Park Sung-woong Stars in New KBS Drama 'Simu-myeon Yeonliri'

Actor Park Sung-woong is set to star in the upcoming KBS 2TV mini-series 'Simu-myeon Yeonliri'.

The new KBS 2TV mini-series 'Simu-myeon Yeonliri' (directed by Choi Yeon-soo, written by Song Jeong-rim and Wang Hye-ji, produced by Sim Story) is a heartwarming family reboot drama. It follows the urban family of Seong Tae-hoon as they struggle to return to Seoul after being unexpectedly relocated to the rural area of 'Yeonliri'.

Park Sung-woong takes on the role of Seong Tae-hoon, who moves to the countryside 'Yeonliri' with his family due to a sudden job transfer. Tae-hoon is a capable individual who has risen to the position of a department head in a large corporation. Despite facing challenges, he is a dedicated family man who strives to provide for his loved ones. Park's portrayal of Tae-hoon is highly anticipated, and he shared his thoughts on taking on this role.

Park Sung-woong explained his decision to join 'Simu-myeon Yeonliri', mentioning the rural setting. He said, “It was my first time planting something other than people (cabbage). Although I'm from Chungju, I didn't grow up in the countryside. However, the memories of those landscapes made the theme of returning to farming feel fresh. Reading the script, I felt a strong connection with the village people and the transformation of emotions. During filming, I was so moved by the villagers that I was brought to tears, and I wanted to experience this new feeling.”

Park Sung-woong identified three key themes for the character 'Seong Tae-hoon': 'family', 'cabbage', and 'camaraderie'. He explained, “As it's a family drama, family is at the center. Cabbage is the reason Tae-hoon returns to farming and is a crucial element of the story. The process of building relationships with the villagers is very important, so I thought 'camaraderie' was a fitting word.”

Regarding the character of Seong Tae-hoon, Park described him as “a former researcher with a strong sense of self, but above all, he is someone who is determined to protect his family.” He added, “Tae-hoon's philosophy is to 'do what you love', which resonated with me and made the role easier to portray. I constantly thought, 'What would I do in this situation?' As a father myself, the emotions towards family came naturally. The character's similarity to me is over 90%.”

Park Sung-woong also shared his genuine chemistry with his on-screen family, including Lee Soo-kyung (playing Jo Mi-ryeo) and Lee Jin-woo (playing Seong Ji-cheon). He particularly noted his reunion with Lee Soo-kyung, saying, “Having worked with her before, our chemistry was great.” He also enjoyed working with the actors playing his sons, stating, “Jin-woo, who plays my eldest son Ji-cheon, is passionate about acting, and we had many discussions about it. The younger sons, Yoon-hyuk and Woo-hyuk, always engaged in dad jokes on set, creating a real family atmosphere.”

Finally, Park Sung-woong expressed, “It's been a while since a drama set in the countryside, filled with the scent of people and earth, has been made. I hope it reminds viewers of the warm emotions they may have forgotten in their busy lives. Please show lots of love and tune in.”

The new KBS 2TV mini-series 'Simu-myeon Yeonliri' premieres on the 26th at 9:50 PM.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr