The much-anticipated global debut project of actress Kim Tae-hee, "Butterfly," is ready to reveal itself.
The team behind the Amazon Prime original series "Butterfly" held a press conference on the morning of the 21st at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. American actors Daniel Dae Kim and ReiNa Hardesty, as well as Korean actors Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Tae-hee, and Sean Richard attended the event to discuss the drama with domestic reporters under the guidance of broadcaster Park Kyung-rim.
"Butterfly" tells the story of David Jung (played by Daniel Dae Kim), a former U.S. intelligence agent shrouded in mystery, and Rebecca (played by ReiNa Hardesty), the current agent sent to kill him. Daniel Dae Kim not only stars in the project but also participated as an executive producer, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Arash Amel.
"Butterfly," centered around the mysterious character David Jung, depicts the tangled family emotions and conflicts within a global espionage war and aims to deliver thrilling entertainment as a character-driven spy thriller. The cast includes Kim Ji-hoon, Park Hae-soo, Kim Tae-hee, ReiNa Hardesty, and Sean Richard, promising unique spectacles staged in Korea.
In particular, Kim Tae-hee takes on the role of David Jung's Korean wife, Kim Eun-joo. She introduced her character by saying, "In a way, I can say this is the most ordinary role I have played, representing a typical Korean woman."
Kim Ji-hoon plays a cruel yet hip assassin, showcasing dazzling action alongside Daniel Dae Kim. He shyly smiled and said, "There are many action scenes, and I think they turned out really well." Daniel also agreed with a smile, creating a warm atmosphere.
Additionally, Korean-American actor Sean Richard plays the role of Hollis, a secret agent from Daniel Dae Kim's spy organization. Other notable cast members include actor Park Hae-soo, known for the Netflix series "Squid Game," as well as Sung Dong-il and Lee Il-hwa, who make special appearances.
The "Butterfly" team previously met domestic fans at a red carpet event on the 18th at Megabox Coex in Gangnam, Seoul. Daniel Dae Kim expressed, "It was an incredibly heartwarming experience. I lived in an apartment right across from the theater and used to go to Coex to watch movies. I was happy to hold the "Butterfly" event there. Returning to Korea and being able to do this work is a very special experience for me, as I have aimed to return and work here after building my career in the U.S. Working with actors I admired was a grateful experience that I thought I would never have again."
ReiNa said, "I resonate with what Daniel said. It was a heartwarming and exciting experience. I had never really been to Korea aside from the six months I spent filming last year, and while spending that year, I fell in love with this country and its people and culture." Daniel added, "ReiNa made a lot of friends during her time in Korea, so she was even considering visiting again," making a lighthearted remark.
Kim Tae-hee noted, "It had been a long time since I met the audience and reporters during a screening in the theater. I knew I would promote the work, but I didn't expect such an event. I had a wonderful experience at the premiere in New York, and it was deeply touching to be warmly welcomed back in Korea. It was a happy moment that made my heart warm and comfortable."
Kim Ji-hoon remarked, "The red carpet was beautifully laid out, allowing for a full experience. I could get close to the fans, and it seems this drama is indeed receiving a lot of anticipation. I'm curious about it. They say it was filmed entirely in Korea, but it is an American drama featuring many wonderful actors, so I think there's a lot to look forward to."
"It was fun," Sean Richard opened, adding, "I am an Korean-American actor, and I debuted in Korea 15 years ago. I was delighted and grateful to greet Korean viewers through my first American drama."
Daniel Dae Kim, who took on the role of executive producer for "Butterfly," shared, "Actually, having the dual role of both executive producer and lead allowed me to make creative decisions in the production process that I couldn't have done before. Changing a character who was not Asian in the original work to a Korean was something that was possible because I was involved as an executive producer. I was also able to integrate the experiences of being a Korean-American, living in the United States, and returning to Korea. It allowed me to reflect cultural differences that both Koreans living in Korea and white Americans might not understand."
He continued, "I could also convey the nuances of language. I set my character's last name to 'Jung' as it reflects the concept of 'Jeong' in Korea. This work itself was about family and relationships, and I chose this choice to capture that emotion. If someone is not Korean, they might not place much significance on a last name, but for Koreans, it's a choice they can think of instantly. I could convey these aspects because I participated as an executive producer, thus reflecting my overall vision."
Moreover, he said, "It was also important for me to be able to cast the actors I had admired. It was significant that I could recruit not only Kim Tae-hee, Kim Ji-hoon, and Sean Richard but also Park Hae-soo, Sung Dong-il, and Lee Il-hwa." He smiled.
ReiNa stated, "As soon as I saw Rebecca, I could immediately empathize with her in many ways. She is a very complex and multilayered character who experiences identity confusion in various worlds, and as an Asian-American with multiple roots, I was drawn to such a character. This character is interesting and intriguing, has her own pain, loves someone, yet is a cold-blooded killer. I think she is the kind of character that every actor dreams of playing." Then, when Daniel Dae Kim jokingly said, "That's a lie," ReiNa laughed warmly with him.
Kim Tae-hee mentioned, "There was no reason to turn it down. When I looked at the script, I was completely immersed in the story and read quickly through six episodes. Eun-joo's role is not very large; in the total six episodes, she appears only in one or two scenes. However, I could empathize with the character, and I thought that if I could portray a positive image of Korean women through my performance, it would be a proud and honorable thing."
He is someone who worked on the previous work of our producer Ken Woodruff, and I really enjoyed 'The Mentalist,' so I think I had a sense of trust because the writer is also Korean-American," she revealed.
He reflected on meeting global audiences through his first American series, saying, "In this case, I play a substantial supporting role. Having always participated as a protagonist leading the entire production, I can now support the lead characters ReiNa and Daniel, and I hope viewers will enjoy the work as a whole. I hope it will provide an opportunity to feel close to Korea and the benefits of Korea, even if it's not necessary to talk about it."
Regarding his English dialogues in the drama, Kim Ji-hoon shared, "I have shown in 'Home Alone' that I have prepared, but it was not easy. There aren't many lines. I am a reserved killer. Nevertheless, I practiced a lot to perfectly deliver my English lines."
In response, Daniel said, "You did great." Kim Ji-hoon chimed in, "(Daniel's) Korean has improved a lot," adding, "From episode 1 to 6, Daniel's Korean becomes less awkward. At first, it felt a bit awkward, which was cute. But when he speaks English, he looks very cool, while his Korean lines were a bit cute, but later on, his Korean also became cool." Daniel responded, "It's not that; I wanted to act like Ji-hoon, so I had no choice but to get better. I had to do it," laughing.
Kim Tae-hee stated, "There were many moments where I was acting in a language that is not my native tongue, so I thought I would have to do a lot of ADR. But I hardly did any." To this, Kim Ji-hoon revealed, "It seems you did well. I had to do a lot of ADR," bringing laughter.
Kim Tae-hee added, "No matter how well I did, I had to do ADR, but it seems they valued the sense of the scene." Daniel Dae Kim emphasized, "In the end, what matters is how the work turned out, and the people who acted in English were excellent," and joked, "Not everyone graduated from Seoul National University."
Sean Richard mentioned, "Since Hollis is set up as a former CIA operative, I studied those training methods. As I wasn't playing a role that fought with guns on the field, understanding how to persuade people and how to gather information was very helpful."
Having appeared in works such as "The Dominant Species" and "The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call," he discussed working with Daniel Dae Kim, saying, "Personally, I have been a fan since 'Lost.' It was an honor to work together. I am also balancing both acting and production, and watching Daniel Dae Kim take on such a significant role for a major project inspired me a lot. I learned a lot because it's not an easy task. I thought a lot about how Dong-seok Ma, who created the 'Crime City' series, managed it."
Regarding filming "Butterfly" entirely on location in Korea, Daniel expressed, "Living as an Asian, as an Asian-American, and in ReiNa's case, as a mixed-race Asian, I feel various aspects about it. I wanted to talk about this. I wanted to reflect the situations that are not exactly the same as other people, even when I returned to Korea."
He shared, "I was born in Busan and immigrated to the U.S. at a young age, but Korea has never left my heart. It has always been the root of my identity. I often discover this in my Korean friends who work here and marry Korean wives. I wanted to embed that longing into my work."
He emphasized, "With the rising interest in various aspects of Korea, such as K-beauty, food, and K-pop, this was the moment when stories like this could emerge in the American market. These stories don't get created instantly by just wanting to tell them. Five or ten years ago, interest in Korea wasn't as high, so no matter how much I wanted to do it, I wouldn't have gotten the roles. But with the right timing, I could now tell the stories I value."
