Lee Bo-young Returns to MBC with Controversial Role in 'Mary Kills People'

Lee Bo-young, who married Ji Sung in 2013, has shared various anecdotes from her experience starring in 'Mary Kills People', a drama that tackles the sensitive topic of assisted death.

On July 31, a press conference for 'Mary Kills People' was held at the MBC headquarters in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Lee Bo-young, Lee Min-ki, Kang Ki-young, Kwon Hae-hyo, Yoon Ga-i, and director Park Joon-woo. The suspense drama revolves around a doctor who assists terminally ill patients with their deaths and a detective who pursues them.

Lee Bo-young plays Woo So-jung, an emergency medicine doctor who aids in assisted deaths at the boundary between life and death. Returning to MBC dramas after 13 years, she stated, "I portrayed my character as an absolute good. I approached her as someone who ends the suffering of the sick, but viewers might see her actions as illegal or wrong, making her a potentially controversial character. Still, I believed in her goodness while acting."

She further explained, "It's impossible to empathize with every character fully. Doing so would make the drama too deep and challenging for viewers. Professionally, I tried to maintain a detached approach." Lee Bo-young added, "However, I believed So-jung to be a genuinely good person, so I tried to convey warmth through my eyes. I'm not sure if that came across well. Many people see me as cold, so I really put in a lot of effort."

'Mary Kills People' premieres on August 1 at 10 PM on MBC.

Reporter Lee So-jung, TenAsia forusojung@tenasia.co.kr