A winter-overcoming romance, In Your Radiant Season meets viewers.
On the 19th at MBC in Sangam-dong, Seoul, the production press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama In Your Radiant Season was held. The event was hosted by Park Kyung-rim, and actors Lee Sung-kyoung, Chae Jong Hyeop, Lee Mi-Sook, Kang Sukwoo, Han Ji-hyun, Oh Yeju and PD Jung Sang-hee attended.
MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama In Your Radiant Season, scheduled to premiere at 9:50 p.m. on Friday the 20th, (planned by Namgung Sung-woo / written by Jo Seong-hee / directed by Jung Sang-hee, Kim Young-jae / produced by Pan Entertainment) depicts an unpredictable "radiant" romance in which a man who lives every day like an exciting summer vacation, "Chan," and a woman who has locked herself in winter, "Ran," meet by fate and awaken frozen time.
In Your Radiant Season weaves a dense narrative as diverse characters across generations, genders and occupations become entangled. Centered on the fateful meeting of Sunwoo Chan (played by Chae Jong Hyeop), who lives every day like an exciting summer vacation, and Song Ha-ran (played by Lee Sung-kyoung), who has locked herself in winter, the story connects figures who hold different seasons within them, from first-generation fashion designer Kim Nana (played by Lee Mi-Sook) and three sisters to Park Man-jae (played by Kang Sukwoo), who runs the café "Shim" on a quiet alley.
Jung Sang-hee, the director, introduced the work as "a winter-overcoming romance in which everyone overcomes their own winter, which anyone may experience once, with people like a spring breeze," and explained, "We wanted to express radiance and a sense of season a little more. We wanted these beautiful people to look radiant, and to make them look special we paid a lot of attention to locations and visuals. They endured a lot of rain and snow; we worked hard to show the winter in their hearts on screen."
Airing as the follow-up to the recently concluded The Judge Returns, he also spoke about the burden. Jung PD said cautiously, "I'm very happy that the previous work did well. I want to follow that well. Although it has a different tone from the previous work, our drama has enough popularity and completeness. I think we can do it well because of that."
He continued, "It may look like there are many stories in the work, but the core is one: the care for and attention to each other. Any episode can be seen as one story. Not only between couples but across various relationships—for example, grandmothers and granddaughters, and even the granddaughters' boyfriends—the connections continue, and I thought, how long has it been since we've seen this in dramas? I think that's more appealing. Like the film Love Actually, we tried hard to make each person's charm look beautiful under one consistent message. So I'm confident," he said, attracting attention.
Lee Sung-kyoung explained her reason for choosing the work: "It has a delicate narrative, not a predictable melodrama where the protagonists would obviously end up together. The story unfolds layer by layer, and I thought viewers would be moved and empathize when they see the emotions that emerge. Also, the charms that each character gives are alive individually, not only Ha-ran's, so I chose it."
She added, "About 10 years ago I did an MBC drama called Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, and the casting was fierce. It was my first title role, and I stood as a lead among formidable seniors. My feelings haven't changed since then. The result is up to the viewers, and I approach this shoot with the mindset of doing it without shame. I'm making it with the conviction that it will be a 'deep obsession' you can really be passionate about. I'm grateful that the previous work (The Judge Returns) did well, and I hope our drama receives a lot of love thanks to that good energy."
She said, "There are deep and weighty scenes, but there are also many everyday scenes. The actors bring those scenes to life in an interesting, not overly ordinary way. Short stories become unexpectedly vivid and entertaining on set, and I thought, 'Our drama won't have a dull moment.' Our story feels like a puzzle being completed. Viewers will enjoy a picture in which many narratives find their place and the completed image."
Chae Jong Hyeop said about joining the project, "The logline really stood out. 'Which season is your life passing through now?' It felt like a question directed at me. The words 'life' and 'season' didn't seem to match at first, but the question made me think a lot. Asking that, I wondered, 'How will Chan be revealed in the story?' and 'From which seasons will other characters be revealed?' That curiosity led me to choose the work."
Chae Jong Hyeop said of his determination, "It's actually been quite a while since I acted in Korea. So I approach acting each time with the feeling of debuting again. On set I want to capture even small details, so I'm giving my best with the mindset of debuting again. I'm happy the previous work (The Judge Returns) did well. Influenced by that, although this is a different kind of work, I expect it will be a piece that soaks in our own color, scent and sensibility."
Chae Jong Hyeop, who gained great love for romance after participating in the previous drama I Love You, said, "I didn't really think of this as a romance. I saw it as a coming-of-age story. I also thought Sunwoo Chan is a character trapped in winter. He isn't someone who left winter because he fell in love with someone; he's a character who experienced spring after coming out of winter with the help of someone who is in a similar state. Because of that, I thought he would want to let Song Ha-ran experience that. Those aspects make it a bit different from my previous work."
Lee Mi-Sook explained her reason for choosing the work: "It has a slightly analog sensibility. Many works omit parts, but this drama is somewhat explanatory and languid, allowing you to look back on your own season. When you think of a radiant season, it seems like something for the young, but I liked the point that you can make your season radiant even as you grow older, so I chose it."
She also spoke about reuniting with Kang Sukwoo after 40 years. Lee Mi-Sook said, "Strangely, I hadn't had a chance to meet Kang Sukwoo since then. It didn't feel like that much time had passed. Working together again, our chemistry—well, it's the sensibility we matched when we were young—was latent and it was such a joy. Above all, he's very mature," and Kang Sukwoo drew laughter by saying, "I'm almost 70."
Lee Mi-Sook added, "He's a very grown-up person. Isn't it an age where people are easily called an old person? If someone is self-centered, they could be that way, but on set he is kind and there is much to learn. Above all, in dramas many twilight stories have disappeared, haven't they? Even when portraying such a story, like someone's grandmother—our drama is about restarting life by our own will, choice and responsibility. It seems we met people suitable for that."
When asked why he chose the project, Kang Sukwoo said, "I think it was the year before last when Goodbye Earth ended and it didn't do well. I thought my acting career was over. I also heard peers my age struggle to memorize lines on set, so I felt done. But after meeting the director, I felt such a beautiful heart, a kind nature and a beautiful way of seeing the world, and I liked that so much," explaining his reason for participating.
He continued, "The decisive factor was hearing that Lee Mi-Sook would appear. There was a story left unfinished in my heart from the film that came out about 40 years ago. I thought I should finish it this time. After meeting, there wasn't the same heart-fluttering feeling as before, but on set we were like old friends. On set she pushed me a lot. Apart from my feelings as an actor, I was so happy to show fans who watched the film what someone might look like 40 years later. So I decided I would stop thinking about quitting acting. I'll do it again."
He also spoke about his chemistry with junior actors. Kang Sukwoo said, "Each person has a slightly different acting style. Some actors build the character in advance, but I read the script and identify with the character so that when I come to set and move, I become the character. Working with Chae Jong Hyeop and Lee Sung-kyoung this time, I had the illusion of meeting characters in the drama rather than actors. The chemistry is very good, and I think the young actors act very well. The same was true with Lee Mi-Sook. It felt like meeting a character with bittersweet memories, and that feeling remained. It was really nice."
Han Ji-hyun, who plays Song Ha-young, said about why she chose the role, "When I first read the script I felt the character Ha-young had many traits similar to mine. I had a meeting with the director, and my tension was so high that they asked me to tone it down on set; Ha-young is a truly lovable character. Also, this is my first MBC drama. I thought it would be a great opportunity to greet audiences with this character. I chose it because I thought I could learn a lot by filming with seniors I respect."
She added, "There were two points that made me think this drama would work. When we filmed the scene of the family talking in the living room, it was truly exciting, fun and felt like family. When senior Mi-sook first walked out with bleached hair, I thought, 'Oh, it's done, she looks so cool. Kim Nana.' She had the aura of a company president and overflowing charisma. I thought, 'This is really cool.'"
Oh Yeju, who plays Song Ha-dam, explained, "When I read the script, each character's narrative was piercing and painful, but there was warmth too. If I were to do this, the opportunity to deliver warmth to viewers would be precious. I chose it thinking I would be truly happy and able to do well. You will also see the chemistry of the three sisters again at some point. It was an honor just to work with these actors, so I chose it."
She joked, "I learned a lot while filming with the three sisters; the older sisters took care of everything on set. Watching that, I thought, 'Now I see why they became such famous actors.' Watching them I thought, 'This is it.'"
Finally, Lee Sung-kyoung said, "I hope our drama becomes an opportunity for viewers to discover the warmth that spreads throughout life," and Chae Jong Hyeop said, "Personally, I think our drama is about coloring and being colored, and about permeating one another. I hope it becomes a work that permeates many people."
In particular, Kang Sukwoo joked, "If I could ask for a favor about this drama, it will also be shown in Japan. Please show love to Jong Hyeop and Sung-kyoung. There's also Mi-sook hime and Seok-sama. I hope people around the world love this drama a lot," and added playfully, "Many people seem to wander looking for senior roles. What should one look like when older? I think one should be like the sunset that supports young people. This drama shows what the role of older people is in society and family. It seems to suggest to senior viewers, 'I want to live like that,' so I'm also expecting good ratings. Please watch it."
[photo] OSEN DB
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