Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
Park Bo-young, Seo In-guk return with 'Doom at Your Service'
Actors Seo In-guk, left, and Park Bo-young pose for pictures during the online media conference for the series, “Doom at Your Service," Thursday. Courtesy of tvN
By Lee Gyu-lee
By Lee Gyu-lee
Park Bo-young and Seo In-guk will return to the small screen in tvN's upcoming fantasy series, “Doom at Your Service," set to air Monday. Park returns after a two-year hiatus, while Seo has been on a break from the small screen for three years.
Directed by Kwon Young-il, who helmed the heartwarming series, “My Unfamiliar Family,” the series follows a romance between a divine messenger, Myeol-mang (Seo) ― Korean for destruction ― and a human, Dong-kyeong (Park). Writer Im Meari, who is known for the hit TV series, "The Beauty Inside," penned the series.
This is Park's first series since she went on a hiatus in 2019 for health reason. “I felt like I needed a pause, so I took the time to refresh myself… I got to spend more time with my family, which was worthwhile,” she said during an online media conference for the series, Thursday.
The actress plays an editor at a web novel company who lost her parents in a car accident when she was 10. Her only goal is to make ends meet. But her ordinary life turns upside down when she encounters Myeol-mang on the day she is diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“My character is not one of those people with big dreams or ambitions… she stumbles across her job just trying to get by, which I think many people can relate to,” she said describing her character. “I wanted to show how Dong-kyeong comes to find her identity and starts to have dreams in life.”
A scene from the series / Courtesy of tvN
Seo's character, Myeol-mang, acts as a sort of destructive go-between god and humans, although his overarching purpose is to destroy things in the world and take people's lives. His own fate takes a turn when he meets Dong-kyeong who suggests a 100-day contract in return for her life.
The actor expressed that he felt overwhelmed in returning to the small-screen after three years. “I felt a lot of pressure and excitement at the same time. I've worked with director Kwon before so I know I could rely on him,” Seo said.
He added that playing such a complicated character, who is neither a human nor a god, was hard but interesting.
“I was drawn to the story of Myeol-mang and Dong-kyeong. I wanted to understand and sympathize with the character Myeol-mang, whose being is the reason for all the destruction,” he said. “This character is mysterious and difficult… it's a bit complicated trying to apply myself to the character who is like a middleman between humans and gods, so I tried to find the right tone (of the character).”
Seo expressed that he's satisfied with his and Park's on-set chemistry and added that he is learning from Park's acting. “When we act in a scene, I'm always in awe and learning from her acting,” he said. “We create synergy as we act together in a scene. I think we have a great chemistry.”
The director noted that the story about a woman with a brain tumor and a being who brings destruction will not be as depressing as it sounds. “Terminal illness and death might sound dark, but the writer has managed to make it literary and interesting,” he said. “It offers a chance for people to think about the ways they would live life when facing death.”
Seo added that this series will deliver a message of hope and meaning in life. “Everyone has a moment of difficulty… I think it is a series that can encourage people,” he said.