'Lovebirds' shows real life of newlywed celebrity couple

Koo Hye-sun, left, and Ahn Jae-hyun in a scene from “The Lovebrids.” / Courtesy of tvN

By Park Jin-hai

TvN’s new “reality” show, “The Lovebirds: Year 1,” will zoom in on newlywed celebrity couple ― model-turned-actor Ahn Jae-hyun and actress Koo Hye-sun.

The latest venture of director Na Young-suk, who has produced a series of successful reality shows including “2 Days & 1 Night” and “Three Meals a Day,” will document the daily life of the couple, who tied the knot last May after they appeared together in the KBS medical drama “Blood.”

Na said the couple’s unique way of loving and living drew his attention. “Normally, I decide the concept of a show first and try to look for a suitable cast. But with this show it was the other way round,” the director said during a media event to promote the show at the Stanford Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. “I happened to know Ahn while he was in my show New Journey to the West, and as he married Koo, I got to know of the actress. Their way of living looks interesting and I thought it might be fun to document and share their newlywed life.”

Na said it didn’t take long to persuade the couple to do the show and said they accepted the offer as they believe it will be another good way to cherish their memories.

Writer Kim Dae-joo said Koo has been “way too candid to surprise the staff members,” while Ahn, deemed a hapless romantic, was a typical husband. “I intended to show what comes next once a couple who would appear in a fairy tale gets married,” said Kim.

“The couple has serious fights for similar reasons as other couples. But their way of making peace is unique. They talk seriously for six hours. They look lovely and reminded me of my early years of married life,” said Na.

The show also drew attention in that it looks like none of Na’s signature shows. “Compared with my other projects, the scale is rather small. It was a fresh challenge for my production team,” the producer said. “If the past shows were more, say, manly, this show deals with a delicate male-female relationship. I have tried a couple of new challenges, including camerawork.”

The couple’s daily life was filmed in a newly built set house in rural Inje County, Gangwon Province, in order to protect their privacy. The couple together prepares to fight the winter cold in the remote place.

The first episode starring the couple will premiere on tvN, Feb. 3.