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.
Uninvited guest turns peaceful summer into terror in 'The Frog'
Cast members and director of Netflix series, "The Frog," pose during a press conference at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, Seoul, Wednesday. From left are actors Yoon Kye-sang, Lee Jung-eun, director Mo Wan-il, actors Ko Min-si and Kim Yun-seok. Yonhap
By Park Jin-hai
Netflix's upcoming thriller, "The Frog," directed by Mo Wan-il, promises to transform the summer heat into spine-tingling chills.
The eight-episode series, premiering on Friday, tells the story of individuals whose tranquil lives are upended by a mysterious visitor who arrives in the midst of summer, drawing them into a series of uncontrollable events.
"Doesn't it feel good to walk through the woods? It's a moment of great happiness, but when an unwanted person appears in front of you, that peaceful space suddenly turns into terror. I wanted to capture that duality in this series," said the director Mo, who won the best director at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards for "The World of the Married" in 2020, during a press conference at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, Seoul, Wednesday.
"The script, written by rookie writer Son Ho-young, was such a unique story that I wasn't sure if it could be made into a drama. But I couldn't shake the feeling off. I was moved by the characters facing an uncertain future, and I found it interesting and intriguing, so I decided to go for it," the director added.
The new Netflix original intertwines the stories of Young-ha (Kim Yun-seok), the owner of a rental cottage deep in the woods, and Seong-a (Ko Min-si), a mysterious guest who visits him, alongside the parallel narratives of Sang-jun (Yoon Kye-sang), who runs another motel with his wife. Amidst these intertwined stories, Bo-min (Lee Jung-eun), a veteran police officer, is on a relentless manhunt.
Ko, who portrays the mysterious visitor to the cottage in the forests, said her role has been the most challenging one in her all acting career.
"I found myself constantly doubting and thinking about my acting. What I wanted to focus on the most was that this character didn't appear as just a simple character. As the drama evolves, I wondered what was deep inside Seong-a as she changed, what she lacked that other characters had, and whether that might drive Seong-a," Ko said.
"While creating the character, I also put a lot of effort into making her visually attractive. I really wanted to do well."
Actor Ko Min-si plays a mysterious visitor Seong-a in the new Netflix series "The Frog." Courtesy of Netflix
Veteran actor Kim takes the role of a rental cottage owner, who left Seoul to fulfill his ailing wife's wish and take over the rental home. His tranquil life takes a dramatic turn when a mysterious woman obsessed with the house appears.
"In thrillers, stories about the pursuer and the pursued are usually easy for viewers to follow. This work is not that kind of simple story," Kim said, adding that the series' English title, "The Frog" — a frog got hit by a stone thrown carelessly — symbolizes the duality of the characters involved between the person who threw the stone and the person who was hit by the stone.
"The story depicts both the victim and the perpetrator in a balanced way. It was interesting to see the way how an ordinary adult like Young-ha uses his reasons and common sense to desperately solve incidents that he has never imagined and how such an event can profoundly change a person. I wanted to strongly convey that this is also a story of our society."
Mo praised the exceptional acting that has elevated the show, comparing the atmosphere on the set of this drama to that of his previous hit "The World of the Married."
"There are scenes where you can roughly predict clichés or what will happen during filming. But just like with 'The World of the Married,' the actors on this set exceeded my expectations. They added their own interpretations to their acting, which was truly impressive," the director said.
Mo added that while working on the drama, it made him ponder over what meaningful life is and he wished it would do the same to the viewers as well.
"Although I cannot say it is a kind drama for viewers, I hope the series will inspire people to appreciate their own lives more after watching the final episode."