'Dynamite Kiss' shows the essence of a romantic comedy that evokes disaster films.
On Nov. 5 at the SBS building in Mok-dong, Yangcheon District, Seoul, a production press conference was held for the new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'Dynamite Kiss' (writers Ha Yoon-ah, Tae Kyung-min / directors Kim Jae-hyun, Kim Hyun-woo / produced by Studio S, Samhwa Networks). Director Kim Jae-hyun attended the press conference along with actors Jang Ki-yong, Ahn Eun-jin, Kim Mu-jun, and Woo Da-bi, and they discussed the project.
'Dynamite Kiss' is a mutual-heartache romance about a single woman who disguises herself as a mother to make a living and the team leader who falls in love with her. It depicts a thrilling, intense dopamine-exploding romance that starts with a kiss.
Director Kim Jae-hyun, who recorded a peak rating of 15.2% with 'A Thousand-Won Lawyer,' took the megaphone for 'Dynamite Kiss.' With Kim Jae-hyun's distinctive rhythm and sparkling energy, the drama's fun is expected to increase. Here, romance craftsman Jang Ki-yong and irreplaceable actor Ahn Eun-jin meet to create a new rhythm in romantic comedy. Whether in visuals or acting, every aspect promises the strongest chemistry, drawing attention to what could be an all-time great romantic chemistry.
That day director Kim Jae-hyun introduced the project, saying, "I think 'Dynamite Kiss' is a disaster story that proclaims itself a straight romantic comedy full of highly dopamine-charged scenes. The two actors undergo a great adventure to lift off into love, and there you could call it a mutual-love-ache romance full of kisses and embraces."
With his previous work 'A Thousand-Won Lawyer' receiving great love, on the eve of this project's release he said, "I think my expectations are even higher. As 'A Thousand-Won Lawyer' received much love, I think this one can also receive great love," showing confidence.
By chance, many actors from the same agency joined 'Dynamite Kiss.' Jang Ki-yong, Ahn Eun-jin, and Woo Da-bi are all affiliated with UAA. Director Kim Jae-hyun explained in detail why he cast the actors and showed his affection.
First, about casting Jang Ki-yong, Director Kim said, "I originally had a short connection with actor Jang Ki-yong when I did 'Now, We Are Breaking Up.' I really wanted to work together, and I thought the character Gong Ji-hyeok was the same as the Jang Ki-yong I know," adding, "He has a very gentlemanly appearance, a cosmopolitan image, but within that hides an innocent, boyish charm. That purity, that innocence — that's the core of Gong Ji-hyeok's character. I thought no one but Jang Ki-yong could express it."
About Ahn Eun-jin, he said, "I've been a fan for a long time. I always wanted to work together someday. When watching Eun-jin's acting, I felt she is an actor who pours sincerity into every single moment. If you add the intention of expression it can fade, but Eun-jin's acting focuses on each situation while expressing purity. Da-rim lives each moment sincerely, and I thought Eun-jin could express this character best," he praised.
Director Kim Jae-hyun spoke about Kim Mu-jun, "In fact, I saw him in his 'Lover' period as Crown Prince Sohyeon. He's very handsome and seems gentle, but I felt a coldness inside that was attractive," and added, "Seon-woo is a character with the wounds of divorce and the deep feeling of raising a child alone, so meeting actor Mu-jun, who hasn't had such experiences, and talking with him, I thought his sensitivity would fill that part. Mu-jun's unique sensitivity, very delicate and kind energy, allowed him to express the experiences he hadn't had in a new way and do so wonderfully."
About Woo Da-bi, Director Kim said, "When I first met actor Da-bi, I thought she was mysterious. I didn't mean beautiful in the usual way; mysterious implies curiosity and a subtle charm. I was curious what that charm would be and, as a director, wanted to refine that mysterious charm. The fact that she herself didn't know the charm she carried made her even more attractive. I think she expressed it stylishly and maturely."
The actors also revealed what led them to join. Jang Ki-yong said, "First, the script was fun, and second, I had met the director on a project before and the feeling was very good. I didn't know when it would happen, but we met at the right moment. Also, Eun-jin was cast in our project first. When I read the script I felt it was exactly the character Go Da-rim. I could picture myself as Gong Ji-hyeok, and imagining that was enjoyable."
Ahn Eun-jin also said, "Every episode popped with dopamine when I read the script. I thought this kind of work was needed, and I chose it thinking how we could make it fun. I was so happy to be filming at a time when I wanted to do a romantic comedy."
Kim Mu-jun said, "We have two writers, a man and a woman. I thought a man would know what a man knows and a woman what a woman knows. The parts about men and women falling in love or clashing felt very real and funny, presented as they are. So rather than choosing, I said I wanted to do it, and they gave me the opportunity," he said. Woo Da-bi said, "I also got this role through an audition. From the moment I saw the script, it was fun, and the character was full of loveliness, so I wanted to do it more."
Asked how keywords like 'fake affair' and 'disguised romance' were handled comedically, Director Kim Jae-hyun said, "I think comedy arises from the gap between what the audience knows and what the characters don't know. The characters fall into their own misunderstandings and create chaos, and I thought viewers watching that could laugh."
Amid concerns from some quarters about glamorizing infidelity, Director Kim said, "While filming, rather than focusing on kissing a married woman, we tried to focus on people who want to be loved. The parts that could be misconstrued as glamorizing infidelity are just the shell; I directed with focus on stories of people who want to be loved and people who want to live."
Director Kim also emphasized, "The moment the two characters fall in love is during their single days, and as their later life unfolds, you can see the story of the woman who had no choice but to disguise herself as a married woman to keep living, and the story of the Head of Team who protects her like a tall benefactor so she doesn't fall into unhappiness."
At the production press conference, Ahn Eun-jin drew attention with noticeably enhanced visuals. When asked about efforts she made visually, Ahn Eun-jin said, "First, I'm grateful for the compliment that I worked hard to manage myself well. When starting a romantic comedy, I wanted to look very pretty."
Ahn Eun-jin said, "I wanted people watching this couple to fall into the fantasy of saying, 'I want to date as prettily as they do,' so I worked on how to appear pretty on screen," adding, "I tried not to let my tension drop until the end. Da-rim's situation keeps changing, so I focused on each situation and followed it."
Asked about the actors' romantic chemistry, Jang Ki-yong said, "First, Eun-jin has such a cheerful and bright energy as a person. The energy she gives off felt very good. Watching how she constantly came up with ideas in the chemistry between Go Da-rim and Gong Ji-hyeok, we found many similar parts," adding, "In that sense, during rehearsals things beyond the script would come out. Those parts were processes that completed each scene. I'm truly grateful."
Ahn Eun-jin also said, "Before I met Ki-yong here, my image was cold, cool, and hard to approach — a cold city guy image. Much of my external image is like that, but the director knows clearly that he's really a childlike, innocent charm," adding, "Meeting Team Leader Gong Ji-hyeok, he comes out very charming. For example, many moments where I wondered how a line in the script would be delivered surprised me, and it was great because I could just follow it."
Also, since 'kiss' appears in the title, when asked about the specific number of kiss scenes, Director Kim Jae-hyun hesitated, saying, "Wait a moment?" and then said, "I don't remember exactly, but 10 times? 20 times? I think we filmed more than that. It was around that range," surprising the press.
Meanwhile, SBS's new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'Dynamite Kiss' will premiere at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
[Photo] Lee Dae-seon reporter
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