Within the first week of its broadcast, "The Defects" captured home viewers, and thanks to the overwhelming response from the audience, the original writer unveiled behind-the-scenes insights about the work along with a special poster.
The episodes 1 and 2 of the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama "The Defects" (directed by Oh Gi-hwan, written by Ahn So-jung), which aired on the 21st and 22nd, intricately depicted an unprecedented world of an illegal adoption cartel, showcasing the dramatic process of children who survived emerging into the world and confronting a massive dark force. The powerful message that directly tackles social taboos, along with a meticulous narrative and exhilarating action and direction, provided an extreme level of immersion and drew praise from viewers.
Meanwhile, winning the "Best Creativity Award" at the SPP 2017 International Content Market Webtoon Awards and having garnered 51 million views, the original work "The Defects" by authors Um Se-yoon and Ryu Ga-myeong has garnered significant attention even before its broadcast. They delivered a special poster filled with behind-the-scenes insights about the work and support for the drama, further heightening expectations for future developments.
First, author Um Se-yoon shared the inspiration behind the work, saying, "I got the idea from a news article about the illegal trafficking of children overseas," continuing, "At that time, it felt distant, being an overseas story, but upon encountering broadcasts that showed similar cases in Korea, I realized it was no longer someone else's issue." He later revealed the background behind choosing the title "The Defects," which drew significant interest immediately after its announcement. He stated, "Personally, I prefer titles that are intuitive and intriguing," adding, "Since this work deals with a very dark and heavy topic, I set both the artwork and the title to convey a bright and light image. Although the words seem harmless when viewed in text alone, I intended to evoke a twist and shock once the audience realizes the implications of 'children' and 'shopping' after watching the work."
Through this work, author Um Se-yoon emphasized the message of 'the right to fail.' He remarked, "Our society does not easily tolerate failure and wandering, so I worry that children might hesitate to take on challenges," stating, "'The Defects' is also a story about children who experience failure and rise again. At the very least, I hope children have the freedom to fail without limits."
Both authors gave a 'thumbs up' regarding the casting accuracy of the dramatized "The Defects." Um noted, "Actress Yum Jung-ah is undoubtedly over 100 points," saying, "With just an expression or a gaze, I felt an immersion that surpassed the original Se-hee." Ryu, who handled the artwork, also expressed, "Yum Jung-ah's acting was nothing short of transcending the original work, and I was surprised at how high the sync rate was with the character and appearance of actor Choi Young-joon. Seeing the children come to life made me feel both sad and a desire to help. Special appearance actor Kim Soo-ro also suited the character very well," expressing his satisfaction.
Lastly, in response to a question about what kind of work he hopes "The Defects" will become, Um stated, "'The Defects' tells the story of children seeking revenge against parents who abandoned them, but it is not just a simple brutal revenge tale." He noted, "Beneath the revenge lies sorrow, anger, and a narrative of growth. If viewers stick with it until the end, it will be a drama that leaves a warm aftertaste." Ryu also conveyed a message, saying, "I hope viewers will see how children who have been deeply wounded and who did not need to receive such wounds overcome their scars, if they viewed it as it is," leaving a profound impression.
[Photo] Provided by Kakao Webtoon
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