'My Genie Secretary' Seojin and Kim Kwang-kyu expressed their determination to beat I Live Alone with an even more upgraded chemistry.
On the 28th afternoon at the Kensington Hotel in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, an SBS press conference was held for the new variety show My Genie Secretary. Actors Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu and producer Kim Jung-wook attended the conference and spoke.
My Genie Secretary is a variety show in which Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu, beyond the existing simple manager role, offer a more upgraded "high-end close care" as real secretaries responsible even for a star's most intimate and private areas.
That day, producer Kim Jung-wook, asked about the subtitle My Genie Secretary, said, "From the end of season 1 I thought season 2 should go this way. Seojin hyung revealed that by filming 16 times in real time he was gradually becoming a slave. I thought rather than being prickly because of a slave mentality, we should take it this way. I thought naming it like this would make the hyungs work harder. The hyungs are also working harder during recordings than last season. I feel there is conflict within themselves. The slave mentality tries to come out then goes back inside, and I wanted to watch that process, so I tried the name this way," adding, "We also changed the name because we wanted to give them more roles than that of a manager."
Then Lee Seo-jin drew a line with a laugh, saying, "The production team gave it a title without consulting me at all. I was completely unaware of it." On his resolve for the new season he said, "I don't have any new resolve. While filming last season I hated that I was getting used to being a secretary, so I try not to adapt as much as possible even now. That's my resolve. The purpose of My Genie Secretary was to make people realize how grateful they should be for their managers, but we do so well that the stars seem not to appreciate their managers, and I don't like that. My resolve is to try not to adapt as much as possible."
Then Kim Kwang-kyu said with a laugh, "I also have no particular thoughts. I've lived that way all along. In the military I always catered to my squad members, company commander and seniors, and since I was young I have lived catering to older brothers. I've always lived by reading the room. I think the title was chosen to tell us to be more attentive, but I do whatever the PD asks."
When asked how much more upgraded the level of attending has become compared with before, Lee Seo-jin said, "Honestly it's always hard. But maybe that's how it is. It's early in the season and it feels harder because it's a new start, but after midseason as we get used to attending, it seems to get a bit easier. It's a slave mentality. At first there are complaints and grievances, and gradually it becomes a program of compliance." Then Kim Kwang-kyu said, "My stamina is declining. The recording time is longer than other variety shows. It's very inefficient. If it were senior Lee Kyung-kyu, he would really dislike it. We start early in the morning and sometimes end at dawn. Even so, because the drama and movie market is bad, we're working hard. If the movie stops, I'll quit," he declared, causing laughter.
Asked why they undertook season 2 despite such tough shooting intensity, Lee Seo-jin said, "Because of the top prize at the entertainment awards." He candidly said, "I would have refused otherwise, but after receiving the top prize I considered season 2." Kim Kwang-kyu also added with a laugh, "The economy is really bad. We can't be picky. We are doing the work that comes in, in order. When work comes in we do it, so we have to work hard."
The first My star of the new season is singer VV. In the released preview, Lee Seo-jin and Kim Kwang-kyu even showed up at Waterbomb to closely attend VV. Asked about his impressions, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "When I was young water was precious so we fetched water from a communal tap and carried it on our shoulders up the hill, so seeing water used like that shocked me. It was the first time I saw such a big water cannon. My mother would go crazy if she saw it. I used to get scolded for playing with a water bowl, so the world has really changed. But I tried hard to focus on my star without getting angry whether they used water or not. It was my first time seeing Waterbomb and it was amazing. I couldn't imagine so many people would come for such an expensive event, but many people came. It was an astonishing experience," and added an episode, "Someone I met there shot a water gun at me for the first time that day, so I was disoriented."
Lee Seo-jin also reflected, "I've only seen Waterbomb in the media, but I think people over 50 should be banned from entry. It was the first time I'd seen people come wearing only swimsuits where there's no pool. People didn't shoot many water guns at me, but I thought they were trying to kill Kim Kwang-kyu. They were aiming carefully. It was a new cultural experience."
When asked which My star he would like to appear in the new season, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "Luckily at Waterbomb I met Karina, who I like. I'd like to invite Karina. I hope we can have the Blackpink members the viewers are waiting for. That would help the program," showing his ambition. Lee Seo-jin added, "To create a new picture I think overseas filming would be good. I think it would be nice if stars active overseas appear, but as far as I know they were all rejected," he said, causing laughter.
Producer Kim Jung-wook said, "We filmed a few more things, met RESCENE and spent a special day with Seo In Young. Seojin hyung had a day he wondered if it could even be broadcast. Among the people scheduled, there were two who went away holding a grudge from season 1 and returned determined to exact revenge in season 2. We're preparing overseas shoots and progress is being made," he hinted.
Asked about the two men's chemistry in season 2, Lee Seo-jin emphasized, "In season 1 there was a status hierarchy, but this hyung often tried to get above me. In season 2 I am thoroughly keeping him below me. If a star gives me an order, I have a systematic system in season 2 where I give orders to this hyung." Then Kim Kwang-kyu voiced his complaint, "I found myself accepting orders without realizing it. Looking back, Seojin's words might be right. It feels like we're welcoming one more star for My star."
When asked if he regretted not winning the best couple award at year-end awards during season 1, Kim Kwang-kyu said, "I didn't expect it then, but people around me said we'd definitely win, so I prepared mentally and was a bit disappointed when we didn't." Then Lee Seo-jin said with a stern face, "I'm not disappointed at all. I might have refused the award even if they gave it. It's an award I don't want to receive," and firmly added, "I'm very grateful for the top prize in season 1, but the ceremony is too long so I don't plan to attend this year," provoking laughter.
Still, he said, "We are in the same time slot as I Live Alone. We never beat it in season 1, so my goal this year is to beat I Live Alone. If that is achieved, my hope is that Kim Kwang-kyu will definitely win the grand prize at the next entertainment awards. After all, this hyung came from I Live Alone. He betrayed I Live Alone to appear on My Genie Secretary, so the moment we step on them I want to give him the grand prize," he pressed. Then Kim Kwang-kyu replied, "I love I Live Alone. Let's not touch the home front," showing a pleasant chemistry.
Producer Kim Jung-wook also commented on their chemistry, "They seem to be getting closer to an old married couple. You talk about a status hierarchy, but there seems to be warmth and love felt in the bursts. Although they say it's not, love seems to be budding," he emphasized.
Finally Lee Seo-jin appealed, "A person two days from now turning 60 who is suffering from chronic fatigue and a person going through menopause are struggling with the secretary work. They are having a hard time taking care of young friends, so please look on them with compassion, take interest and support them," and repeated, "I want to give viewers fun. I don't need emotion. I want to beat I Live Alone at least once," which embarrassed Kim Kwang-kyu.
Meanwhile, My Genie Secretary premieres tonight (the 28th) at 11:10 p.m.<
[Photo] SBS
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