KBS 2TV's New Drama 'My Girlfriend is a Guy' Aims for High Buzz Over Ratings

Following the conclusion of 'I Took the First Night of the Male Lead' with a 3.2% viewership rating, KBS 2TV's new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'My Girlfriend is a Guy' is stepping into the spotlight. The production team expressed a desire for the drama to generate more buzz than ratings and addressed concerns about it potentially being categorized as a BL (Boys Love) genre.

On the 23rd, an online production presentation for KBS 2TV's new drama 'My Girlfriend is a Guy' was held, where director Yoo Kwan-mo shared insights. The event was attended by actors Yoon San-ha, Arin, Yoo Jung-hoo, and Chuu.

'My Girlfriend is a Guy' (written by Lee Hae-na, directed by Yoo Kwan-mo) is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by author Mastar. The drama follows the romance between Kim Ji-eun (played by Arin), who suddenly transforms into a handsome man, and her devoted boyfriend Park Yoon-jae (played by Yoon San-ha), who can't give up on her.

In the drama, Yoon San-ha plays Park Yoon-jae, a diligent K-son and astronomy student at Yeonhee University, who is devoted to his girlfriend. Arin portrays Kim Ji-eun, Yoon-jae's lovely girlfriend who undergoes a sudden change. Yoo Jung-hoo plays Kim Ji-hoon, Ji-eun's biological alter ego who suddenly appears as a man, while Chuu takes on the role of Kang Min-joo, a popular girl at Yeonhee University who secretly has a crush on Yoon-jae.

Yoon San-ha shared, "When I first read the script, I was curious about the story and drawn to its unexpected charm. The script was so engaging that I read it effortlessly. It was a fresh project that I wanted to challenge myself with."

He added, "After filming around Christmas last year, I was thrilled yet anxious to hear that the drama would air on KBS. It was my first lead role, and looking back, there were scenes I wish I could have done better. I aim to become a more profound actor in the future."

Arin expressed her excitement, saying, "I really wanted to do a romantic comedy. My heart raced as soon as I read the script, and I found it refreshing and enjoyable."

She continued, "At first, I was worried about how to portray the scenes where I transform into a man. Fortunately, Jung-hoo oppa did a great job, and it turned out to be fun."

Arin is also currently starring in the Wave drama 'S-Line.' She commented, "I'm grateful that both projects I filmed are airing at the same time. The genres are different, so viewers might notice the contrast. 'S-Line' is more provocative and dark, while 'My Girlfriend is a Guy' is refreshing, bright, and charming."

Chuu, returning to acting after six years, shared her thoughts, "I'm nervous and excited to challenge myself with acting again after six years. It's my first time doing a serious drama, so I'm quite tense. The cast members are around my age, and the characters are styles I love, so I felt confident to take on the challenge."

She added, "The story is fresh and fun. The character itself is someone I wanted to be during my school days, a popular girl, a queen bee, which made it appealing. I'm curious about Min-joo's unrequited love for Yoon-jae and enjoy expressing what it would be like to be a queen bee."

Director Yoo Kwan-mo described the drama as "a watercolor painting depicting a summer K-youth." He added, "The story revolves around the two protagonists facing unexpected situations and preserving their love. We've prepared a lot of visual treats for international viewers, with scenes shot in iconic Seoul locations like Hongdae, Gyeongbokgung, and Samcheong-dong."

Regarding concerns about the drama containing BL elements due to the male protagonist's romance with a female protagonist who turns into a man, Director Yoo explained, "Since the female protagonist continues to appear in flashbacks or imagination scenes, I don't think viewers will perceive it as a BL drama."

The target viewership rating is set at 10%. Director Yoo stated, "I believe buzz is more important than ratings. I hope it becomes a hot topic. If it does well, I'd like to create a second season."

KBS 2TV's new Wednesday-Thursday drama 'My Girlfriend is a Guy' premieres on the 23rd at 9:50 PM.