How did ReiNa handle action scenes with actors of different physiques? She said, "There were times I went on strike right after signing, so I had several months to train. I trained at that time and arrived a month before filming in Korea to learn martial arts and action together." She added, "It was interesting to convey narratives through movement. There are many spectacular fight scenes, and developing the relationship between a father and daughter through action was engaging. The stuntmen worked incredibly hard, and I am grateful for that."
Kim Ji-hoon remarked, "This had the most action of any role I have taken on so far. More than half of Gun's scenes involve action. I practiced a lot in the months leading up to filming to show a wonderful performance and tried a lot to synchronize with Daniel whenever we had breaks in filming. Any small mistake could result in injury, so I rehearsed many times. Personally, I spoke extensively with the martial arts team to show a Korean feel by incorporating Taekwondo kicks. I also thought I had to stretch more diligently. I want to do it so much, but my body doesn't cooperate, which is frustrating. I'm working hard on my stretching for the next opportunity," he said with a smile.
Kim Tae-hee shared about her chemistry with Daniel, "The first time we met was during a Zoom meeting before casting. We had a meeting with the writer, producer, and several staff members, where Daniel expressed his interest in Eun-joo. I tried to say what I could in English, but in the situations where I could only speak Korean, Daniel helped with the translations, which made me feel very comfortable."
She continued, "Since then, I relied on him a lot. The good impression he made when we met first helped us portray a couple's chemistry well. He was wearing glasses and was smiling warmly like now, and I felt he was such a 'good person.' During the work, we thought about what it would be like for international couples like us, who have different mother tongues and nationalities, discussing which parts would be natural by performing some dialogues in Korean and some in English. We matched lines before the scenes, trying both in Korean and English, and blended them to choose the best language. Additionally, since Daniel was also the producer, he gave us the freedom to discuss, and we became close."
Kim Ji-hoon said, "I first saw Daniel during the audition. Usually, auditions are very uncomfortable, but from the beginning, he was very warm and considerate, helping me feel comfortable to act. Even on set, while being an actor, he gave an infinite trust to resolve various inconveniences when I consulted with him. It's nice to synchronize acting, but this set felt like Korea, yet since there were many foreign staff, there were times I felt lonely as though I was abroad, but Daniel seemed to fill that gap."
Regarding the points of interest in "Butterfly," Daniel said, "Of course, while working with such outstanding global actors, and while they are good actors personally, what stands out is the action. I really enjoy action, and both Kim Ji-hoon and ReiNa did excellently. At the same time, it's important that we are dealing with a familial relationship. Even if we don't specifically talk about Korea, everyone can relate to the relationships involving a father and daughter or a mother and son. Although they don't speak the same language, the relationships that emerge between those who love each other are very important. Kim Tae-hee suggested how she would deliver her lines in what language, and I believe the best way to learn a language is to fall in love with someone. When you fall in love, you will want to communicate in any way possible. I think that relationship is the key point of the work."
Regarding 'Jeong,' Daniel explained, "I believe it's a word that conveys a very close, connected feeling. This sense of connection can be present in romantic relationships, family relationships, friendships, and sometimes even between people we have never met. You might feel how you feel in a connection with a person or a place. I feel a strong affiliation with Korea despite not having lived here for a long time. As a child, I hung a small Taegeukgi in a frame above my bedroom. When my parents asked me why it was there, I couldn't specifically answer, but I believe that action expressed my affection for this country. In this work, such 'jeong' and relationships are similarly depicted. David and Rebecca, despite not having met for nine years, have 'jeong,' and Junho has a relationship with David as a business partner. Ultimately, although they meet as enemies, they have 'jeong' because of their prior relationship. It's a complex word, and I hope my understanding of 'jeong' is conveyed through various examples."
Kim Tae-hee expressed her desire to show a certain image to fans through her first global project, "Butterfly," saying, "The work that always draws me in hasn't been one that I've played before. This project was a fresh and new opportunity as it represents a collaboration between Korea and the U.S. Conversely, the role I am playing is the most ordinary and general Korean woman. There are just events that occur because the man who fell in love is a former spy with a peculiar profession. I hope viewers can empathize with Eun-joo as a woman."
She continued, "I wore lighter makeup, styled my hair naturally, and chose ordinary clothing this time. I stood in front of the camera in a look closest to my usual self, and surprisingly, I felt comfortable. I thought I needed to present a well-rounded appearance while staying true to the character, so I decided on hairstyles and costumes that support the overall story. Honestly, I found it very new to stand in front of the camera in a not overly dressed-up look. I wonder how viewers will perceive that aspect."
