Director Song Hyun-wook, who directed "Walking On Thin Ice," and writer Jeon Young-shin, who took on the script, revealed the behind-the-scenes story of the drama.
The new KBS 2TV Saturday-Sunday miniseries "Walking On Thin Ice" (directed by Song Hyun-wook / written by Jeon Young-shin / produced by Baram Pictures, Slingshot Studio), set to premiere on the 20th, depicts the efforts of a parent, Kang Eun-soo, who wants to protect her family, and the two-faced teacher, Lee Kyung, who get caught up in a dangerous and desperate partnership due to an unexpectedly acquired bag of drugs.
Writer Jeon Young-shin shared her motivation for writing "Walking On Thin Ice," stating, "In winter 2021, I saw a news report about 'students, office workers, and housewives selling drugs.' At that time, the keyword 'housewife' caught my attention, and since I am a housewife, I wanted to explore it further. I wanted to express how difficult it is to protect oneself in a reality where there is a strong desire to live 'well,' but how one wants to live is often left unasked, and how valuable it is if one can manage to do so."
Recalling the day he first faced the script of "Walking On Thin Ice," Director Song Hyun-wook stated, "Typically, drugs are presented as a major medium in crime genres, but 'Walking On Thin Ice' interestingly tackles the accidental presence of drugs in the daily life of ordinary people and the ensuing ripples and a confusion of values." He added, "To ensure the audience empathizes with Eun-soo, I set a personal limit and deadline of 'just once, let's aim for that target amount' and had to pay careful attention to maintain the boundaries of what a typical housewife could do."
Director Song further commented, "Drugs are a very unfamiliar and alien substance, but for Kang Eun-soo and Lee Kyung, they are a desperate means to make money." He noted that he aimed to capture the contrasting first impression of the ordinary housewife Eun-soo facing a different, alien world instead of the sensational exposure of drugs in the work.
Regarding actress Lee Young-ae, with whom he collaborated for the first time in this work, Director Song stated, "She is synonymous with purity and has shown powerful acting across various genres. Lee Young-ae, with her clear gaze and simple demeanor, is the most suitable person to encapsulate the hidden desires and tenacity of Kang Eun-soo." He emphasized that "Lee Young-ae provided many ideas during the filming process, which were well incorporated into the drama. Kang Eun-soo is the most action-heavy and subtly emotional character in all the works Lee Young-ae has appeared in."
Director Song, who did not hold back his praise for actor Kim Young-kwang, described him as "an actor with a deep range that oscillates between romantic comedies and other genres," adding, "He is a heavenly actor who has perfectly embodied roles from playful boyfriends to intimidating mob bosses in previous works. In 'Walking On Thin Ice,' you will see the captivating aspects of Lee Kyung, who creates perfect distinctions in speech, appearance, and personality, as if he is playing two roles in one."
Writer Jeon noted the differentiating factor of "Walking On Thin Ice" compared to other crime dramas, saying, "It represents a reality-based crime that can resonate with people who go to work every day while raising children and living their daily lives. I wanted to convey the message that our current lives, which you and I live, are truly precious. The ordinary is the most special and, paradoxically, the most difficult. Therefore, I want to boldly say that viewers who manage to uphold that ordinariness in every moment are truly remarkable and should feel pride in that."
Finally, Director Song Hyun-wook and writer Jeon Young-shin expressed, "'Walking On Thin Ice' is sometimes intense and passionate, but it also has lighthearted and warm moments. You might find yourself immersed, discovering that you are gripping your seat in tension." They also stated, "Above all, a drama must be entertaining, and if viewers can engage fully and enjoy it to the end, there is nothing more to wish for," eagerly anticipating their interaction with the audience.
The new KBS 2TV Saturday-Sunday miniseries "Walking On Thin Ice" will premiere on Sept. 20 (Saturday) at 9:20 p.m.
[Photo] OSEN DB, KBS 2TV new Saturday-Sunday miniseries "Walking On Thin Ice."
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