Song Seung-heon back on small screen with 'Dinner Mate'

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Actor Song Seung-heon poses for a photo at the press conference for his new drama series “Dinner Mate” in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of MBC

Actor Song Seung-heon has returned in MBC's romance drama “Dinner Mate” nine years after starring in the same network's romantic comedy “My Princess” in 2011.

Before “Dinner Mate,” Song appeared in a lot of action-packed dramas and movies including “The Player” and “Air Strike.”

Song explained that he took the offer because it has been a while since he played a romantic role.

“I've been waiting for a romance drama. When I first read the script for Dinner Mate, I could feel the excitement of the early stage of love,” Song said during an online press conference held on Monday.

Based on a webtoon of the same title, the story follows the love lives of two adults with different backgrounds ― one is in a long-term relationship while the other is a serial dater.

Song plays Kim Hae-kyung, a food psychiatrist who analyzes people by watching them eat. Actress Seo Ji-hye, well-known for her role in “Crash Landing on You,” plays Woo Do-hee, a TV producer who suffers from emotional issues after discovering that her boyfriend cheated on her.

The two dine together and through food, they sympathize with each other and realize the possibility of falling in love again. The drama series also reflects on the so-called “alone” culture in Korea.

Song said the new series is a heart-warming love story that could heal the wounds of past relationships.

“Nowadays, single-person households have become increasingly common, and honbap (dining alone) and honsul (drinking alone) trends are popular in Korea,” he said. “Watching our drama will remind you of the time when you truly loved someone and help recover from feeling lost after breakups.”

Song expressed satisfaction in acting alongside Seo, lauding her character interpretation and acting skills.

“After seeing her performance on set, I wondered why she's never shown her lovely, bubbly and uninhibited character in previous works. She's a great actress,” he said.

The series also stars Lee Ji-hoon and Son Na-eun of girl group Apink in supporting roles. The Monday-Tuesday series premiered on May 25.

Song made his television debut in 1996 through the sitcom “Three Guys and Three Girls” and shot to stardom after appearing in “Autumn in My Heart” in 2000. He is well-known for his roles in popular dramas such as “East of Eden” (2008), “My Princess” (2011) and “Saimdang, Memoir of Colors” (2017).