Can Blackpink's Jisoo earn the title of "rom-com goddess"?
On the 26th, at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, the Netflix series Boyfriend on Demand unpack press showcase was held. Director Kim Jeong-sik attended the showcase along with actors Jisoo and Seo Inguk to talk about the project.
Boyfriend on Demand, set to be released on March 6, is a romantic comedy about a webtoon PD, Mirae (Jisoo), who is exhausted by real life and subscribes to and experiences virtual dating simulations to realize her romantic dreams. Its unique setting of "subscribing to romance in a virtual world" layered over realistic everyday office life that everyone can relate to is expected to spark thrilling excitement.
Regarding Boyfriend on Demand, director Kim Jeong-sik said, "The idea for the project started with 'what if you could subscribe to dating?' It's the story of a protagonist who was hurt in real life and is healed through monthly boyfriends while experiencing dates. Through the dating subscription service, one actor plays multiple settings and characters. I think it feels like a service under development somewhere, and I hope viewers can experience it in advance."
Jisoo said she chose the project because, "From the first time I read the script, the idea of virtual reality didn't feel like something from a distant future and had relatable parts. The character Mirae is around my age, and I related to her concerns and how she overcomes them, so I chose it."
Seo Inguk mentioned the Boyfriend on Demand universe, saying, "The worldbuilding was interesting. Entering a virtual reality world was fascinating, and the backgrounds and numerous CGI works that you can't see in reality, along with the continuing story that fits that theme, were attractive. The emotional changes and ensuing story that the character Seo Mirae experiences while moving between virtual reality and reality, and my character being attractive, made me choose the role," he said.
Jisoo, who plays Seo Mirae in the drama, showed her characteristic loveliness. Regarding the character's sync rate, Jisoo added, "Mirae is a character who once failed in love and, after being hurt, focused on work and lives as a pro of real life. She values her own time and maintains work-life balance, and then learns and grows in virtual reality; I think she's a three-dimensional character. Personality-wise, she likes being at home and I thought she resembled me. I think viewers will relate to Mirae's worries and challenges and think the same things I do about her."
By contrast, regarding the role he plays, Park Kyung-nam, Seo Inguk said, "Kyung-nam is Mirae's coworker and is known as someone very competent at work. When assigned a task, he makes it number one, so we always expect top performance from our capable characters. On the outside, he draws lines to the point of looking like a robot, but within that bluntness there is delicacy and consideration. Because he is clumsy at expressing emotions, it creates curiosity about what charm will be shown when he meets Seo Mirae."
Seo Inguk worked with Jisoo for the first time through Boyfriend on Demand. He recalled, "We met for the first time on this project, and she was more fun and very humorous than I expected," then praised her, saying, "On the set of Boyfriend on Demand, the days started and ended with laughter. I filmed very happily and thought she was a friend with a lovely charm. Jisoo made Seo Mirae in the script even more lovable, and I think she's someone who brings that to life well."
So why did the roles of Seo Mirae and Park Kyung-nam have to be Jisoo and Seo Inguk? Director Kim Jeong-sik explained, "Mirae has a character in reality and a character in virtual reality. The real-life appearance seems similar to Mirae. Their MBTI feels the same. Her current glamorous side is the stage persona, but the appearance of Mirae in the virtual reality needs to be exactly like this. More than 95% is Jisoo, and she handles various settings; I think she digested everything, and this time I think effort can beat talent."
Director Kim praised them, saying, "Watching Jisoo made me want to hire her as an assistant director or on the directing team because I was so greedy. I couldn't say much about Seo Inguk because it might be a spoiler, but if you watch until the end you'll understand why it had to be Seo Inguk. I'm grateful to Inguk because when we had to shoot difficult scenes, even on days when he didn't have filming he practiced with us, led juniors well as a senior, and showed much consideration for other actors. I think he's a professional actor who knows how to sacrifice himself."
