Anticipation Builds for 'Secret Audit' as Director Lee Soo-hyun Teases Special Appearances

Lee Soo-hyun, the director known for 'Shooting Stars', 'Beneficial Fraud', and 'That Guy is a Black Dragon', has urged viewers to look forward to special appearances in his latest project, 'Secret Audit'. This new drama, starring Shin Hye-sun, follows her role in Netflix's 'Lady Dua' and has been generating buzz even before its release.

On the 20th, an online press conference for tvN's new weekend drama '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 show.

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

Director Lee explained, "Despite the title suggesting a rigid theme, the story mainly deals with human relationships. It includes relatable episodes about office couples, infidelity, workplace bullying, and unfounded rumors. The protagonists form connections and grow through audits and investigations."

Highlighting the show's uniqueness, Lee stated, "Instead of focusing on the company and work itself, we view the company as a micro-society and concentrate on human stories. It's relatable even to those outside the workplace, like in schools or other social settings. Some episodes include thriller elements, offering a variety of genre-based entertainment. The episodic format makes it easy to watch without pressure."

When asked about his focus in directing, Lee said, "With such a diverse genre, I concentrated on maintaining balance to avoid leaning too much in one direction. I aimed for an intuitive flow that viewers could naturally accept. Given the anticipation for romance, I also worked hard to highlight that aspect."

He continued, "This project had one of the longest preparation periods. We conducted many actor meetings and auditions, prioritizing the chemistry between actors. Particularly, the three teams were completed with senior actor Oh Dae-hwan at the center, whose leadership ensured a stable set. I just needed to capture that dynamic." He added, "I hope viewers see the three-team characters and think, 'I know someone like that.' While some parts are dramatized, we focused on realistic relatability."

Lee also emphasized the importance of special appearances. "Given the episodic nature, we put a lot of effort into special appearances. Thanks to the writer's engaging script, many actors, including Lee Jung-eun, Park Ha-sun, Pyo Ye-jin, and Shin Hyun-soo, willingly participated, enriching the drama. I'm grateful for their contributions." He concluded, "I hope the characters feel real enough for viewers to discuss and relate to. We aimed to capture as much realism as possible."

'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