Jeon Do-yeon returns with “Good Wife”

Actress Jeon Do-yeon poses for a photo at a press conference of “The Good Wife,” a Korean remake of the hit CBS series, at Amoris Hall in Seoul on June 29. / Yonhap

By Park Jin-hai

Jeon Do-yeon, one of the A-list Korean actresses who grabbed the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress in 2007, aims to take over the small screen this time with tvN’s new drama “The Good Wife,” premiering on July 8.

Leaving the 2005 SBS drama “Lovers in Prague” as her last role on TV, Jeon has built up her cinematic career for the last 11 years.

In “The Good Wife,” the Korean remake of the popular CBS series of the same name, Jeon will take the role of Kim Hye-kyung, a lawyer-turned-housewife forced to return to her job as a lawyer after her husband is mired in a scandal and put behind bars.

As the original American series has won numerous awards, including five Emmys, there are high expectations for what the seasoned actress can bring to the Korean adaptation.

“When choosing a new project, I usually focus on the emotions of a character. But, with ‘The Good Wife,’ I found myself so immersed in the story and the situation Hye-kyung found herself in,” said Jeon, telling why she joined the drama, during a press conference held at Amoris Hall in central Seoul on June 29.

“I’ve always wished to get closer to the viewers. I’ve done so many complex characters that people might feel distance or have a hard time understanding. This time, I wanted to take something light and fun, rather than heavy and serious,” said Jeon.

Actor Yoo Ji-tae will play Hye-kyung’s husband, a prosecutor who is arrested over allegations of corruption and involvement in a sex scandal. Actor Yoon Kye-sang takes the role of Seo Joong-won, the representative of Hye-kyung's law firm, and singer-turned-actress Nana, from girl group After School, tries acting for the first time in Korea by playing Kim Dan, the law firm’s researcher.

Director Lee Jung-hyo said that Jeon’s cast was largely unexpected even for him.

“When the drama’s remake was decided and our staffers gathered to discuss who to cast, all four of us unanimously thought of Jeon for the role of Hye-kyung,” he said. “However, we didn’t expect her to join us, so when she actually accepted the offer, we were all surprised. Even when I’m shooting the drama with her, it feels like I’m dreaming.”

The director explained that the Korean version of the drama has been adjusted to fit the sentiment of Korean viewers. Lee also signaled that the denouement of the Korean adaptation may not be the same as that of the original.

“Comparing it with the original would give additional fun to the viewers. As it is a remake of an already popular drama series, I cannot help but feel pressured. But, I hope the viewers can focus on the emotional flow of the heroine,” said Lee.

“The crux of the original has been asking the question of whether it is really good to be a good wife. We didn’t fix the ending, but made it a principle that we will not plainly describe what she should be. It may or may not have the same ending as the original.”

“The Good Wife” will be broadcasted at 8:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday on tvN.