"It's a presidential candidate role, but I won't mention the number." Actor Park Hae-joon, who plays a politician in "Polaris," cleverly avoided trouble with his witty response.
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 on Saemunan-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the morning of 2nd. The main cast includes actors Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won, along with Kim Hae-sook, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Sang-hee, Park Hae-joon, Yoo Jae-myung, Oh Jung-se, and Joo Jong-hyuk, who shared insights about "Polaris" alongside directors Kim Hee-won and Heo Myung-haeng, with broadcaster Park Kyung-rim moderating the event.
"Polaris" is a drama that depicts the story of Moon Joo (Jeon Ji-hyun), who has built an international reputation as a United Nations (UN) ambassador, as she pursues the truth behind an assassination attempt against a presidential candidate, facing a huge truth threatening the Korean Peninsula alongside the mysterious special agent San-ho (Gang Dong-won), who must protect her. The first three episodes will be released starting on the 10th, ahead of its premiere.
In this, Park Hae-joon appears as the husband of Moon Joo and a prominent presidential candidate, Jang Jun-ik, leading the tension early in the drama. He introduced his character humorously, saying, "Hello, my symbol," and added, "I won't say what number it is," evoking laughter.
In response, Director Kim Hee-won admitted, "It was really scary just now," confessing his anxious feelings about whether Park Hae-joon would mention a specific number, adding to the laughter.
In fact, earlier, various stars in the entertainment industry had sparked discussions due to controversies over political colors. The political confusion reached its peak due to the impeachment crisis following former President Yoon Suk-yeol's state of emergency and the series of early presidential elections, leading to heightened sensitivity among the public regarding stars' expressions in public settings.
Top star Jeon Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won's romance in "Polaris" was not an exception to this. Here, Park Hae-joon's cleverness in avoiding unintentional criticisms that may arise from a work featuring political themes generated laughter and a friendly atmosphere.
Furthermore, Park Hae-joon expressed his attachment to his character, stating, "Jang Jun-ik is the husband of a woman and a prominent presidential candidate who has a global presence. He has many concerns inside him. After a certain time, he will become a mysterious figure," and added, "I thought a lot about what aspects would captivate the public's heart within what many people say. I think that was a good part."
Additionally, Jeon Ji-hyun praised Park Hae-joon regarding their on-screen couple dynamic, saying, "Isn't he so handsome? He shows a variety of expressions. Instead of saying hello, I said to him today, 'You look very handsome again, senior.' Besides, he has such a good personality that we filmed pleasantly."
Interestingly, Park Hae-joon received acclaim for portraying a character inspired by former President Roh Tae-woo in the hit film "Spring of Seoul." Recently, he was also loved as the beloved romantic figure Yang Kwan-sik in the Netflix original series "When Life Gives You Tangerines." His sharp sense of communication with the public seems to have garnered even more applause on set.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Lee Dae-seon.
[OSEN]