Yoo Yeon-seok Reunites with 'A Werewolf Boy' Cinematographer for New SBS Drama 'Shin-Irang Law Firm'

Yoo Yeon-seok, the lead actor in SBS's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Shin-Irang Law Firm' (hereafter 'Shin-Irang'), revealed that he is collaborating again with the cinematographer from the 2012 film 'A Werewolf Boy' after 14 years.

The production presentation for 'Shin-Irang' took place on the afternoon of the 11th at the SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Director Shin Jung-hoon, along with actors Yoo Yeon-seok, Lee Som, and Kim Kyung-nam, attended the event. 'Shin-Irang' is a unique and heartwarming adventure about 'possessed lawyer' Shin-Irang, who resolves the grudges of the deceased, and 'cold-blooded elite lawyer' Han Na-hyun, who stakes everything on winning cases.

Yoo Yeon-seok plays Shin-Irang, who opens his first law office in a former shaman's house and unexpectedly begins to see ghosts. He shared, "I worked with truly excellent actors. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that the cinematographer was the same person I worked with on 'A Werewolf Boy' years ago. The setting with ghosts made filming challenging, but the cinematographer captured it beautifully. Creating this work with the production team is a highlight."

Marking his debut in the comedy genre, Yoo stated, "This is my first time fully engaging in comedy. I aimed to showcase aspects I hadn't shown in previous works. The script suggested that I could present a different side each week. The opportunity to portray various characters in one project was intriguing. Viewers can enjoy new appearances and episodes involving ghost possessions each week."

He added, "Reflecting on it, I've played many doctors but never a lawyer. Handling legal texts required thorough preparation. I've tackled difficult medical terms in dramas before, and I put in the same effort here. More than the lawyer aspect, the focus is on embodying different ghosts each episode to resolve their stories."

Yoo also mentioned, "Having never experienced possession, I sought advice from a shaman. They explained things in detail and mentioned that my life path as an actor resembles that of a shaman. They felt this role was meant for me and encouraged me, which was empowering. I watched various videos on possession to observe real-life portrayals."

Lee Som plays Han Na-hyun, an ace lawyer with a 100% win rate at a major law firm. She shared, "On the surface, she may seem cold and cool, but I wanted to explore her inner pain and vulnerability. Creating that journey was enjoyable. This project will show more human aspects than previous ones."

Regarding her chemistry with Yoo Yeon-seok, she said, "Initially, it was challenging as our characters are at odds. By the end of filming, we developed a good rapport, exchanging jokes and enjoying the process."

Director Shin Jung-hoon, making his debut with 'Shin-Irang', expressed, "I'm nervous but thrilled to debut. I've always wanted to direct a drama like this, which conveys warmth in a comedic tone. I'm honored to work with such talented and beloved actors."

He continued, "Given the premise of a lawyer who sees ghosts, we focused on convincingly portraying the situation rather than shamanism itself. We referenced actual shamanic items for realistic office settings and props. Our drama emphasizes that ghosts are not just entities but were once human."

'Shin-Irang' premieres on SBS on the 13th at 9:50 PM.

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