‘Our Golden Days’ reunites powerhouse cast and creators: Can it break 30%?
From left: Actors Lee Tae-ran, Park Jung-yeon, Jung Il-woo, director Kim Hyoung-seok, actors Jung In-sun, Yoon Hyun-min, Son Sang-yeon and Shin Soo-hyun pose during a press conference for KBS2’s new weekend drama “Our Golden Days,” at The Saint in Guro District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of KBS2
The creative forces behind some of Korea’s most iconic weekend dramas have joined hands once again.
Scriptwriter So Hyun-kyung, director Kim Hyoung-seok and actor Cheon Ho-jin — the trio behind the massive hit “My Golden Life” (2017) — are back with KBS2’s new family series, “Our Golden Days,” which is aiming to rekindle the golden era of K-weekend dramas.
Premiering Aug. 9, the drama follows the conclusion of “For Eagle Brothers!” and aims to top the 30 percent viewership mark, a lofty goal in today’s drama landscape.
At a press conference held Aug. 6 at The Saint Grand Ballroom in Seoul’s Guro District, director Kim described the show as “a sincere, traditional drama full of heartfelt warmth and subtle emotion.”
He emphasized his determination to bring writer So’s intricate script to life with authenticity, saying, “I approach each scene with the question of how to make the writing feel as real as possible.”
Actor Jung Il-woo / Courtesy of KBS2
Return to heart of family, generational stories
“Our Golden Days” presents a multigenerational tale that explores complex but relatable dynamics between parents and adult children.
Instead of dramatizing generational conflict, it explores intergenerational empathy and understanding. Director Kim said the story touches on the emotional distance between the so-called “Sandwich Generation” — parents caught between caring for their elders and their children — and younger adults facing economic hardships.
At the center of the story is the emotionally layered relationship between a father and his eldest son, a departure from So’s previous focus on father-daughter dynamics. Cheon Ho-jin, widely known as the quintessential Korean father figure in dramas, takes on the paternal role once again.
“Daughters and fathers share tenderness, but sons and fathers clash because they resemble each other,” Cheon said. “This time, we’re exploring that tension — and I wonder how all the eldest sons watching will feel.”
Director Kim added, “Cheon Ho-jin has a color that no other actor can replicate. I believe this casting was a given, and I hope this will become the third and final piece in So’s ‘father trilogy.’”
Cheon, who has worked with So Hyun-kyung since “My Golden Life,” noted the synergy between them: “I once read a comment that said, ‘So’s professionalism and Chun’s path came together to make something special.’ I agree. And I still believe a drama needs a strong throughline — that’s what separates professionals from amateurs.”
Actor Jung In-sun / Courtesy of KBS2
Familiar faces and new chemistry
Leading the cast is Jung Il-woo, returning to KBS after a decade and to television after three years. He plays Ji-hyuk, a capable, emotionally reserved man navigating his role in the family.
Opposite him is Jung In-sun as Eun-oh, a warm and cheerful woman who brings out new sides of him. Yoon Hyun-min plays Seong-jae, a dependable “gentle giant” figure, completing a central love triangle.
Jung Il-woo said he feels grateful rather than pressured by the success of his previous drama. “It’s an honor to carry the baton. I’ve been longing to act again, and this opportunity felt too valuable to pass up,” he said. “Now, I feel like I’ve become the character. I just hope viewers agree.”
Jung In-sun addressed expectations that her character fits the classic “Candy” archetype — a K-drama name for the trope of a hardworking, endlessly optimistic but possibly naive heroine trying to overcome her difficult circumstances. “I’ve had many discussions with the director to avoid cliches,” she said. “If I’m going to play a classic Candy, I want it to be the best one of my life.”
Actor Cheon Ho-jin / Newsis
The cast also includes veteran actors Lee Tae-ran, Ban Hyo-jung, Yoon Joo-sang, Kim Hee-jung, Park Sung-geun, and Kim Jung-young. Lee, returning to weekend dramas for the first time in 11 years, said, “I’m thrilled and full of anticipation.”
With seasoned creators, a strong cast, and the emotional resonance that defined So Hyun-kyung’s earlier hits like “My Daughter Seo-young” and “My Golden Life,” “Our Golden Days” is poised to become a standout in this year’s weekend drama lineup.
Director Kim closed with confidence: “This is a solid story with universal appeal. I believe we can break 30 percent.”
The poster for "Our Golden Days" / Courtesy of KBS2
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.