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.
K-pop idol-studded rom-com ‘My Girlfriend is the Man’ to debut
Cast members of KBS drama "My Girlfriend is the Man" pose during an online press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of KBS
By Park Jin-hai
Astro's Sanha, Oh My Girl's Arin, Loona's Chuu cast in gender-swapping rom-com
K-pop idol-studded KBS drama "My Girlfriend is the Man" will meet drama fans Wednesday evening.
Based on the popular webtoon by the same title, the Wednesday-Thursday drama tells a wild romance story between Ji-eun, who suddenly transforms into a man overnight, and Yoon-jae, a devoted boyfriend who can't give up on her.
Director Yoo Gwan-mo described the fantasy rom-com in one word as "a watercolor painting depicting K-youth."
"It not only tells a love story about whether the two protagonists can protect their love when they face difficulties, but it also deals with themes of friendship and family," Yoo said during a on-line press conference for the drama, Wednesday.
He also said the drama has a lot of things to attract K-drama fans overseas. "You'll see various scenes captured in places that tourists are curious about including popular dating spots. It also shows a lot of natural scenery as well," he elaborated.
Another highlight is appearance of K-pop idol group stars in the drama, including Sanha from Astro, Arin from Oh My Girl and Chuu from Loona.
Yoon San-ha, known as Sanha from the K-pop boy band Astro, takes on his first leading role as Yoon-jae, a boyfriend who becomes confused when his girlfriend suddenly transforms into a man overnight.
Astro's Sanha, left, and actor Yoon Jung-hoo are seen in a scene from KBS drama "My Girlfriend is the Man." Courtesy of KBS
"When I first read the script, I was curious. I looked at the script, thinking the title itself meant the girlfriend had a tough-guy personality, but it turned out to be a drama with a twist. So, I think the twist is its unexpected charm," he said.
"I was curious about the situation Yoon-jae was in and really wanted to act, so I took on the challenge. It was a script that sparked a sense of challenge in me."
Arin, who plays Ji-eun, also recalled, "I really wanted to do a rom-com, and my heart fluttered as soon as I saw the script. It was so enjoyable to read such a fun and refreshing script."
Actor Yoo Jung-hoo plays Ji-hoon, the “biological alter ego” of Ji-eun, whose appearance suddenly changes into that of a man while her inner self remains the same.
Former Loona member Chuu, who is challenging herself with acting again after six years, plays Min-joo, a popular university student who has a crush on Yoon-jae.
"I was very nervous to challenge myself with acting after such a long time, but when we started, my colleagues were similar in age, and I think that helped a lot," she said.
Ex-Loona member Chuu is seen in a scene from KBS drama "My Girlfriend is the Man." Courtesy of KBS
Regarding the cast, the director stressed that he held auditions and sought out actors based on their image and acting skills.
"It just so happened that the ones we found were idols-turned-actors. We didn't specifically cast only idols. Fortunately, this created buzz, which was even better," he said, expressing satisfaction on the cast.
"Their synchronization with each role is over 200 percent. When you hear them read just one line, you get a feel for it. These days, there’s no distinction when it comes to idols acting. We selected individuals with strong acting skills who fit the roles, and we ended up with four Avengers."
Regarding concerns over how the drama handled the BL (Boys' Love) elements present in the original webtoon in a show broadcast on a major TV network, the director said, "The initial planners made a very smart decision. They designed it from the planning stage to be light, fun and comfortable to watch, considering whether it could be broadcast in the Korean drama market." Yoo added that they utilized Ji-eun (Arin) for this purpose.
"Ji-eun continuously appears through imagination or flashbacks. I believe almost no one who watches our drama will call it a BL work. It's a fun fantasy romantic comedy," he emphasized.