Actress Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won's romance 'Polaris' has sparked anticipation as not just a melodrama but an 'adult melodrama.'
Disney+ held a production presentation for the new original series 'Polaris' (written by Jeong Seo-kyung, directed by Kim Hee-won, and Heo Myung-haeng) at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul located in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 2nd. At this event, the main cast, including actors Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, was joined by Kim Hae-sook, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Sang-hee, Park Hae-jun, Yoo Jae-myung, Oh Jung-se, and Joo Jong-hyuk, to discuss 'Polaris' under the moderation of broadcaster Park Kyung-rim.
'Polaris' is a drama depicting the story of Moon Joo (Jeon Ji-hyun), a former UN ambassador who has built an international reputation, chasing the mastermind behind a presidential candidate shooting incident, along with the nationality-unknown special agent San-ho (Gang Dong-won), confronting a great truth threatening the Korean Peninsula. The first three episodes will premiere on Disney+ on the 10th and will be released sequentially every Wednesday, totaling nine episodes for viewers.
The drama is penned by writer Jeong Seo-kyung, who previously collaborated with director Kim Hee-won on 'Little Women,' and is known for her screenplays in films such as 'Lady Vengeance,' 'I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK,' 'Thirst,' and 'The Handmaiden,' as well as receiving acclaim for dramas like 'Mother' and 'Little Women.' Director Kim Hee-won, known for his stylistic visuals and popularity in dramas such as 'Money Flower,' 'The Crowned Clown,' 'Vincenzo,' and 'Queen of Tears,' has teamed up with co-director Heo Myung-haeng, an action director from the 'Midnight Runners' series, to enhance both the visual and action elements.
'Polaris' has attracted great attention with top stars Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, who have long been beloved as representatives of beauty in Korea. The casting news stirred curiosity among drama fans immediately. Additionally, with trustworthy veteran actors like Kim Hae-sook, Lee Mi-sook, and Yoo Jae-myung alongside supporting roles featuring Lee Sang-hee, Park Hae-jun, and Joo Jong-hyuk, the lineup has further heightened interest.
Demonstrating this high expectation, ahead of the production presentation, Disney+ held a creators talk with writer Jeong Seo-kyung, director Kim Hee-won, and Heo Myung-haeng in attendance. Carol Choi, who oversees operations in the Asia-Pacific region for Disney+, also attended, showing enthusiastic support for the project. Given that another K-content, 'Moving,' boasts the highest ratings in Disney+ history, 'Polaris' is positioned to showcase its presence on the platform as an anticipated large-scale K-content.
Director Kim Hee-won noted, "I believe there aren't many other actresses that come to mind when directors think of powerful women for their projects besides actress Jeon Ji-hyun. She's always been at the top of casting lists for a long time. So I wanted to ask her to join right away, and she contacted me immediately, which was great."
Additionally, regarding the historic meeting of the two leading actors, Jeon Ji-hyun shared, "I'm so happy. I also love beautiful visuals, and since the actors are naturally beautiful, it was important to have strength and beauty come together, and it turned out wonderfully. Because both of them are very tall, the ceiling looked low. In reality, we raised the ceiling. I discussed this with the art director."
Jeon Ji-hyun expressed, "Since this is a work by director Kim Hee-won and writer Jeong Seo-kyung, I was very eager as an actress. Above all, I chose to participate because I wanted to shoot with Gang Dong-won before it got too late." She smiled as she shared her thoughts on her character, stating, "Moon Joo gets involved in certain incidents and uncovers the details. She is a character with quiet yet friendly daringness, and I have a deep attachment to her."
Gang Dong-won, who plays San-ho, who protects Jeon Ji-hyun's character, stated, "San-ho is known as the ace of a global mercenary group. He is a special agent whose nationality and identity are ambiguous. By chance, he saves Moon Joo and decides that he must protect her, working hard to keep that determination." He added, "San-ho is a very lonely character and has many concerns. Meeting Moon Joo, played by Jeon Ji-hyun, brings about a change where he becomes determined to protect her without hesitation."
Director Heo Myung-haeng expressed confidence in Gang Dong-won's action scenes, saying, "I've worked with Dong-won on many projects. He is the actor I've collaborated with the most. His physique is so excellent that even with the same movements, he exhibits a charm that other actors can't show. Once the work is released, you will see for yourself."
Furthermore, Jeon Ji-hyun referred to her first collaboration with Gang Dong-won, saying, "I am a long-time fan of Gang Dong-won. Really." She smiled, adding, "It's true that I chose to participate in this project because I wanted to work with Gang Dong-won. I used to like his figurines, but once I got to know Gang Dong-won as a person, I became even more fond of him. His portrayal of San-ho has created synergy with my character Moon Joo."
Gang Dong-won, smiling as he said, "I'm grateful," expressed, "While working on this project, I became deeply enchanted by Jeon Ji-hyun's charm. She showcased such joyful moments on set that I also felt happy while filming. Throughout the shoot, I thought to myself, 'This person is truly impressive.'"
