Actor Seo Kang-joon is returning after a three-year hiatus with 'Undercover High School'.
On the 20th, a press conference for MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Undercover High School' (written by Lim Young-bin, directed by Choi Jung-in) was held at MBC's new building in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Seo Kang-joon, Jin Ki-joo, Kim Shin-rok, Jeon Bae-soo, Kim Min-joo, Park Se-hyun, and PD Choi Jung-in were present at the event.
'Undercover High School' depicts the chaotic adventures of a National Intelligence Service agent who disguises as a high school student to track down the whereabouts of Emperor Gojong's missing gold bars.
It was created by PD Choi Jung-in, who directed 'Madly in Love' and 'Flowers Bloom at Night', and writer Lim Young-bin, known for 'Sketch' and 'Real Battle'.
PD Park stated, "'Undercover High School' encompasses every genre. From horror to action, comedy, and romance. I believe it has various appealing elements beyond the typical undercover investigation and thriller." He added, "We put a lot of effort into casting. There were so many fun scenes that I felt like I was appreciating the acting rather than just filming. I hope viewers will feel the same way."
In the drama, Seo Kang-joon plays Jeong Hae-sung, a member of the National Intelligence Service's Domestic Team 4. He is tasked with finding Emperor Gojong's gold bars and infiltrates the school as a student.
This work marks Seo Kang-joon's first project after being discharged from the army in May last year. Seo Kang-joon expressed, "It's been 3-4 years since I presented a work. The world has changed a lot. I realized that I needed to adapt quickly and show an interesting project."
Seo Kang-joon reflected on his time in the military, saying, "Time in the army felt like an eternity. I thought a lot about my past, what kind of actor I am, why I want to be an actor, and what kind of actor I want to become." He continued, "While I may not be satisfied with the works I've done, I have no regrets. I feel that I did my best when making those choices. I decided to choose this project with the mindset of not regretting whatever the outcome may be."
In this project, Seo Kang-joon infiltrates a high school and wears a school uniform for the first time in a while. He humorously remarked, "While filming, I noticed a lot of new slang. I learned a lot of new things. I couldn't understand any of it." He added, "Seeing the students, some looked like actual high school students while others were adults, and I thought they looked really young. I wondered why there was such a big age difference between us." He joked, "I didn't do any anti-aging to look younger. Since I'm not actually becoming a high school student but a 31-year-old infiltrating a high school, I decided to just be myself and applied lotion well."
He also mentioned, "I felt a bit embarrassed seeing the school uniform. I wondered if I could wear this. However, since I'm not playing a high school student but an adult at 31, I thought I shouldn't be embarrassed and should enjoy it. As I wore it, I found it quite nice."
PD Choi expressed, "After casting Seo Kang-joon, I discovered even more of his charm," showing his affection. He added, "Hae-sung is a very handsome NIS agent, and his looks are a pass." He continued, "He has a sincere charm. He is very honest. The honest charm of the character Hae-sung matched well and was well reflected in his acting. I believe the actor's authenticity shines through in the details. His expressions made me feel that he was truly living as Hae-sung in that moment. That authenticity is a charm point."
Jin Ki-joo plays Oh Soo-ah, a temporary teacher at Byeongmun High School. She is the homeroom teacher for Jeong Hae-sung's class.
Regarding her choice to participate in this project, Jin Ki-joo said, "I think I was unknowingly exhausted. I was waiting for a work that I could watch comfortably. I found myself chuckling and laughing while watching the project, and at times it made me tense. I think viewers will feel that charm too. I thought it could provide a lot of healing, which is why I chose it."
She continued, "Soo-ah has a reason to become a teacher. She has a sense of mission as a teacher, but due to environmental factors, she can't fully express that mission, which creates a dilemma. I wanted to express the dilemmas faced by young adults and newcomers to society without being confined to the profession of a teacher. I hope it is well expressed."
She praised her co-star Seo Kang-joon, saying, "He is very experienced. He naturally became a leader. There are many action scenes, and he has a lot to handle alone, but he never faltered and didn't show any signs of struggle. I thought I should trust and follow him."
PD Choi said he was "smitten" when he first met Jin Ki-joo. He added, "Jin Ki-joo has a charm that is unique to her, which I believe cannot be imitated. It's an innate charm." He expressed satisfaction, saying, "Hae-sung has a fantastical aspect, so Soo-ah had to express the grounded reality, and I think they synced very well."
Kim Shin-rok plays Seo Myeong-joo, the chairperson of Byeongmun High School. She is a planned and obsessive character, particularly fixated on her only daughter, Lee Ye-na. Kim Shin-rok humorously remarked about her chemistry with Kim Min-joo, saying, "We mainly meet after school. I catch her like a mouse," eliciting laughter.
She continued, "We filmed several episodes in a row, and when we first met, I caught her in various ways like catching a mouse, and I told Min-joo, 'I hope we can do a project where we can look at each other warmly next time.' We filmed many dense scenes," hinting at a tense mother-daughter relationship.
Kim Shin-rok also said, "(Kim Min-joo) is so pretty even when viewed through the viewfinder. When I pat her head, she seems small and precious. I love her, but my desire to control her is well expressed. I benefited from having her as a partner. It was wonderful."
Kim Min-joo also expressed that she benefited from Kim Shin-rok. She said, "When I first heard that my senior would play my mother, I was both curious and nervous," adding, "I had watched many of her works, and I was very nervous until the first filming."
She continued, "When we matched our breathing, the energy my senior gave off was so great that my emotions came out naturally. It was scary, and Ye-na is a friend who loves her mother, so affection came out too. If we focus on the complex and subtle relationship, I think it will be interesting to watch."
Finally, Seo Kang-joon stated, "The drama contains many genres such as romance, crime, and comedy. These genres are intricately mixed. While it is a light work, it has messages it wants to convey. It makes you think about various things and provides enjoyment," and added, "I believe viewers will feel that the characters I played before are different. You will see a new side of me."
'Undercover High School' will premiere on the 21st at 9:50 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
