Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
New JTBC drama brings up school violence issue
Cast members for JTBC's new drama “Beautiful World, from left, Park Hee-soon, Choo Ja-hyun, Cho Yeo-jeong and Oh Man-seok pose during a press event at Imperial Palace in Seoul, Thursday. /Courtesy of JTBC
By Park Jin-hai
By Park Jin-hai
JTBC, the cable network that enjoyed nationwide popularity due to its portrayal of Korea's twisted education fervor in the recent drama “SKY Castle,” is heading to school again. Its upcoming weekend drama “Beautiful World” will cover the issue of school violence.
The 16-part drama, starring Choo Ja-hyun, Park Hee-soon, Cho Yeo-jeong and Oh Man-seok, will tell the story of two families: the family of a school violence victim and that of the perpetrator.
Choo, who gained popularity with her Chinese husband Yu Xiaoguang by appearing in the reality show “Same Bed, Different Dreams 2 ― You Are My Destiny,” is returning to the small screen here after almost a decade. The 40-year-old actress has mostly focused on the Chinese market, since she was cast in a Taiwanese drama in 2003.
She will play Kang In-ha, the victim's mother who is married to a teacher. Kang has been leading an ordinary and happy life, running a small bakery. One day she learns that her son fell from his high school building, landing him in a coma and putting his life on the line.
“Because it is not a drama where actors are portrayed as attractive and it covers sensitive issues, I was hesitant. But after meeting with the director, I gained confidence in both my role and the story,” Choo said during a press event for the drama at Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul, Thursday.
The actress who recently gave birth to a baby boy said, “I think giving a birth to a baby doesn't automatically make one into a good mother. Filming this drama, I feel like I'm learning more about life. Life has ups and downs at every turn but viewers will empathize with the saying 'this too shall pass' through this drama. And they will conclude that the world is beautiful in the end.”
Although police concluded it was a suicide attempt, Kang and her family strive to find the truth behind the tragic incident. The show throws ethical questions with stories of the perpetrator's rich and powerful family who make wrong choices and stories of spectators who chose silence over justice.
Director Park Chan-hong said it was a hard decision for him to launch the project.
“When the writer Kim Ji-woo said she wanted to tell the story three years ago, I had some hesitations because I knew too well the weight that this story carries. She asked if it was not us, who else would bring up the issue. So we decided to work on the story,” Park said “Since then we've fiercely exchanged our thoughts on the school violence issue.”
Park and his long-term partner Kim have delivered serious messages about human nature and life through their previous projects including “Resurrection” (2005), “The Devil” (2007) and “Memory” (2016).
Regarding the comparison with “SKY Castle” prior to the “Beautiful World” broadcast, the director stated that it would be a different drama. “People's expectations have been a great pressure. SKY Castle has been unprecedented in cable history in terms of its viewership ratings and content. 'Beautiful World' will have a different tone from the black comedy drama,” Park said.
Co-star Cho said she joined this drama for the single sentence in the drama's synopsis: “All came from adults' faults.” She plays the mother of the perpetrator, who makes the wrong choice for her son and then regrets it.
Park, in the role of the victim's father, said he joined this drama because he wanted to raise a voice for marginalized people and victims of school violence. “I believe this drama will help them in making the world a better place,” he said.
The director spoke in agreement saying, “Constantly sharing grief and expressing sympathy with the rest of the world can actually make society softer.”
“Beautiful World” premieres on JTBC at 11 p.m., April 5.