Boyfriend on Demand portrays events that occur while using a virtual dating subscription service. On this subject, Seo Inguk said, "Personally, I like fantasy and games. I also like comics and webtoons, so a setting that lets you experience a world other than reality felt appealing. When I heard the explanation it sounded fun and interesting, and when I read the script, because each character and theme has a different background, there's a big part that allows for vicarious experience. I thought viewers could feel it exactly as it is."
Jisoo confessed, "Since I'm a homebody, I thought it was a device that lets you travel to various worlds from home, so I liked it and felt jealous of Mirae. Watching it didn't feel extremely unrealistic; it felt like 'maybe this could be possible someday?' so it resonated and felt fun."
Jisoo, the only experiencer in Boyfriend on Demand, described her experience, saying, "If you put this device on your head and activate it, I can enter virtual reality. Going to a reality slightly different from real life, I healed and experienced various jobs, and I felt I was healed."
Boyfriend on Demand not only features the chemistry between Jisoo and Seo Inguk, but also involves director Kim Jeong-sik, who completed realistic and unconventional romantic comedies such as Work Later, Drink Now and I Don't Want to Suffer. Special appearances in Boyfriend on Demand by Seo Kang-jun, Lee Soo-hyuk, Ong Seongwu, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Young Dae, and Park Jae-beom have already raised expectations.
About the dazzling standout lineup, director Kim Jeong-sik said, "I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who appeared and everyone who helped with casting. There are actors I called the day before to have a meal and gave the script and filmed. Actors Ha-young and Gong Min-jung also appear in the project, and they have their own monthly boyfriend experiences. We wanted to give diverse settings and characters, so we cast actors who fit the image and wanted to show romances in various environments," he said.
It is known that Lee Soo-hyuk and Seo Kang-jun have large amounts of screen time. Director Kim Jeong-sik raised expectations, saying, "I wanted Lee Soo-hyuk, who appears as the first monthly boyfriend, to seem like he stepped out of the comic. The script required some old-fashioned acting that might be cringey because it had to represent certain webtoon stories, but after persuading the actor I think the satisfaction was high. Seo Kang-jun has visuals that would make even men fall for him. Kyung-nam's story is important, and really the twists and bold stories come from the two couples, so the mid-to-late parts should be more fun to watch."
With this project, Jisoo filmed her first romantic comedy. She said, "It's my first rom-com and my first contemporary drama. When I read the script, Mirae and I are the same age, so there were many relatable and fun parts, and we developed the character by discussing and empathizing together. In-guk oppa has done a lot of romance, so I followed his lead and did my best."
When host Park Kyung-rim asked, "Are you aiming to be a rom-com goddess?" director Kim Jeong-sik exclaimed, "You will. I don't know why she hasn't done rom-coms until now," and Jisoo confessed her desire, saying, "I want that."
However, Jisoo has previously received some critical evaluations about her acting. Regarding this, Jisoo said, "Because I take on various roles in each project, I met with the director and had many conversations to show a better side this time. Playing a character in the same age group suited me better, so I worked hard to show a good side that fits me, and I hope people will say I found a role that fits me perfectly," she said, mentioning the evaluation she hopes to receive through Boyfriend on Demand.
Director Kim Jeong-sik, who worked closely with her, praised her, saying, "I think Jisoo worked very hard and digested the various settings and characters well. You can see the growing Mirae, but I also think you can see the growth of actor Jisoo. I think effort beat talent."
When asked about changed views on dating after finishing Boyfriend on Demand, Seo Inguk said, "Rather than changing my views on dating, I think it created some romantic fantasies. Instead of wanting to meet various people, it showed various themes, so I'd like to try those kinds of dates. Now there are campuses or glamorous palaces you can't go back to. They're so varied," he marveled. When Park Kyung-rim comforted him saying he could wear a school uniform, Seo Inguk replied firmly, "I think it's time to put school uniforms aside," drawing laughs.
Meanwhile, the thrilling romantic comedy Boyfriend on Demand will be released on March 6.
[Photo] Reporter Min Kyung-hoon
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