For Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji, ‘it’s okay to not be okay’
South Korean stars Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji topbill the new Korean drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, described as a unique romance about hope and healing.
Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) is a caregiver in a psychiatric ward. Gang-tae seems to be blessed with everything — brains and brawn, as well as a caring and loving personality. He enjoys taking care of his brother, Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se), who is eight years older than him and on the autism spectrum.
As destiny would have it, Gang-tae will meet a special woman. Ko Mun-yeong (Seo Ye-ji), is a popular author of children’s books, but she appears to be the exact opposite of Gang-tae — arrogant and anti-social.
How these two individuals connect and end up healing each other’s deep hurts despite glaring differences is at the heart of this offbeat rom-com drama, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
When asked about the casting process for the lead roles, director Park Shin-woo revealed, “Mun-yeong is such a difficult character that sometimes I get mad at the writer. After contemplating, because Mun-yeong is a very multi-faceted character, seeing Seo Ye-ji made me think she was the one.”
“There’s no specific reason for casting Kim Soo-hyun. Just being Kim Soo-hyun is the reason,” he added.
The K-drama will be accessible to Filipino audiences on the streaming service Netflix beginning June 20. Here are excerpts from the stars’ recent virtual interview with media from the Asia-Pacific, including The Philippine STAR.
On working together for the first time in a K-drama:
Kim Soo-hyun: “Like other people you meet for the first time, there was a sense of awkwardness and difficulties between the two of us. But as we began to really transform ourselves into (our characters), we had to spend a lot of time together. I feel like we have quite a comfortable chemistry between us now. And so I hope that you can enjoy our chemistry on screen as well.”
Seo Ye-ji: “So I feel like our chemistry started off and continues to be quite good. And I think I would even go as far as to say that he’s probably the best partner that I’ve had.”
On their reactions on reading the script:
Kim Soo-hyun: “When I first saw the script and read it, I felt a heartache. And so I think that you may be able to agree once you see the show, but there are a variety of characters and all of them have different stories, and there’s also a lot of love. So I think that whatever angle you see our show from, I think there is something in it for everybody. So I really hope that you all can enjoy it.”
Seo Ye-ji: “When I first read this script, the first thing that came to mind was that it was truly intriguing. I think that I can almost say that I’ve never seen a character like the character I play in any Korean drama before. And also I also had a heartache about the fact that my character was unable to feel empathy toward other people. Therefore, she was very selfish. She only knew of herself, and the sense of obsession that she has, it’s like a sword with two (edges), you know, it hurts both herself and other people around her. So, I was really drawn to the character, I felt like she had a lot to offer. I also believed that if I were able to truly express all of the things that were really hidden inside her and harbored in her internally, then it could create a truly wonderful story.”
On why they decided to take on the project:
Kim Soo-hyun: “After reading the script, I really felt like it was something that I wanted to challenge myself to do. I wanted to be able to express that heartache into this form of art. And in that process, I think I also wanted to see how I would change as just a human being outside of the story as just me, Kim Soo-hyun, as a person. So it was something that I think I wanted to really challenge myself to do.
Seo Ye-ji: “I think, first of all, director Park Shin-woo, of course, is extremely talented and his talent is irresistible. And so I had no choice but to join the project. I think that also goes for the writer (Cho Young) as well. It was truly an intriguing story so well written. But of course, last but not least, the partner. I think any actress would be extremely happy to have Kim Soo-hyun as her partner, so I had no reason not to do it.”
For Kim Soo-hyun, on working again after military service:
“This is my first piece of work after finishing the two service and because of that I have been extremely nervous, I think I still am. While serving in the military, I really had this thirst to be on screen again and to act. And I’m really grateful that It’s Okay to Not Be Okay has become my first one after finishing my military service. And as thirsty as I have been for acting, I will do my very best to make sure that this is worth all of that.
On what they hope audiences will learn from the show:
Kim Soo-hyun: “I think that despite all of the differences culturally or physically, what’s universal would be the way we are worried or concerned about our loved ones, the way we think of the people that are important in our lives and the way we feel love toward other people. I think all of that is universal. So despite the cultural differences, I hope that that would be some point that all of us will be able to relate to. And that’s what I expect our viewers to be able to see through our drama series.”
Seo Ye-ji: “of course, everyone has their own different wounds, and they’re hurt in different ways. And of course, the depth is also different. However, what I do hope is that all of the viewers through our drama series will experience some sort of healing. You know, one of the key words for our drama series is healing of the hurt. So I hope that as you watch our story together, you will be angry together, you’ll be healed together, and you’ll laugh and feel happiness together.”
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay premieres on Netflix on June 20 with two episodes airing every Saturday and Sunday.
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