This is not a story about lawyers fighting villains and realizing justice. A drama about the daily lives of lawyers in Seocho-dong, "Seocho-dong," is at the doorstep of the living room.
On the afternoon of the 1st, a production presentation for the new tvN weekend drama "Seocho-dong" took place at The Link Hotel in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Main actors Lee Jong-suk and Moon Ga-young, along with Kang Yu-seok, Ryu Hae-young, Im Sung-jae, and director Park Seung-woo, attended the event, adding to its brilliance.
The drama "Seocho-dong" (written by Lee Seung-hyun/directed by Park Seung-woo/planned by CJ ENM Studios/produced by Chorokbaem Media), which is set to premiere on the 5th, portrays the growth of five associate lawyers (lawyers employed by law firms who receive a salary) commuting to Seocho-dong Law Town every day.
Park Seung-woo noted, "The drama is about five associate lawyers who are employed like office workers and receive a salary, living their daily lives and pursuing their dreams in Seocho-dong. There are villains and plot twists in everyday life. However, what we endure in daily life is different. While the protagonists in genre dramas seek revenge without restraint, our drama captures the aspects of patience and maintaining daily life."
Lee Jong-suk plays Ahn Joo-hyung, a 9-year associate lawyer belonging to the law firm Kyungmin. He is a rational character tasked with representing clients based on logic and facts, excluding emotions. His thoroughness and ability to review case law up to yesterday's precedent, along with his exceptional debate skills since childhood, sharpen his arguments, eagerly anticipated by both clients and adversaries.
Lee Jong-suk stated, "While ordinary courtroom dramas deal with defeating great evil and realizing justice, our story focuses more on everyday life rather than life and death situations. I usually enjoy intense and life-or-death stories. However, I thought about what I hadn't done yet. I realized I haven't done a comfortable, slice-of-life drama. So, I wanted to create a soothing drama."
He continued, "I felt a lot of gratitude for working together on this drama. The strength of our drama comes from our actors. Kang Yu-seok's energy is impressive; I approached the role with the mindset of enjoying it because he's involved. Such dramas usually don't feature many scenes in one shot, but they are entertaining. This could become our drama's strength."
Moon Ga-young plays Kang Hee-ji, a first-year associate lawyer at the law firm Johwa. In contrast to Ahn Joo-hyung, she is empathetic and desires to comfort clients not only through their cases but also emotionally. She maintains contact with clients she has developed connections with through cases and discovers clues through deep conversations. She is characterized by her passionate dedication and warm heart in her representation of clients.
Moon Ga-young remarked, "This is my first role with a profession. I was excited. Being a lawyer means I had a lot of lines and much to study. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable. I found great satisfaction and excitement in exploring a field I hadn't tried before. The story focuses on the lives of real people. Our writer is a lawyer, which allows me to ask questions and receive feedback immediately; this is a significant advantage. Each character's demeanor and growth are distinct."
Kang Yu-seok plays Jo Chang-won, a lawyer associated with the law firm Chung Kong. He is a jack-of-all-trades who meets clients from all walks of life, even under a representative lawyer who pursues only money, leading a tumultuous daily life. He becomes an involuntary confidant for a client incarcerated in prison and a firm ally for fraud victims, showcasing the variety of Jo Chang-won's life in Seocho-dong as he fluctuates between the high and low points.
Kang Yu-seok shared, "In 'Someday I Will Be a Doctor,' I played a different profession, a doctor. At that time, I portrayed a first-year resident, showing my immaturity and growth. This time, I have a character who is a mid-career professional. Unlike in 'Resident Playbook,' this character has professional ethics; that's a big difference. It's fascinating that I'm frequently taking on roles in professional fields. I guess I have a solid image."
He added, "While courtroom dramas typically have dramatic scenes, our drama showcases the everyday life of Seocho-dong. It isn't stiff or dramatic like other courtroom dramas; it has a lot of natural moments. I believe due to the great actors and director who are more accomplished than I am, the prospects are looking good. There's Lee Jong-suk, who has foresight. My contribution is about 1%, while the other 99% belongs to everyone else."
Ryu Hae-young will meet the audience as Bae Moon-jeong, an associate lawyer at the law firm Kyungmin. She has a warm personality, often running late, but is meticulous and thorough in her work. Though she appears to be playing around everyday, she is capable of diligently gathering necessary documents and checking every detail without missing even the smallest figures. Attention is drawn to Bae Moon-jeong, whose strength is hidden behind her lovely smile.
Ryu Hae-young stated, "I'm a professional actress focusing on legal roles. While filming 'Law School,' I studied law to some extent, but I felt it didn't fully showcase the image of a future profession. This time, I'm honored to become a lawyer. I graduated from law school and became a lawyer. I felt honored to work happily together."
Lastly, the character Ha Sang-ki, the only one affiliated with a law office among the lawyers working at the firm, is played by the versatile actor Im Sung-jae. Ha Sang-ki is a capitalistic lawyer who beams with a smile at any bonus, no matter how busy the work gets. He enjoys discussing case cases with head lawyer Kim Ryu-jin (played by Kim Ji-hyun) every night, and the knowledge he sharpens will be used effectively in defending his clients.
Im Sung-jae expressed, "It's an honor to meet the viewers so quickly after wrap-up. I usually don't have a profession, but this time I developed one. I was especially delighted to play a lawyer. The script flows easily, and I want to do well. The adjective that describes our drama is comfort. Order something for a late-night snack and enjoy our drama until the end."
"Seocho-dong" promises a delightful Seocho-dong life of five associates who are busy bickering but are sincere in looking after each other's meals. As the tagline "Forget about the lawyers of the past!" suggests, it portrays the lives of salaryman lawyers faithfully living their respective lives instead of heroes devoted to a sense of duty and justice.
Lee Jong-suk confidently stated, "A drama has come up that can be enjoyed comfortably at a time when people are looking for dopamine. Moon Ga-young requested, "Please focus on each character's growth story. There are many wonderful seniors, so please enjoy it richly," while Ryu Hae-young mentioned, "It may feel like my own story or a conversation I had with a friend yesterday. It contains relatable stories close to reality," asking for cozy viewing.
The new tvN weekend drama "Seocho-dong," capturing the joys and sorrows of five associate lawyers commuting to Seocho-dong Law Town every day, will premiere at 9:20 p.m. on the 5th to see if it will remain a simple yet special drama.
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