Though romantic comedy dramas are filling up the feelings of emptiness left behind by Zo In-sung and Song Hye-kyo’s smash hit melodrama “That Winter, the Wind Blows,” there is nothing like traditional romantic dramas when it comes to moving one’s emotions entirely.

This spring, a melodrama starring actor Kim Nam-gil and actress Son Ye-jin will come to us – broadcaster KBS’s “Don’t Look Back” which is scheduled to premiere at 9:50 p.m. on May 27.

The show will tell of a tragic story where a man who lost his father due to the family of the woman he loves, and was threatened himself by them, comes back after changes his face and identity for revenge but finds himself caught between love and revenge.

Han Yi-soo, the male character that goes back and forth between the emotions of love and revenge, will be played by Kim. This will also be his first project since his discharge from civil service which he carried out instead of Korea’s usual mandatory military service.

At a press conference for the upcoming show held at Diamant Convention Center in Seoul on Tuesday, Kim talked about what it feels like to be back in front of camera.

 

 

“I was really nervous. I though that I’d be the same. But I saw myself shaking while just reading the script in front of the camera. I really never imagined it would happen. I sweat just from standing in front of the camera,” said Kim.? He then went onto say, “Just like one gets better at acting with more experience, it’s gotten very difficult for me in a certain way because of the brief break I took. I will do my best thinking that I’m competing against myself from my previous work ‘Bad Boy.’ Actually, I just want to do as well I as I in ‘Bad Boy.’”

Before making a comeback on screen, Kim took a brief excursion, ?producing movie “Ensemble” [translated title] and directing film “Hello Mom” [translated title]. However, he expressed his love and hunger for acting by remarking, “There’s nothing I know how to do outside of acting. I wasn’t a smart student in school either. I think acting suits me the best. I find acting attractive in I can make others sympathize with what I feel.”

Jo Hae-woo, the female character role that will fall in love with Yi-soo, will be played by Son. Son, dubbed the ‘all men’s first love,’ said she joined the cast due to her earnest desire to take on a melodrama.

 

 

“I haven’t done a drama for three years now. I actually shy away from doing dramas because they’re just so physically challenging. But it’s been three years so I guess I gradually came to forget what it’s like and wanted to try one out again,” said Son.

She then added, “While thinking of what sort of project I wanted to take on, I realized that I really wanted to do a melodrama. Most of my recent works were romantic comedies or about professionals so I really wanted to do a melodrama this time. Than I came to read the script for ‘Don’t Look Back’ and I saw that it wasn’t just a melodrama but a story that was strong enough to pull me in. I was most drawn to the fatal and fierce love story to it but I was also attracted to the inexhaustible number of stories that would be told in the 20-part series.”

When asked how she is now compared to her heydays, she answered, “Even though I can’t be as attractive visually anymore, I believe my acting for the melodrama should have more depth and I will try hard to do so.”

From his role as Bidam in series “Queen Seondeok” to Gun-wook in “Bad Boy,” Kim usually portrayed cold-hearted bad boys. And Son who was the icon of first love due to her films “Summer Scent,” “The Classic,” and “A Moment To Remember.” Hence, there is definitely a strong element of attraction to these two stable actors coming together for the upcoming series.

But what is also as strong as the show’s cast is its production crew. “Don’t Look Back” will complete the three-part ‘revenge’ series by producer Park Chan-hong and scriptwriter Kim Ji-woo of “Rebirth” and “The Lucifer.”

Park said, “The first drama ‘Rebirth’ was about a man who takes revenge, the second drama ’The Lucifer‘ added the story of the victim of revenge to the structure of ‘Rebirth,’ and ’Don’t Look Back‘ will add the stories of both the victim and perpetrator of revenge to the story structure of ‘Rebirth,’“ and added, ”I would like the audience to feel and think about the meaning of revenge that we’re trying to tell.“

The paths their previous works have taken only heighten expectations for “Don’t Look Back.” We will see if the drama takes over the spring of 2013.

Reporter. Bae Sun Young sypova@tenasia.co.kr
Translator.?Kang Jung Yeon atoz@tenasia.co.kr
Photographer. Lee Jin Hyuk eleven@tenasia.co.kr
Editor. Jessica Kim

<ⓒ Korea Entertainment Media Co., LTD. (www.tenasia.com) All rights reserved.>