Kim Jung-hyun, after self-reflection, apologizes for controversy over private life

Actor Kim Jung-hyun expressed his feelings about returning to the small screen two years after controversy over his private life and apologized 90 degrees.

On the 27th, a production presentation for the new Friday-Saturday drama 'Season of Kokdu' was held at MBC Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam-dong, Seoul. Director Baek Soo-chan and actors Kim Jeong-hyun, Im Soo-hyang, Kim Da-som, Ahn Woo-yeon, Kim In-kwon, and Cha Chung-hwa attended the event.

'Kkokdu's Season' is a fantasy romance drama about Kokdu, the god of death who comes down to this world every 99 years to punish humans, and meets Han Je-jeol, a doctor with mysterious abilities.

Kim Jung-hyun, who made his first public appearance in two years after the controversy over his private life with his ex-girlfriend Seo Ye-ji, bowed his head and said, "I will do my best" during the photo session. When MC Park Kyung-rim asked him to speak loudly, Kim Jeong-hyun once again strengthened his resolve, saying, "I will work hard with a new mind." Next, he and Lim Soo-hyang showed a friendly appearance by striking various poses such as hand hearts and head hearts with bright smiles.

Director Baek Soo-chan introduced, "'Season of the Kokdu' is a fairy tale for adults. Compared to existing dramas, it has many fairy tale-like and typical settings."

When asked why he cast Kim Jeong-hyun, director Baek Soo-chan said, "Actor Kim Jeong-hyun was cast in this work earlier than me. Even though Kim Jeong-hyun was doing it, I was a bit cautious. However, I respected him as an actor, so I told him to do his best and do well." “I felt like Kim Jung-hyun was a person with a lot of soft spots,” he said.

'Season of the Kokdu' featured a minor role on the entertainment show 'What Do You Do When You Play?' Yoo Jae-seok, Jeong Jun-ha, etc. have appeared. In response, Director Baek hinted, "It progressed faster than expected. It didn't interfere with the filming schedule. It will appear in episode 3."

Kim Jeong-hyeon plays two roles: Kokdu, who incurred the Creator's wrath, and Do Jin-woo, a professor of surgery at Pilseong Hospital. Kim Jeong-hyun said, “Thank you for taking this valuable step even though it is very cold. I will do my best and work hard.”

When asked why he chose 'Season of the Kokdu', Kim Jung-hyun said, "Of course the script is important in choosing a work, but if it is long, if it is short, I am grateful to MBC for reaching out first within a short period of self-reflection. Within that time, I personally “A lot of things happened, and I think it was a time to look back and reflect on myself,” he said.

He continued, “This is my first time saying this here, but from the time I started working on this project until now, I have been personally worried that something might happen to the team, and that the passion of the actors and the work might be ruined by a person like me. I am grateful that much more diligently. “I’m preparing with my heart, so I hope you’ll look at me kindly,” he said, standing up once again and bowing his head.

When asked to explain the casting process in detail, Kim Jung-hyun said, "I received a mention about the work while I was adjusting with my new agency. Even before the director was chosen, I had several meetings with the production team and prepared step by step. Since the beginning of last year, I had prepared this script. “I knew its identity, and I had been watching it little by little and waiting for it,” he explained.

As with my first work after the controversy, my mindset was different. Kim Jung-hyun said, "I can see the efforts of the staff and actors working with me, and I am going to the site with a grateful heart. We are filming from summer to fall and winter, and I always try to come in and greet them brightly. If possible, the staff members are known by name. “We are building a relationship by calling each and every one of them,” he said.

Kim Jung-hyun returns to MBC drama 5 years after 'Time'. Kim Jung-hyun caused controversy over his attitude by refusing to link arms with Seohyun during the photo time at the production press conference for 'Time' and appearing with a dark expression the entire time. And suspicions arose that the reason was the instructions of Seo Ye-ji, her lover at the time.

When asked how he felt about returning to MBC after 5 years, Kim Jung-hyun said, "Actually, I don't remember much from 5 years ago. It's also unfamiliar." He continued, "There are many ways to express myself about coming back to MBC and holding a production presentation after 5 years, but I can only feel grateful. “It doesn’t matter. No matter what story I tell or add more flesh to, I feel like there is nothing but gratitude in my heart,” he said.

Kim Jung-hyun then added, "I hope people will look at me positively as I prepared hard, but if I'm lacking anything, I think I should work harder to show my mature side. I think I have no choice but to show it more clearly in the future."

Lim Soo-hyang plays Han Je-jeol, an emergency medicine specialist who makes up for her lack of qualifications with passion. Lim Soo-hyang said, "I wanted to do a fantasy romance. The setting of a puppet and the script itself were interesting. Above all, I had a connection with director Baek Soo-chan when I was young, and I was glad that he invited me to do it."

Lim Soo-hyang is working on her first historical drama through this work. He said, "There are many people who think I did a historical drama by wearing a hanbok during 'New Gisaeng'. This is my first historical drama, even though it is short, and it was really fun."

Lim Soo-hyang said about her chemistry with Kim Jung-hyun, "I jokingly said that I wanted to win the Best Couple award. It's a work where there are so many lines, so chemistry is very important, but Jung-hyun acts so well and accepts it well. It's so much fun when she acts." He said. Kim Jung-hyun also said, "We are the same age, and we have been working together comfortably since we first met. As a partner, he acts stably. Thanks to that, I am acting comfortably. He kept my balance well, so I only put a spoon on the well-laid table. “He added.

Kim Da-som, a former member of SISTAR, plays Tae Jeong-won, a beautiful, strict daughter doctor who never misses the top spot after entering medical school at the top of her class and graduating. Dasom Kim expressed her affection for Lim Soo-hyang, saying, "She is a senior in high school. She takes good care of me on set. We chatted a lot and gave me a lot of acting advice. She even called me for an hour. She is a good senior and older sister."

Han Cheol, played by Ahn Woo-yeon, is Han Hane-jeol's younger brother and a homicide detective. Kim In-kwon played the role of Oksin, the god of greed who assists Kokdu. Cha Cheong-hwa takes on the role of Gak-sin, the god of rumors with a perfect sense of wit.

When asked about the target viewership rating, Director Baek said, "I think viewership ratings are God's domain. Right now, dramas are splitting their share in the 7-8% range, so it's very burdensome." I hoped so.

‘Season of Kokdu’ will premiere on the 27th at 9:50 PM.

Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr