On the afternoon of the 9th, a press conference for tvN's new weekend drama 'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' was held at The Link Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by Ha Jung-woo, Lim Soo-jung, Kim Jun-han, Jung Soo-jung, Shim Eun-kyung, and director Im Pil-sung.
'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' is a suspense drama about a debt-ridden building owner who gets involved in a fake kidnapping scheme to protect his family and property.
Ha Jung-woo plays the role of Ki Soo-jong, a building owner who acquired his property through extensive loans. Reflecting on his role, he said, "There were many relatable aspects. I realized once again that becoming financially independent isn't easy," and added, "It's good to leverage well to acquire property, but what's most important is how much you can handle in the process." He continued, "Ultimately, you have to do what you can manage. Even if you achieve a windfall with vague hopes, there are always consequences, which is a key point of this work."
He added, "I participated as a B-team director in an OTT series, but working on a 12-episode drama like a marathon was a different experience. It was the longest project I've worked on," and shared, "Rather than thinking of changing my life with this work, I tried to surpass my limits every day to create a better piece."
He continued, "I gained all my strength from the actors. As Shim Eun-kyung mentioned, I was always excited to see what ideas the actors would bring to the set each day. It was a process of tackling each scene like a challenge," and added, "This project is important to everyone, but we did our best in the process. I tried not to overly express my intentions as a director." He laughed, "The happiest compliment from Ha Jung-woo during filming was 'Your directing has improved.'"
Director Im stated, "I wanted to make this work enjoyable rather than delivering a grand message or lesson," and explained, "I focused on ensuring the actors' performances and the story itself were well conveyed without excessive directorial intervention."
He also mentioned, "Although it's a thriller and suspense genre, there are many black comedy elements. The fun comes from the clash of characters with desires," and added, "The plot will unfold in an unpredictable manner." He concluded, "We put a lot of effort into the music. It will be a work that can be enjoyed for its entertainment value rather than its message."
'How to Become a Building Owner in Korea' premieres on the 14th at 9:10 PM.
Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr