Won Jina) and the children following Woo Tae-sik (played by Choi Young-joon) as a main point, emphasizing, "Even if the form of family is different, if there is sincerity between each other, it can be warm and kind enough."
Details about the casting process were also revealed. Ahn noted, "From the beginning, I wrote with actress Yum Jung-ah in mind for Se-hee. When the casting was confirmed, I was thrilled, and the moment I saw her acting, I felt she was even more Se-hee than in the script." She continued, "Actress Won Jina portrayed the character Ah-hyun, who embodies strength and sadness, in a multidimensional way, and actress Kim Jin-young was truly Jung-hyun herself. Despite not having much acting experience, I was amazed that she could convey emotions accurately with a single expression."
Ahn So-jung listed the main keywords of the work as "trafficked adoption," "bad parents," and "narcissists," adding, "Since the thrilling revenge of the abandoned children is key, scenes where the abusive parents pay the price in their own way will add to the interest."
In conclusion, she encouraged viewers by saying, "It's a provocative subject, but I've devoted my heart and soul to capturing both entertainment and a message. It's not just a simple genre piece, but a work that contains deep insights into family and humanity, so I ask for a lot of interest."
ENA's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Defects' will first air on July 21 (Monday) at 10 p.m. and will also be exclusively available on TVING.
[OSEN]