KBS reveals romance comedy 'Oh My Venus'

The cast of KBS drama series “Oh My Venus” attend a press conference at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. From left are actors and actresses Jung Gyu-woon, Yoo In-young, Shin Min-a and So Ji-sub. / Yonhap

By Kim Jae-heun

TV drama fans in Korea are excited for the star-studded new romance comedy “Oh My Venus” set to premiere next week.

The KBS drama series, which premieres on Nov. 16, has already gone viral online after the production crew revealed a 30-second video clip on Oct. 26 of heartthrob So Ji-sub working out at a gym. So, who plays world-renowned personal trainer Kim Young-ho, showed off his toned body while doing pull-ups in the teaser that hit 312,393 views as of Friday morning. Shin Min-a is his co-star in the scene, playing out-of-shape lawyer Kang Joo-eun.

The drama series depicts the story of trainer Kim who falls in love with lawyer Kang and how they heal each other’s emotional wounds. Kim grew up in a wealthy family but suffered a devastating childhood injury. Kang had an enviable figure in her teens but she put on weight after her ex-boyfriend dumped her. Kim meets Kang after returning from Hollywood where he had been dating a top Hollywood star.

Actor So actually lost seven kilograms to suit his fitness trainer character, while Shin went through some three hours of special makeup adding 30 kilograms to transform into Kang’s character.

“We tried to make our drama as realistic as possible so that people can agree with the story. That’s why we made Shin realistically fat with the special makeup, not absurdly fat, which might make her look funny,” said director Kim Hyung-suk during a press conference at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo District, southern Seoul, Wednesday. “Oh My Venus has a typical plot but it covers a unique story, enjoyable for a wide range of ages.”

Director Kim stressed that the drama does not emphasize seeking woman’s outer beauty through fitness, but is rather about a woman regaining her self-esteem.

The chemistry between So and Shin is also widely anticipated in the rom-com since it is the first time that the two will act opposite each other on the small screen. So rose to stardom for his leading role in the television series “I’m Sorry, I Love You” in 2004, and Shin is best known for starring in drama series such as “A Love to Kill” in 2005 and “My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox” in 2010.

“So and I met before when we shot a commercial for a clothing brand,” said Shin. “Many suggest that we would make a good couple in a drama. However, the commercial had a different concept from what we have to show in this drama, so I say we look cuter in Oh My Venus, and sexy sometimes.”

Budding entertainer Henry Lau of boy band Super Junior-M makes his acting debut in the romance comedy. He appears as a Harvard University graduate who turns manager-trainer for a UFC fighter.

Apart from Lau, actor Jung Gyu-woon plays Joo-eun’s ex-boyfriend and actress Yoo In-young co-stars as a fat-turned-skinny lawyer.

“Oh My Venus” will air every Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m. on KBS2 for 16 episodes.