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From left, actors Ji Chang-wook and Choi Sung-eun, director Kim Sung-yoon and actor Hwang In-yeop pose during an online press conference for Netflix's new original series "The Sound of Magic," Tuesday. Courtesy of Netflix |
By Lee Gyu-lee
Netflix's new Korean original series "The Sound of Magic" is set to hit the platform on Friday. The drama will look into what it means to become an adult.
"We sometimes ask ourselves if we have matured or if we can call ourselves adults," the series' director Kim Sung-yoon, known for leading the 2020 hit series "Itaewon Class," said during an online press conference, Tuesday. "Along with the intriguing story, it throws up questions like what it means to be an adult or to mature, how do we want our children to be raised, and how can we define a happy life. It's a drama that will bring up questions for both adults and children."
Based on the 2010 popular webcomics of the same name by Ha Il-kwon, the fantasy music series follows two teenagers, Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Sung-eun) and Na Il-deung (Hwang In-yeop), and a mysterious magician Lee Eul (Ji Chang-wook).
Ah-yi is living a harsh, debt-ridden life after her parents abandoned her and her younger sister. As she juggles part-time to support herself and her sister and manage school life, her only dream is to become an adult. Her classmate, Il-deung, is forced to accomplish his parents' dream, to be at the top of his class to give him a chance at a good job in the future.
One day, the two disenchanted teenagers meet Eul, living in an abandoned amusement park, who introduces them to hopes and dreams in their life.
The series is scripted by Kim Min-jeong, who wrote the period romance series "Love in the Moonlight" in 2016.
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A poster for the series "The Sound of Magic" / Courtesy of Netflix |
The director shared that he had been wanting to adapt the webcomics for about eight years.
"I liked the original webtoon so I met with Ha Il-kwon to discuss. But the intellectual property rights were already sold (to someone else) back then. And when we met again after, the series was still yet to launch," he said. "His works are generally hard to bring into life but I said I'll take a stab at it."
Ji plays a mysterious magician who doesn't want to grow up. The actor said he empathized with the characters of the two teenagers.
"There are a few reasons (for taking the role). The stories of Ah-yi and Il-deung felt like my own story," he said. "I thought that this was something that anyone can resonate with, and wanted to send a message of support to those like Ah-yi and Il-deung out there."
Choi also expressed that the series will offer a message of support and courage to the viewers.
"I liked how the story was beautiful and was something that people can empathize with," she said, adding that drawing the same feeling from the viewers was the key focus of creating her character.