On the 14th, a production presentation for the Coupang Play series 'Romance's Absolute Value' was held at The Saint in D-Cube City, Guro-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Kim Hyang-gi, Cha Hak-yeon, Kim Jae-hyun, Son Jeong-hyeok, Kim Dong-kyu, and director Lee Tae-gon.
'Romance's Absolute Value' is a high-teen series about a high school girl who writes BL novels featuring handsome teachers and unexpectedly encounters them in real life, becoming the protagonist of a tumultuous school life.
Kim Hyang-gi plays the role of Ye Ui-ju, a regular high school student by day and a BL novel writer by night. She described her character as "a girl who loves writing during the day but has another persona as a writer named Lee Muk at night."
Regarding her choice to join the project, Kim Hyang-gi said, "When I first read the script, it felt very comic-like, yet the characters were three-dimensional and charming. It made me curious about the story." She added, "This is my first time doing a comedy genre since my debut. I've always admired those who excel in comedy, and I wanted to bring out that fun in this project."
Kim Hyang-gi also mentioned, "The character is very three-dimensional, so I focused on developing it. I even cut my hair short to be funny." She laughed, saying, "I wanted to find the image that best suited the character. After much thought, I cut my hair, and it surprisingly resembled my childhood look."
Cha Hak-yeon takes on the role of Ga Woo-soo, a math teacher with an IQ of 156 and a member of Mensa, known for his cold charm. Cha Hak-yeon said, "Woo-soo thinks of himself as very rational and has a firm framework, but if you look closely, he has a clumsy side. The humor comes from his belief in his own perfection."
He paid special attention to his speech. Cha Hak-yeon explained, "My usual speech is round and soft, but Woo-soo has a sharper and more pointed tone. I remember practicing a lot to show a speech and behavior I don't usually use."
Cha Hak-yeon added, "Throughout the filming, it felt like experiencing school days again. The chemistry was great, and there was constant laughter. The director's positive reactions motivated us to prepare even more diligently. I hope for your interest."
Director Lee Tae-gon shared, "While preparing for this project, I realized there is an audience that consumes and enjoys the BL genre. I thought of BL as a genre, so while the overall atmosphere is comedic, I focused on naturally conveying the emotions between characters."
He also revealed some behind-the-scenes stories. Director Lee said, "I was curious about how the BL genre would feel on screen, but our actors did an excellent job. Many ideas emerged on set, leading to content not originally in the script."
He highlighted 'growth' as a distinguishing factor from other high-teen works. Director Lee stated, "Although the story unfolds with a high school writer hiding her identity, the essence of this story is 'human growth.' I hope you focus on the keyword 'growth' while watching."
'Romance's Absolute Value' will be released on the 17th at 8 PM.
Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr