Jang Dong-yoon, “I shave my head” Seol In-ah “Winks only 14 times”

Jang Dong-yoon and Seol In-ah met during the turbulent times of the 1980s. KBS2’s new Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Oasis’. The two people, who met through 'School 2017', expressed their meaningful feelings by meeting again in a KBS drama.

On the 6th, an online production presentation for KBS2's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Oasis' was held. Director Han Hee and actors Jang Dong-yoon, Seol In-ah, and Choi Cheol-woong attended.

'Oasis' is a drama that tells the story of three young people who fiercely sacrifice themselves to protect their own dreams, friendship, and first love, their only dream of life, set against the backdrop of Korea's turbulent times from the 1980s to the 1990s. Director Han Hee said, "The key is the story of the 1980s. What happens when the word 'youth' is combined with the Korean era in the 1980s? It's not all fact, it's basically a fictional story, but it's a story of youth who lived like fireworks in the 1980s." The work was introduced.

Regarding the synchronization between director Han Hee and the roles and actors, "The three of them were enough to catch me off guard in the beginning. When I read the script and prepare for directing, I make predictions and imagines, but they caught me off guard. The three of them will appear in 'Oasis' in 2023. 'I think I was destined to do it. I was surprised to see an unremarkable director go beyond the limits he thought of,' he praised.

Jang Dong-yoon played the role of Lee Du-hak, who was born as the son of a tenant farmer in a small, quiet village in Yeosu. While Lee Doo-hak is filling the pages of his brilliant youth with his brother-like friend Choi Cheol-woong and Oh Jung-shin, whom he fell in love with at first sight, he encounters an unexpected event and is placed at a crossroads in his fate. Jang Dong-yoon introduced Lee Doo-hak's character as "a boy with a simple and pure heart. He hangs out with his friends, falls in love, and shares friendships, but is one of those characters who gets caught up in incidents and difficult situations and overcomes them."

Regarding the reason for choosing this work, Jang Dong-yoon said, "I was impressed because Doo-hak is a character who lives a life that is not easily encountered in other works. Also, the play had great depth." He continued, "After seeing Doo-hak's life and the relationships between the characters, even I, who was young and had little experience, thought, 'Will I be able to see a work like this in my lifetime?' While filming, my feelings grew. I played the character of Doo-hak, who lives a long period of time in a period drama. "I felt that depth from the moment I read the script. It's not a smooth job or character. It's a character that goes through a difficult life, so I found it attractive and wanted to play it," he said.

Jang Dong-yoon, who returned to KBS drama after 'The Tale of Nokdu', expressed his affection, saying, "When I talk about KBS, it feels like my hometown and it has a home-like warmth." He continued, "I met Ina at KBS when she was a rookie and worked on 'School 2017'. My emotions are new, overwhelming, and thankful. I have mixed emotions."

Jang Dong-yoon, who acted in dialect, said, "I went to Yeosu to learn the Yeosu language. I was introduced to about 6 people from Yeosu through an acquaintance. Opinions differed depending on age. Recording and listening to that helped me get used to it. "he said. Jang Dong-yoon, who usually has white skin, was embarrassed about wearing black makeup, saying, "The makeup team worked hard to make it black." He then laughed, saying, “I shaved my head hard to rehearse. I think my colleagues got the impression that I was a naive young man.”

Seol In-ah played Oh Jung-shin, whom Doo-hak and Cheol-woong (played by Choo Young-woo) fell in love with at first sight. Seol In-ah said, "He transfers to Yeosu and meets Doo-hak and Cheol-woong. He is a character who depicts dreams and love." He added, "The charm of Jeong-sin is that he is a person full of passion for the things he likes and the people he likes. That charm. “It will also be a point to watch,” he explained. He also emphasized that he is "cheerful, cheerful, and easy-going," and "He is the type of person who goes straight to what he wants to do. The director and staff did a great job of capturing that side of him. The point is that he is not just an image of first love."

Seol In-ah said, "Roller coasters are not just for Doo-hak, but for all the characters in the drama. Aren't there times in our lives when we feel like a roller coaster? I was attracted to that part in the script. It's also a work that makes me want to act. I'm doing it now. “It’s an honor to be there,” he said, explaining the reason for his appearance. He then mentioned perfect timing, saying, “I like analog sensibilities, and I was wondering, ‘When will a drama like this come out?’ and then I came across ‘Oasis.’”

Seol In-ah has a deep connection with KBS, including the dramas 'School 2017', 'Bright Tomorrow', 'Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life' as well as MC for the Entertainment Awards. Seol In-ah said proudly, "Thankfully, I have a lot of connections with KBS. I even got a pass because of a daily drama. As soon as I arrive at KBS Yeouido, I feel excited right from the alley. What makes me focus from the beginning is in front of KBS in Yeouido. The restaurants are also good. Thank you." did. He continued, "I had a new experience at KBS to promote 'Oasis'. I stood on the music broadcast stage with Jang Dong-yoon."

In the play, Oh Jeong-shin is the leader of the Gojeok Troupe. Seol In-ah said, "I fell in love with the two characters when I saw them. They overdid it and made big movements and acted cute. So it was difficult at first. I thought, 'I'm not Seol In-ah, I'm Oh Jung-shin. If I'm Oh Jung-shin, I can do it.' “I did it. I winked 14 times,” he said, laughing.

Seol In-ah says she gained weight because of the delicious ‘Jeolla-do meal’. Seol In-ah laughed, saying, "It was so delicious that I lost weight after eating three meals a day. I thought I had to eat it since I went to Jeolla-do. I remember that the food was delicious and the location was pretty."

Choo Young-woo played the role of Choi Cheol-woong, the second generation reader of Doo-hak's family. Choo Young-woo described the character by saying, “I was born into a wealthy family and I hate losing.” Choo Young-woo, who is playing the lead role in a period drama for the first time, said, "I put a lot of time and effort into the dialect. We filmed a lot in Jeolla-do, so I ate and listened there, so I became more familiar with it." He continued, “Cheolwoong has a refreshing personality. I’ve always worked hard to think that I should also become refreshing.”

Regarding his first impressions of the work, Choo Young-woo said, "I wanted to challenge myself as an actor by playing the character Cheol-woong. There were many difficulties and the weight and size of the case were large, so I thought, 'Can I do it?' “I wanted to do it,” he said. “The director helped me be free to do what I wanted to do, and the actors also helped me.”

Actors who filmed on the KBS Suwon set. Choo Young-woo said that he was recommended a restaurant near KBS by Seol In-ah, and said, "There is a pot lid pork belly restaurant on the Suwon set, and it is really delicious," making everyone laugh.

Choo Young-woo expressed his gratitude about working with the two actors, saying, "Dong-yoon was a senior and an atmosphere maker, so I depended on him a lot on set. In-ah was my spiritual support. She worried about my meals and sleep. He is a warm person."

When asked what he considers the current oasis in his life, director Han Hee laughed and said, "The drama 'Oasis'." Director Han Hee said, “At the filming site and during post-production, I wonder, ‘Was I doing this?’ I think, ‘This is happening, this is happening.’ In a positive sense, I am excited, surprised, and happy every day.” Jang Dong-yoon said, "I am also in the drama 'Oasis'. As an actor, the filming set is my workplace. Although it is stressful and difficult, the filming set is the place that gives me the greatest joy. I talked about that in order to fight with the two actors for this 'Oasis', but other works “He said he was sad that the end was in sight because he had developed a lot more affection for it than before.”

Seol In-ah said, "I am also an 'Oasis'. And these days, Oasis seems to be my daily life. The fact that good people come together and work on one project is in itself a daily and human blessing. I am living a blessed life." Choo Young-woo said happily, "My Oasis is our drama. There were many first challenges I faced while doing a drama, and the preparation process was fun. It was a script that made me look forward to how and where this scene would be filmed. These days, the joy of my life is 'Oasis'."

Director Han Hee said, "There is no grand message. I hope that people can forget the worries of the day and feel healed just by watching and enjoying this drama. I want to convey comfort and peace of mind to those who remember the 80s." Choo Young-woo said, “For those who have experienced this era, it will be nostalgic, and for those who have not experienced this era, it will be a drama like a time machine.” Seol In-ah said, “Thanks to ‘Oasis,’ there was a time when I tried to look at big things small and small things big. I hope you too will think about life and take a deep look at ‘Oasis.’ You will have the perspective to look at small things big and big things small. “I hope it becomes a drama that allows people to do that,” he said. Jang Dong-yoon said, "It is a drama that people of all ages can sympathize with. I hope that the overwhelming emotions and fun I felt while acting will be conveyed to the younger generation. It contains a deeper sense of life than other dramas. I hope that viewers will be moved."

‘Oasis’ will be aired for the first time on the 6th at 9:50 PM.

Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr