Jung Yong-hwa, Cha Tae-hyun, and Ye Ji-won's 'Brain Collaboration'

The bromance between two men with 'polar opposite brains' unfolds surrounding a 'rare brain disease' crime.

On the 2nd, the production presentation for KBS2's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'Brain Collaboration' was broadcast live online. Director Lee Jin-seo and actors Jung Yong-hwa, Cha Tae-hyun, Kwak Sun-young, and Ye Ji-won attended the event.

‘Brain Collaboration’ is a brain science comic investigative drama in which two men who cannot kill each other solve a criminal case related to a rare brain disease.

After watching the highlight video, Ye Jin-won said, "I was worried because I heard it was the best KBS hit for a long time, but after watching the highlight video, I think I understand why it is the best hit." Jung Yong-hwa added, “We were filming from last summer to winter, and I’m even more excited because it was made while overcoming the heat and cold.”

Director Lee Jin-seo said, “The writer was making a brain scientist character in a different genre, and it started when I suggested changing it to a detective story and bromance.”

The reason for casting was also revealed. Director Lee said, "Shin Haru's character is a prickly and cold-hearted genius brain scientist and is also a part of comedy, so he needed a lot of acting range. Originally, I didn't think that actor Jung Yong-hwa was an actor, but he proved his acting ability through 'Daebak Real Estate' and was attracting attention. “I sent a love call first,” he said.

He continued, "Comedy master Cha Tae-hyun was also my number one love call, and I was worried that she wouldn't do it because she's been playing a lot of police roles lately, but I mustered up the courage to give it to her. Ye Ji-won wasn't originally a casting candidate. It was because Cha Tae-hyun's ex-wife was younger than Cha Tae-hyun. But He added, “There is no one other than actress Ye Ji-won who can play a provocative and outrageous character.”

Jung Yong-hwa played the role of Shin Haru, a neuroscientist with perfect looks, a brilliant tongue, and a 'very special brain', but lacking in humanity. Jung Yong-hwa said, "I was attracted to the character because I had never played it before. I was worried that I would be able to memorize all the lines because there were so many. It was also a challenge to me. I chose it because it was a role I wanted to try after all. After hearing that Cha Tae-hyun was playing it, I became convinced. "he said.

He added, "Because I'm a genius, I had to use technical words naturally, so I think I just read the script for over 6 months. After filming for about 6 months, my MBTI changed. I was originally ESFP, but I became ESTP."

He even went so far as to lose weight for his sensitive character. Jung Yong-hwa said, "I tried to show a sensitive side on the outside as well. I tried to wear a lot of chic hairstyles and neutral colors."

Cha Tae-hyun plays the role of Geum Myeong-se, a good-natured, altruistic detective who knows how to be considerate of others and has the 'brain of a hustler.' Cha Tae-hyun revealed the reason for appearing, saying, "When I first saw the script, I thought it was very interesting. The character played by Jung Yong-hwa was attractive because I hadn't seen it in a while."

When asked about the synchronization with the character, Cha Tae-hyun said, "I think we're roughly 70% similar," and explained, "Basically, I try to be considerate and don't like to step forward."

Jung Yong-hwa expressed his respect for Cha Tae-hyun, saying, "When I looked at Tae-hyun's acting, I thought there was a lot of ad-libs, but when I actually looked at it, I saw that he wrote the script as if it were ad-libs. There were a lot of details that felt like they were measured with a knife. I learned a lot from watching that."

Kwak Sun-young plays Seol So-jeong, a forensic hypnosis investigator who has a 'timid brain' and is unable to say a single word even if she wants to say something. Kwak Seon-young said, “He is timid, but he is considerate and attentive to the people around him, so I tried to react by watching the other characters’ acting more carefully.”

Regarding her first collaboration with Cha Tae-hyun, Kwak Sun-young said, 'It was an honor just to be able to work together. He was always considerate and made me laugh even when filming was off, so my juniors were able to film comfortably. “He is a senior who gives a shining performance to his co-star,” he expressed his gratitude.

Director Lee expressed his affection, saying, "There is also a love line between Cha Tae-hyun and Kwak Sun-young. I wonder how people in their 40s can be so cute. I was surprised many times while filming."

Ye Ji-won played the role of Kim Moran, Geum Myeong-se's ex-wife and a person with a "hypersexual brain." Ye Ji-won emphasized, "I enjoyed it because it was the first neuroscience investigation comedy drama that had never been released in Korea. There are stories about various types of brain structures, and when I read the script, it was very fun to think, 'There is a brain like this too.'"

Regarding the character Kim Moran, Ye Ji-won said, "She has a hypersexual brain and an overactive brain. I went to a meeting and asked the director how to express her hypersexual brain, and she said that she is a character who can be moved by just looking at a golf ball. I wish I could express Moran's behavior in a clear way. “I said it would be good. The difficult thing is that it is very far from me. I have a timid brain,” he said.

He continued, "The script is about overcoming sexual desire. It's a struggle, so I had a lot of trouble expressing it. But one of my hobbies is pole dancing. He said it would be nice to do that at a signpost on the road. Pole dancing at a signpost is something you can't see in any movie or drama. “I said I was willing to do it because I had never seen it before,” he added.

Jung Yong-hwa said, “There was a post on an online community saying that someone was pole dancing at a bus stop and asking what kind of drama it was. “The comment said ‘brain coordination,’” he said with a laugh.

Ye Ji-won made people burst into laughter by saying, “In reality, when I was walking down the street and there were no people around, I hung on for a while and practiced. On Garosu-gil.”

When asked about the points to watch, director Lee said, "It is an informative comic investigative drama based on the fresh material of brain science. The comical acting is outstanding. If you want to escape from your depressing daily life, be sure to watch it." Cha Tae-hyun was confident, “It will be fun, and you will be able to feel catharsis from the incidents that occur and are resolved every week.”

Recently, popular dramas such as 'Big Mouth' and 'The Youngest Son of a Chaebol Family' were criticized for their endings and sparked a 'draconian' controversy. Director Lee said, "I have directed several episodes so far, but filming the 16th episode while receiving all the scripts was not a good idea." “This is the first time. I am confident that the 16th episode script has been released with a very high level of completion. The story will be immersive, so please do not miss it until the end,” he said, confident of his success.

‘Brain Collaboration’ will premiere on January 2nd at 9:50 PM.

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