[PREVIEW] SBS Wed/Thu Drama “Master’s Sun”

 

A half-man-half-beast and a guy with supernatural powers won over drama fans during the first half of the year. Will the craze in fantasy dramas carry on?

Romantic comedy will meet horror in SBS’s new Wednesday and Thursday series “Master’s Sun” set to premiere on August 7. The drama will revolve around what happens when the stingy and greedy executive president Joo Joong-won (So Ji-sub) of major group Kingdom, meets with the gloomy woman Tae Gong-shil (Gong Hyo-jin) who starts seeing ghosts after waking up from an accident. The lives of the two, who must work together, will take new turns as they console the spirits that have sad stories.

“Master’s Sun” had drawn attention since when it went into production because of its cast composed of actors So Ji-sub, Gong Hyo-jin, and Seo In-guk, and the collaboration of producer Jin Hyuk of “City Hunter” and star sister writers Hong Mi-ran and Hong Jung-eun of SBS’s “He is Beautiful” and MBC’s “The Greatest Love.”

Below are excerpts from a press conference for the show held in Seoul on July 30.

 

Q. What sort of drama is “Master’s Sun?”

Producer Jin Hyuk: It’s not complicated because it’s called a romantic comedy horror drama. It’s just devoted to expressing the basic emotions of fear, fun, and sadness. We’re going to try to present a catharsis with these simple emotions.

 

Q. The genre must seem new for the actors as well. Do you have any tips for how viewers can have more fun watching “Master’s Sun”? 

Seo In-guk: Even the shortest scenes that you’ll see on TV took a very long time to shoot. I personally think the show feels more like a movie than drama. So I hope viewers will pay attention to these details as well.

Kong Hyo-jin: I’ve heard that some people think our show will be scary because of the element of horror in it. But it’ll mostly be a romantic comedy drama in which ghosts appear once in a while (laughs). And all the ghosts will have a story of their own so if you focus on those emotionally, you’ll enjoy the show, rather than be scared of it.

 

Q. So Ji-sub and Kong Hyo-jin, you’re working together for the first time.

So Ji-sub: Working with her has made me realize that she’s the best actress in Korea when it comes to romantic comedies (laughs). I can really tell that she’s great at acting because she will take in whatever kind of acting I do and react to it well too.

Kong Hyo-jin: I’ve always wanted to act with him but I’m finally getting the chance to. Before we started filming the drama, I had heard that he’s quiet and introverted but he’s actually always cheerful on set, which has been great (laughs).

 

Q. What do you think is appealing about a fantasy drama by the Hong sisters? I’m also curious to what sort of effort you’re putting in to draw sympathy from viewers.

So Ji-sub: Since this is by the Hong sisters, I referred to their most recent drama “The Greatest Love.” But no matter how hard I try, I think it’ll be hard for me to do acting like Cha Seung-won did (laughs). There are some lines that are unique of the Hong sisters so I’m trying my best to pull them off in my own way.

Kong Hyo-jin: I was offered a lot of drama roles during the past two years but I couldn’t make a decision easily because most of them were based on my image from my previous drama. But the Hong sisters asked if I’d work with them even before the drama’s synopsis came out. And it seemed different to the point that I could feel gloominess, sadness, and happiness all at once by just looking at my character Gong-shil. Through the drama, I’d like to provide encouragement to those who are having a hard time in reality. I’ll also look the worst I’ve ever looked on screen so you can look forward to that too (laughs).

 

Q. Kong Hyo-jin, you’re strong with romantic comedies to the point that you’re coming to be called the ‘Queen of romantic comedies.’ But I think you must also be worried about that image actually becoming who you are.

Kong Hyo-jin: I always want to try out different genres but there actually aren’t that many. And when I do movies, I do those that are a bit serious and unique so I tend to choose dramas that many people can relate to in order to break away from my image in films. But nonetheless, next time I’d like to do something that isn’t a romantic comedy (laughs).

 

Q. Expectations for the show’s ratings are as high as expectations for the show itself. Is there anything you’ll promise to do in regards to ratings?

So Ji-sub: My promise is to not make promises regarding ratings. Seo In-guk, go ahead and make one.

Seo In-guk: If we see ratings of over 25 percent, I’d like to hold a collaborative concert with So Ji-sub (laughs). Wouldn’t it be cool if I was the vocalist and he was the rapper?

So Ji-sub: Okay. We’ll make sure to pass ratings of 25 percent and hold a concert with Seo In-guk (laughs).

Reporter. Kim Gwang-kuk realjuki@tenasia.co.kr
Translator. Jessica Kim

Courtesy of SBS

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