Director Kim Hee-won Reflects on His Debut with Disney+ Series 'The Lighting Store'

Kim Hee-won shares his thoughts on his directorial debut with 'The Lighting Store'.

On the 20th, The Walt Disney Company Asia Pacific (APAC) hosted the 'Disney Content Showcase 2024' at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore. The event featured top global stars from the U.S. and the APAC region, offering a sneak peek at theatrical releases and streaming content slated for 2025-2026.

In the afternoon, a premiere and press conference for Disney+'s original series 'The Lighting Store' took place. Director Kim Hee-won, writer Kang Full, and actors Ju Ji-hoon and Park Bo-young were in attendance.

'The Lighting Store' tells the story of a mysterious lighting shop at the end of a dark alley, where customers with secrets come to visit. Kim Hee-won, stepping into the role of director for the first time, takes on this series. Ju Ji-hoon plays Won-young, the shop owner, while Park Bo-young portrays Kwon Young-ji, a nurse in an intensive care unit.

Reflecting on his first directing experience, Kim Hee-won said, "I remember the first day of shooting. I was nervous. I wondered how much I needed to get right for people to enjoy and relate to it." He added, "'The Lighting Store' is a unique drama. It needed to be relatable yet distinct enough to be accepted without hesitation, and I directed it with that balance in mind."

Kim Hee-won expressed humility, saying, "I learned humility. As an actor, I performed with a sense of self-importance. I apologize. As I kept interpreting the script, I realized how detailed and amazing the writer was. I felt the actors were better than me at acting. They were remarkable. I was in awe of how the staff poured their passion into the project." He continued, "Directing was possible because of all these people helping me. It wasn't something I did alone," expressing gratitude to his colleagues.

Kim Hee-won humorously remarked, "I wondered why they chose me to direct, but they said, 'You're good at acting, so give it a try.' That's one of the main reasons." He added, "I had a dream of directing and was preparing for it, and this opportunity came. It's still thrilling and feels like a dream. Sitting with the writer and actors is an honor. Everything is joyful. I'm looking forward to December 4th and feel a bit dazed."

'The Lighting Store' consists of eight episodes. Four episodes will be released on December 4th, followed by two episodes each week for two weeks.

Singapore - Reporter Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr