Set to premiere on April 18, 'Fighting Against One's Worthlessness' (abbreviated as 'FAOW') follows the journey of a man struggling to find peace amidst jealousy and frustration as he watches his successful friends thrive. Koo Kyo-hwan, known for his irreplaceable acting skills, takes on the role of 'Hwang Dong-man', a character who has been stuck in the same place for 20 years while his friends have become successful producers, directors, and filmmakers. The anticipation is high as Koo shares his surprise at the depth of the script and his perfect chemistry with co-star Go Yoon-jung.
Hwang Dong-man is a character who, despite dreaming of making films with his friends, remains trapped as an 'aspirant' while they achieve great success. Over time, his stagnant life has led to layers of anxiety and a desperate attempt to erase his feelings of worthlessness by constantly talking to those around him. However, his ultimate wish is not to gain fame but to create just one film to overcome his sense of worthlessness and reach a state of 'not being anxious'. His passionate struggle is all the more poignant.
Reflecting on his first encounter with the script and the character of Hwang Dong-man, Koo Kyo-hwan described it as feeling like his personal diary had been exposed. He added, "By the time I finished reading, it felt like I had secretly peeked into everyone's diaries," praising writer Park Hae-young's unique insight into revealing the raw, hidden sides of people. He shared a line from Hwang Dong-man: "I'm that kind of guy. If you show me a little kindness, I'll give you everything. Why should I be nice to people who don't like me? I'm like litmus paper. If you're acidic, I'm acidic! If you're alkaline, I'm alkaline!" Koo found it fascinating and surprising to see words he unconsciously uses in daily life naturally flow from the character's mouth.
Another highlight of the show is Koo's on-screen chemistry with Go Yoon-jung, who plays 'Byun Eun-ah', a film planning producer. Koo explained that Byun Eun-ah helps Hwang Dong-man see his emotions clearly and provides him with a sense of 'comfort'. Meeting her gives Hwang Dong-man the courage to stop his endless chatter and face his anxious inner self.
Koo, born in 1982, praised Go Yoon-jung, born in 1996, for her acting skills, noting her charming blend of innocence and maturity. He described her as someone who can express sentences with her eyes without speaking, and shared that even in scenes where Hwang Dong-man talks endlessly and Byun Eun-ah listens, he felt as if he was filled with her voice after the scene ended. The synergy between Koo and Go is already resonating deeply, heightening expectations.
'FAOW' is a collaboration between writer Park Hae-young, known for crafting noble sentences from life's lowest emotions, and director Cha Young-hoon, who captures the extraordinary bonds of ordinary people with warm humanism. With 'anxiety' as a key theme, the drama aims to turn the red light of worthlessness into a 'green light of life' for those who feel stuck. It is one of the most anticipated dramas of the first half of 2026, set to air on Saturday, April 18, at 10:40 PM on JTBC.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr