Yeom Hye-ran returns with a story of restraint, collapse, and emotional release through flamenco in Mad Dance Office.
On February 24, the film's press screening and media conference were held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Director Cho Hyun-jin and cast members Yeom Hye-ran, Choi Sung-eun, and Arin attended the event.
Breaking Perfection Through Flamenco
Mad Dance Office follows Kuk-hee (played by Yeom Hye-ran), a meticulous civil servant who has lived every minute of her life with rigid precision. Her carefully designed blueprint—successful career, daughter's employment—appears flawless until unexpected setbacks shake her foundation, including a missed promotion and emotional distance from her daughter.
At a breaking point, she encounters flamenco. As she loosens the tension in her shoulders and surrenders to the rhythm, she begins to experience freedom for the first time.
Director Cho explained, "Flamenco is a dance that can physically break something. I thought Kuk-hee could break something inside herself through this dance and emerge anew."
A Challenging Yet Liberating Role
Yeom Hye-ran portrays district office director Kim Kuk-hee, a character who is difficult to immediately embrace. "She's not an instantly likable protagonist," said the director. "You have to root for her while following her journey. Yeom Hye-ran was my first choice because she can make even a villain feel relatable and worthy of empathy."
Taking on her first solo lead role, Yeom shared, "I didn't think of it as a one-top project. I saw it as a two-top with Choi Sung-eun. Being the lead isn't something just anyone can handle." She admitted feeling pressure but focused on consistency throughout filming, carefully managing her stamina as she appeared in nearly every scene.
The high-difficulty flamenco choreography was performed without a double. Yeom revealed she trained for three months prior to filming. "My instructor said it's not a dance you can master quickly. It's a dance rooted in deep emotion. It was extremely difficult," she said.
One particularly intense solo scene set in an office stood out. "It reflects the fantasy of wanting to escape work—to go home, to break free. I had to destroy the office space emotionally while dancing alone. It was physically and mentally demanding."
Generational Healing and Connection
Choi Sung-eun plays Kim Yeon-kyung, a Gen Z civil servant navigating fierce competition and harsh workplace realities. Through flamenco lessons alongside Kuk-hee, she experiences a turning point. Their relationship evolves beyond superior and subordinate into a soul-level bond.
Kuk-hee learns to better understand her daughter Harry (played by Arin) through Yeon-kyung, while Yeon-kyung gradually builds inner strength by observing Kuk-hee's resilience.
Choi reflected on working with Yeom: "She openly discussed her worries and insecurities first. That honesty gave me strength."
Both actresses expressed hope that the film would resonate with audiences. Choi shared, "I've lived with the pressure to always do my best, like Kuk-hee and Yeon-kyung. I hope this film becomes comforting for those who've felt the same."
Yeom added, "Working middle-aged women may especially relate. Those who've had to constantly achieve while balancing parenting might find healing in this story."
Mad Dance Office will be released on March 4.
