"My lovely journey" stars Gong Seung-yeon and Kim Jae-young have hinted at a healing romance.
On the afternoon of 29th, the production presentation for the new Channel A weekend drama "My lovely journey" was held at the Shocking K-Pop Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Gong Seung-yeon, Yoo Joon-sang, Kim Jae-young, Hong Soo-hyun, Oh Hyun-joong, and director Kang Sol, who shared insights about the project.
"My lovely journey" is a healing trip drama based on the novel of the same name by Mahara Hara, depicting the journey of an idol-turned-travel reporter who has never been the center of their life, helping clients with their travels and discovering the true meaning of success and life. Director Kang Sol explained, "Our drama is a story about summer and Ogu Entertainment helping to substitute other people's trips. It follows the genuine stories of the clients while they also find the pieces of their lost hearts one by one, portraying healing and growth."
Gong Seung-yeon, playing the role of Kang Yeo-reum, a former idol and travel reporter, stated, "I am a former idol and have been working as a travel reporter for 5 years. I substitute for others' travels but also care for myself as a growing character." He revealed that he finds many similarities between himself and Kang Yeo-reum, explaining, "I thought this had the highest synchronization rate among the works I have done so far. There are personality traits and dilemmas that Yeo-reum is also facing. While reading the script, I found some answers: not to seek too much happiness but to be happy in the moment, and not to worry too much or dwell in the past. These are answers we all know, but we often forget them. I hope everyone can find their own answers through our drama. I also grew a lot during the production. It was a happy time."
Kim Jae-young plays Lee Yeon-seok, who chose the path of being a film director after attending a prestigious engineering school. He and Gong Seung-yeon share scenes together. He described his role, saying, "On the surface, he appears to have strong decision-making abilities. He meets Yeo-reum while working part-time as an editor, and while investing in Ogu Entertainment alongside her, he acts as a supporter helping with their travels."
He continued, "While reading the script, I felt warm. I really wanted to be part of a project like this. Each episode has a different theme, and the stories inside are things we can see in our everyday lives. There are many warm and soothing elements, and I wanted to heal myself while working on this project."
Yoo Joon-sang, who plays the role of Oh Sang-sik, the representative of Ogu Entertainment, shared, "I am a former boxer and the son of a doctor, but I have left everything behind to be here. I have a romance with Hana, and I also protect Yeo-reum while being on guard around Yeon-seok. I take care of the staff and handle various tasks." He added, "The original work was good, but our writer has crafted a narrative that raises questions like 'What's happening?' and 'Why did this happen?' Have you ever heard of a healing horror? It's not scary at all, and it makes you feel that you can experience this kind of fear in life. It contains elements of human agony and healing, so I am confident that it will be a drama you haven't felt before."
Hong Soo-hyun assumed the role of Yoo Ha-na, the finance director of Ogu Entertainment. He mentioned, "I was an aspiring actor but ended up becoming a finance director. I will be engaging in common-sense and romance, but not romance in the usual sense, while also playing a sisterly, nurturing role at Ogu Entertainment." He emphasized, "Our drama is like 'serotonin' that releases happiness hormones. I felt healed reading the script, but the shooting site was even more healing. I received healing from both the script and the shooting site."
Oh Hyun-joong plays the multi-talented Hyeon Ba-ram, who is responsible for most of Ogu Entertainment's affairs. He introduced himself, stating, "I am Yeo-reum's manager. I speak my mind and do my job well; I seem individualistic, but I am always ready to help when an Ogu family member needs me. I have a dream of living like the wind." He continued, "I really wanted to do this project. I dearly wished for this opportunity to work with great seniors. In my view, I live a life yearning for dopamine, and at least during the one-hour reading of this script, it felt like time slowed down and I received comfort and healing, which made me determined to take on this project."
When asked about the romance aspect, Kim Jae-young explained, "Unlike typical rom-coms, our story doesn't progress quickly and has lyrical elements. It's emotional and shows a lot of human interactions and the way they get to know each other. Having worked with Seung-yeon before, I felt comfortable filming together." Gong Seung-yeon added, "I felt very comfortable too," saying, "It's not the kind of romance where two people are dating, but one where they get to know each other and support each other as humans, gradually confirming their feelings. It's a tingling sensation, and if you watch it, you'll find happiness too."
Yoo Joon-sang joked about his romance with Hong Soo-hyun, saying, "It was hard to even kiss her." Hong Soo-hyun responded, "We seem like siblings, and even though he is an older brother, he acts like a younger sibling. It feels like it could turn into a romance, but while I am looking this way, he is gazing at someone else. You'll have to watch the drama to find out how it ends."
When asked about the focus on directing, director Kang Sol said, "I felt the power of a story is incredible. I believe true entertainment lies in maintaining curiosity and keeping the audience and readers engaged till the end. The script of our drama had such power. In the early stages, the production team proposed making a drama that properly showcases 'K-soul' to the world. I joined with that intention. I put a lot of thought into creating montages to properly convey beautiful scenes, stories, and emotions, collaborating with the actors."
Regarding the differences from the original work, he emphasized, "The episodes have been newly structured by the writer. While it takes a framework from the Japanese novel, the stories and emotional flow that develop within are definitely our own stories."
On the topic of the season two production news shared before the first broadcast, he said, "The production company and the actors are somewhat prepared. However, the success of any drama greatly hinges on the previous season's performance, so I just hope it goes well." He also added, "The melos between Gong Seung-yeon and Kim Jae-young are likely to start in season one and develop a clear romantic line in season two."
When asked about the viewing points, Oh Hyun-joong said, "I would like to call our drama #ShouldWeTakeABreak. During the one hour I read the script, I felt released, detoxed, and as if time had stopped. I hope our feelings are well conveyed to the viewers." Hong Soo-hyun added, "It's hot and tiring these days, so I hope everyone can find healing and happiness hormones, even if just for a moment while watching the drama." Yoo Joon-sang chimed in, "I believe it's nice to watch a drama that allows for contemplation while being relaxed."
Kim Jae-young stated, "It feels like eating homemade meals at my parents' house. It's warm, and I can feel the gradual understanding. Nowadays, with many stimulating things around, it's a detoxifying drama. I hope many people can heal while watching the drama." Gong Seung-yeon expressed, "I believe we can give a lot of healing to the viewers. The word 'travel' itself carries excitement; everyone needs a journey. Whether life is tough or one has some leisure time, at any moment. We have to return to our daily lives after traveling, so the word 'travel' seems to resonate deeply with each person's heart and holds much meaning. I hope everyone watches our drama and chooses to heal and take a moment to rest."
Director Kang Sol commented, "There is a line in which Yeo-reum says in the drama, 'It seems that travel is for the purpose of returning, to recharge energy to return to where people we love are.' I hope our journey, which is this challenging journey called life, can receive comfort, and I wish that viewers can embark on a special journey with our drama."
Meanwhile, "My lovely journey" will premiere on Aug. 2 at 9:20 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN Reporter Cho Eun-jung
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