Naturally, expectations for the project are focused on the romance between Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won. In response, Jeon Ji-hyun stated, "Moon Joo and San-ho are characters living in entirely different worlds. They are drawn to each other's unknowable aspects and get to know one another. It is a relationship where they discover themselves through seeing each other. This part develops interestingly as the drama progresses, and I believe viewers will find it enjoyable if they pay close attention to this aspect."
Moreover, they humorously shared, "During our monitoring, we discussed, 'Have we ever acted like this as adults before?' When we saw it on screen, it naturally came out with a feeling of 'good vibes.' The visuals turned out wonderfully, making us laugh."
In response to Park Kyung-rim asking, "Aren't you familiar with ('neujoh')?", Gang Dong-won burst into laughter saying, "Does it mean 'very good'?" He continued jokingly, "I'm relieved it was right," while maintaining a cheerful atmosphere.
He also noted, "I definitely felt that vibe. While performing together, I thought if we had met when we were younger, it would have felt completely different. The joking around while monitoring felt like 'it seems like we know a thing or two.' It was a feeling of mature individuals looking at each other. There were many things I didn't understand before, but now I feel like I know a bit more."
Nonetheless, concerns arose about Gang Dong-won's credit being noted as 'and Gang Dong-won,' possibly indicating a smaller role. In response, Gang Dong-won stated, "I think it was set according to the character. You will understand once you watch the work."
In addition to their romance, 'Polaris' tackles metaphorical expressions and globally scaled political scandals, boasting a blockbuster magnitude. Regarding the title's symbolism, Director Kim Hee-won said, "It's a metaphorical expression for a shining star. In fact, a symbolic object appears within the work, which is related to that object. How it is related can be understood by watching the ending of episode 3, the last episode of the first week. Please watch it closely to confirm this." He added, "Over the past two years, we diligently prepared this work and filmed with truly excellent staff," expressing his affection for the project.
Yoo Jae-myung remarked, "The moment I read the script, I experienced being completely immersed in an unpredictable world of language. I was worried about why the director chose this work, but he undoubtedly created a great project." Lee Mi-sook noted the transformation of junior actor Oh Jung-se, recalling, "His acting has significantly matured," while Lee Sang-hee went as far as transcribing the Constitution for his supporting role, and Joo Jong-hyuk shared, "I learned specifics like gait and postures by meeting an actual Presidential Security Service agent."
Hollywood actor John Cho also adds tension to the work as Anderson. Director Kim Hee-won said, "He holds the key to events from the past. He reveals many secrets. It's a huge honor to have him. Gang Dong-won also played a big role in casting by offering great insights. Despite my struggle with English, he communicated thoroughly, providing profound ideas during Zoom meetings and script analyses. I realized why he has risen to such great heights even in difficult situations."
Furthermore, Director Kim Hee-won reflects, "When I was young, I thought world news was not related to me and only watched news close to me. However, I began to think these matters would ride a big wave and approach closer. I believed that overseas viewers, as well as those in Korea, could ask such questions. The universal emotions are about love, disappointment, despair, and hope. They encompass the very universal sentiments experienced by humanity. I think Korean viewers can relate more easily, and I aimed to capture sentiments that global audiences can also understand as much as possible."
Regarding the romance of the protagonists, Jeon Ji-hyun stated, "The role of Moon Joo is more about being protected than being involved in action. I often leaned on San-ho. Emotionally, various situations overwhelmed her, which led to many diverse scenarios. I think it provided an opportunity to show various charms."
Gang Dong-won commented, "San-ho is a physically strong character but also lonely, and I am unsure how resilient he is mentally. However, he follows Moon Joo's steadiness and navigates through the events regarding her strength, which seems to have felt like observing a precious aspect that is different from himself. I might have thought that since he is a very lonely character, he might have had a bit of obsession. He has developed a mindset of wanting to protect this person at all costs."
In conclusion, Director Kim Hee-won shared, "The first three episodes dramatically convey where the characters have been and where they will go, providing their background stories. Starting from the fourth episode, the speed of the narrative accelerates immensely, and from the fifth episode onward, events in a single episode will feel like they've spanned several years. We will step on the gas at a tremendous speed, featuring many significant sequences. From the sixth episode, various emotional aspects and secrets will be revealed one by one each week. If you watch the ending of each week, you will see that, as I have worked in terrestrial broadcasting, there's a rule to compel viewers to want to see the next week's episode, so I aimed to achieve that as much as possible."
Above all, he humbly stated, "We will have to see if it keeps being successful. I think the only way to repay viewers watching our work, in a world where there is so much to see on TV, is to work with the best actors and staff. I did my best until the end, so kindly view any shortcomings gracefully and please continue to watch until the final week and the last episode." Director Heo Myung-haeng also added, "I know there are many expectations. We worked hard to make 'Polaris' a project that meets those expectations."
[Photo] OSEN reporter Lee Dae-seon.
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