Kim Ji-hoon stated, "Gun is expressed in the script as a cool and hip assassin. I want to let everyone know that there are such cool actors in Korea. Initially, Daniel gave me the nickname 'badass.' I thought it was a curse word, but it meant cool. During the Monday screening, he even called me the Johnny Depp of Korea."
Above all, Daniel Dae Kim described the identity of the work by saying, "It feels like a work about myself. Although it was created with American investment, it has the heart of Korea. What I am most proud of is that not only did we assemble an international cast, but the production team was entirely composed of Koreans. This is not something typically seen in American productions. In many cases, the heads of various production departments come from the U.S., and only those working practically in Korea are Korean. However, in this project, we filled many key positions with Koreans. For this project to work with Koreans, it was necessary to make this decision together with Korean staff, as it seemed essential to have people who respect and share interests from both countries involved in the decision-making process."
He reflected, "If someone does not carry the interest and respect of both countries, they probably wouldn't care about the nationality of the staff. That's why I believe this project can serve as a good example of how two countries can work together. In our filming location, there were people who couldn't speak Korean and also those who spoke both languages. It took time, but I think this work was possible because everyone approached it with the same passion. I feel proud and comfortable about completing this project because it is a type we haven't seen before." He added, "Additionally, even in selecting directors for each episode, Director Kim Jin-min, as a Korean, handled two episodes. Although there was no specific reason that he had to do it, there were justifications and persuading aspects. I think it was important for a Korean director to participate, so I made this decision considering the story and themes of the work."
Korean actors also faced challenges in adapting to a global system. Kim Tae-hee specifically commented, "The English acting part was very difficult. In fact, I practiced a lot. After practicing so diligently at home, I faced tough challenges. The writer finished the scripts for all six episodes and arrived in Korea to watch me perform the lines from the first scene to the last. If she found even slightly better expressions, she would change them, and she worked very hard on that." She added, "My first shoot was a scene on the phone with Daniel in the first episode. That scene had to be done entirely in English, and I worked so hard to prepare, but changing even one or two sentences was very difficult. It wouldn't have been as tough if it was Korean, but having memorized everything made it really hard."
However, he commented, "Honestly, since my native language isn't English, I know I can't perfectly imitate those pronunciations or intonations. So at that moment, I tried my best to stay true to Eun-joo's emotions. I focused on that emotion rather than the English pronunciation to immerse myself in that."
During this process, her husband, singer and actor Rain (Jung Ji-hoon), provided significant support. Kim Tae-hee expressed, "Since I first received this project, my husband has been incredibly supportive. He told me to definitely take this wonderful opportunity. When I hesitated about going to the New York premiere, he told me I should go regardless. It's an opportunity to promote the drama as well as Kim Tae-hee as an actress, and he has encouraged me to work hard from start to finish on this project with complete focus."
Kim Ji-hoon revealed that he felt a bit anxious about how different American people and production systems would be when they came to Korea, unsure if it would be overwhelming. He said, "There may be differences, but ultimately, the process of communicating and producing the best outcome through close discussions with the performers, director, and key staff felt very similar to how it is in Korea."
Moreover, he mentioned, "One challenge was that while Tae-hee mentioned the English dialogues, this script was in English, but I was reading the Korean translations. Therefore, the Korean lines came across as quite unnatural, as the translations didn't capture the nuances. American people wouldn't understand those nuances, so the translated lines felt lifeless. It required a lot of meetings and consensus with many people to transform those lines into something natural and lively, which was a bit difficult."
In conclusion, Daniel shared, "I also want to see "Butterfly 2." I hope it comes out. Korea is always a part of the show's DNA. One could say that Korea is at the heart of this work. No matter how many seasons come out, Korea will likely remain central to this work." He expressed humility, stating, "It's difficult to predict audience reactions. Some might think it will be challenging to succeed, while others might say that it's time for success in Korea. Right now, I'm finding it hard to gauge. But the authenticity, respect, and love that I was able to infuse into this work is the contribution I could make. The rest is up to the audience to decide."
Produced as an original series for the American OTT platform Amazon Prime, "Butterfly" will be broadcast through the domestic cable TV channel tvN and streamed on Tving. It is scheduled to premiere on Friday, the 22nd, at 10:40 p.m. on tvN.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Ji Hyung-jun, provided by tvN.
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