Actors Lee Seungyeon and Lee Hyona will team up as the ruthless 'villain mother and daughter' in KBS 2TV's new daily drama 'Intimate Ripley.'
Set to premiere on Sept. 22, KBS 2TV's new daily drama 'Intimate Ripley' (written by Lee Dohyun, directed by Son Seokjin, produced by Neo Entertainment Co., Ltd. and Studio Bom) chronicles the audacious yet tearful life struggles of a mother and daughter, Ripley, who wage a war of lies to seize the Geunhyang family.
Director Son Seokjin, who showcased a fresh sensibility and sophisticated directorial skills through the drama special 'Find the Handsome,' and writer Lee Dohyun, recognized for his powerful yet delicate writing in 'Witch's Game,' 'Secrets and Lies,' and 'Family's Secrets,' join forces to present an immersive narrative in the latter half of 2025.
Actors Lee Seungyeon and Lee Hyona will charge in as the ultimate 'villain mothers' who are willing to abandon each other—mother and daughter—for their own desires, stirring the nation with an 'acting ping pong show.' Lee Seungyeon will first embody the character Gong Nansook, the mother of Joo Youngchae (Lee Hyona) and stepmother of Joo Haneul (Seol Jeonghwan), demonstrating the essence of powerfully established charismatic acting. In the drama, Gong Nansook is a character with the financial acumen learned from her father, a notorious loan shark in Myeongdong, endowed with striking beauty, tenacity, and daunting hostility. Prioritizing money over love, she views her daughter Youngchae as a means to an end, employing lies to impersonate her daughter while attempting to utilize Cha Jeongwon (Lee Si-ah), who captured the heart of Geunhyang family heir Jin Sehun (Han Giwoong), in place of Youngchae.
Lee Seungyeon, who was active as an 'icon of the era,' returns to KBS 2TV's daily drama after six years, sparking anticipation as she portrays the venomous villain Gong Nansook, who discards her own daughter for desire, further heightening curiosity around how this actress with 33 years of experience will express her character's profound depth.
Selected against shocking odds of 100 to 1, Lee Hyona takes on the role of Joo Youngchae, Gong Nansook's daughter, who will do anything to obtain what she desires. In the drama, Youngchae is characterized by her jealousy towards her friend Cha Jeongwon, who remains unyielding despite being labeled as the daughter of a murderer. As she tries to leverage Jeongwon to avoid marriage with Jin Sehun, she grows enraged upon realizing that Jin Sehun has fallen for Jeongwon, and when her mother, Gong Nansook, prioritizes Jeongwon over her, she plots dangerous schemes.
Since her debut in 2018 with 'When Time Stops,' Lee Hyona has not only made a mark through various advertisements but also showcased outstanding acting talent in 'Real Battle' and 'The Clumsy Family,' drawing attention to her fresh portrayal of an antagonist.
In addition, 'Intimate Ripley' features a wide array of actors with broad acting spectrums who will enhance the story. Choi Jonghwan plays Jin Tae-seok, the chairman of the Geunhyang Group, who hides a ruthless personality beneath his gentlemanly and smart businessman facade, while Park Cheol-ho portrays Cha Gi-beom, the father of Cha Jeongwon, who is abandoned by Han Hye-ra (Lee Il-hwa) despite having a good nature, and Yoon Ji-sook appears as Jo Mi-hyang, who, after her first love Gi-beom, who saved her during difficult times, is accused of being a murderer, embraces Cha Jeongwon like a daughter and fills the vacancy left by her biological mother Han Hye-ra.
The production team stated, 'A powerful lineup of actors including Lee Si-ah, Lee Il-hwa, Lee Seungyeon, Choi Jonghwan, Park Cheol-ho, Seol Jeonghwan, Han Giwoong, Lee Hyona, and Yoon Ji-sook lead 'Intimate Ripley.' They also mentioned that the series poses significant questions about the miracle of motherhood we commonly acknowledge, suggesting the choice of 'blood ties over money.'
[Photo] Management Run, Mask Studio
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