'First, for love' has completed the first love combination of Choi Yoon-ji and Kim Min-kyu.
The new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'First, for love,' which is set to premiere on Aug. 4 (Monday), directed by Yoo Je-won, written by Seong Woo-jin, and produced by Studio Dragon and Showrunners, unveiled stills of Choi Yoon-ji and Kim Min-kyu on the 22nd that will evoke pure and faint memories of first love in what they describe as a 'teen romance with excessive excitement.'
'First, for love' depicts the story of a single mother who unexpectedly embarks on the second act of her life and her medical student daughter choosing to live for happiness today rather than tomorrow, facing a first love that is not an ending but a beginning. Sometimes joyful, sometimes heartwarming, and sometimes exhilarating, this gift-like story brings laughter, fun, empathy, and emotion.
The acclaimed director Yoo Je-won, known for 'My Mom's Friend's Son,' 'Crash Course in Romance,' and 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha,' directs the series, with the talented and fresh writer Seong Woo-jin penning the script. Notably, a plethora of talented actors including Yum Jung-ah, Park Hae-joon, Choi Yoon-ji, and Kim Min-kyu, along with Kim Sun-young, Yang Kyung-won, Kim Mi-kyeong, Kang Ae-sim, Jeong Young-joo, and Park Soo-young, join the cast, adding to the trust in its quality.
The anticipation for 'rising stars' Choi Yoon-ji and Kim Min-kyu, who will share the stage with the reliable Yum Jung-ah and Park Hae-joon, is also high. Choi Yoon-ji takes on the role of 'Lee Hyori,' a wandering youth who has strayed from the path of a diligent medical student, while Kim Min-kyu plays 'Ryu Bo-hyun,' a young farmer running a flower farm. They unexpectedly meet as the daughter of Lee Ji-an (played by Yum Jung-ah) and the son of Ryu Jeong-seok (played by Park Hae-joon), feeling both warmth and excitement amidst the changes of unfamiliar emotions.
The recently revealed photos increase anticipation with the refreshing and youthful visual chemistry between 'Lee Hyori' and 'Ryu Bo-hyun.' First, Lee Hyori, wearing a doctor's gown with a prestigious university logo, grabs attention. Although she has lived according to her mother Lee Ji-an's expectations and desires, her expression of lethargy, which seems to show that she has lost all passion and drive, feels somehow precarious. However, Lee Hyori's aura captured outside the hospital after taking off the doctor's gown is entirely different. Her escapade in search of the 'happiness' she had forgotten until now makes viewers even more curious.
The image of the flower farmer Ryu Bo-hyun, more beautiful than the flowers he holds in his arms, also catches attention. In the greenhouse where his touch and dedication can be felt everywhere, he exudes the experience of a six-year veteran florist. He is a person who, like his father Ryu Jeong-seok, possesses a stoic and cold exterior but softens at the requests of villagers. While he is a veteran who has not grown a flower he hasn't seen in the flower farming field, his story of starting to bloom new feelings due to Lee Hyori, who parks her camper in front of his house, adds to the curiosity.
Choi Yoon-ji noted, 'I remember feeling overwhelmed with emotion the moment I read Hyori's lines in the first audition for 'First, for Love.' Just from that one scene, I thought I really wanted to portray this character.' She added, 'As I prepared for the next audition, I had many conversations with my mother. The honest emotions that come from being a real mother and daughter really helped me.'
She continued, 'Hyori doesn't easily express her emotions, so I thought that the subtle expressions shown through silence, glances, and other non-verbal cues were important, even more so than dialogue. Therefore, when acting, my biggest struggle was how to express the temperature difference between her exterior and interior.' She explained her character interpretation and acting focus, saying, 'In reality, I thought Hyori is not defensive but rather 'a child who knows a lot.' So I felt that there was a longing hidden within her cold demeanor and acted accordingly.'
Kim Min-kyu remarked, 'Before participating in this audition, I was binge-watching 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' for the nth time. I really liked the works of Director Yoo Je-won, so I approached this opportunity with the determination to do my best. I prepared for the audition with the mindset of not having any regrets about doing everything I could.' He shared his feelings about being in a project with a script that gives off a human vibe, saying, 'I'm glad to have joined 'First, for Love.'
Regarding his role as 'Ryu Bo-hyun,' he described him as 'a character with charm in imperfection,' stating, 'Bo-hyun becomes a solid tree for Hyori, but he also has hidden wounds himself, making him a character who grows gradually through meeting Hyori,' which amplifies curiosity.
Meanwhile, the new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'First, for love' will premiere on Aug. 4 (Monday) at 8:50 p.m.
[Photo] tvN
[OSEN]