Behind the Casting of 'Secret Audit': Director Lee Soo-hyun Shares Insights

Director Lee Soo-hyun, known for his work on 'Shooting Stars', 'Beneficial Fraud', and 'That Guy is a Black Dragon', has revealed the behind-the-scenes casting stories for the new tvN weekend drama 'Secret Audit'.

On the 20th, an online press conference for 'Secret Audit' was held, hosted by Park Kyung-lim. Attendees included actors Shin Hye-sun, Gong Myung, Kim Jae-wook, Hong Hwa-yeon, and director Lee Soo-hyun, who shared various insights about the drama.

'Secret Audit' is a 'close-knit audit romance' that follows the tense collaboration between charismatic audit manager Joo In-ah, who harbors a secret, and ace employee No Gi-jun, who is suddenly demoted to handle internal misconduct.

Regarding the casting, Director Lee stated, "I received many congratulations once the casting was confirmed, which I believe signifies that we have gathered a great cast." He continued, "When I first encountered the character In-ah in the script, I was 200% confident that actress Shin Hye-sun could bring her to life. Although Shin Hye-sun has an aversion to compliments, In-ah, despite her tough exterior, has a lovely side. She is a strong leader who expresses her pain subtly through her expressions and understated acting, which was possible because of Hye-sun. In fact, I feel like I was carried by her performance," he laughed.

On casting Gong Myung, Lee commented, "No Gi-jun initially has the image of an ace, but I wanted his vengeful passion towards In-ah to appear endearing. Gong Myung has a strong, kind image, and his real personality aligns well with the character, creating great synergy. The chemistry exceeded expectations, and there was an adult romance vibe. The character felt more charming thanks to Gong Myung's unique loveliness."

Regarding Kim Jae-wook, Lee shared, "From the first reading of the script, everyone unanimously chose him as the top candidate. We strongly wanted him and actively appealed to him." He added, "His natural gravitas and perfect looks and wealth fit the character's setting well. As the story progresses, his relationship with Jae-yeol becomes crucial, and Kim Jae-wook brought depth to this aspect, enhancing the character with his unique charm."

On casting Hong Hwa-yeon, Lee stated, "There's a line that says, 'Secretary Park's appearance is a company benefit.' While direction can complement this, the actor's visuals are essential." He continued, "I was impressed by Hong Hwa-yeon's recent works and felt she could deliver deep performances despite her experience. A-jung's emotional acting becomes important as the story progresses. Her beauty, along with her acting skills in the romance genre, made her the perfect choice."

'Secret Audit' premieres on the 25th and will air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM on tvN.

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