MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Mary Kills People' stars Lee Bo-young as emergency medicine physician Woo So-jung, who assists with euthanasia, heralding yet another legendary character.
Set to premiere at 10 p.m. on Aug. 1, MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Mary Kills People' (planned by Kwon Sung-chang, directed by Park Jun-woo, written by Lee Soo-ah) is a suspense drama that deals with a doctor who assists with euthanasia for terminal patients and a detective who pursues them.
'Mary Kills People' sees veterans team up, including director Park Jun-woo, who transformed intense action into visual emotions in 'Taxi Driver' and 'Crash', and writer Lee Soo-ah, known for intricate narratives and warm empathy in films such as 'The Sensibility of the Law' and 'My Special Brother', as well as the drama 'Employment Insurance Romance'. The cast, featuring Lee Bo-young, Lee Min-ki, Kang Ki-young, Baek Hyun-jin, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Tae-woo, and Seo Young-hee, is already being regarded as one of the anticipated works for the second half of 2025.
Lee Bo-young plays the role of emergency medicine physician Woo So-jung, who assists with euthanasia at the boundary between life and death. In the drama, Woo So-jung has a strong belief in wanting to alleviate patients' suffering, yet continuously grapples with dilemmas and confusion, making her relatable.
In particular, Lee Bo-young has shown strong presence in any character, from a charismatic, autonomous CEO to a strong lawyer uncovering hidden truths, and even a conglomerate daughter-in-law experiencing emotional turmoil in rapidly changing situations, proving her limitless acting spectrum. With outstanding acting that keeps viewers fully engaged in every work, expectations are high for Lee Bo-young's transformative performance as Woo So-jung.
In this regard, Lee Bo-young's first appearance as veteran emergency medicine physician Woo So-jung has attracted attention. In the drama, Woo So-jung (played by Lee Bo-young) struggles while treating patients and reviewing charts in the emergency room. She instructs another physician on treatment methods, wears a serious expression, and does her utmost to treat critical patients efficiently. Curiosity grows over the shocking reason why Woo So-jung, an emergency medicine physician who saves lives, would transition to a physician who assists with death.
Lee Bo-young noted the weight of the narrative surrounding Woo So-jung, a physician who assists with euthanasia at the boundary between life and death, as a reason for selecting the role. She stated, "I have been thinking a lot about euthanasia lately. My parents are getting older, and it has come to a point where I share these concerns, so I naturally became interested in this topic. Coincidentally, I was seriously discussing the article about a couple who underwent euthanasia together in Canada with my husband at that time."
She added, "At the time, I was deeply pondering 'How do we accept death?' and 'How can we conclude life with dignity?' and when I received the script for 'Mary Kills People,' I cried a lot after reading it. Assisting with euthanasia is not just about choosing death as one ages; it might also be another way to protect human dignity amidst the pains of life. It used to be a topic that was hard to discuss, but gradually people around me have started to bring up euthanasia, and I feel it might be time for us to have these conversations together."
Lee Bo-young expressed, "I felt that Woo So-jung is fundamentally a warm person who wants to help others in pain. She cannot turn a blind eye to someone else's suffering and has a strong desire to save that person even if it puts her in danger." She emphasized, "While acting, I kept in mind that these decisions stemming from a genuinely kind heart may appear 'wrong' to someone, but they come from the intention to help others."
The production team commented, "Lee Bo-young is an actress with delicate acting skills, seamlessly embodying every line and expression of her character." They stated that the character Woo So-jung, born out of Lee Bo-young's ongoing introspection, is expected to deliver meaningful resonance that stirs viewers' hearts.
[Photo] Provided by MBC
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