[Dispatch=Yoo Ha-neul] Actress Lim Ji-yeon has mostly taken on dark roles in genre projects. She is now making her first attempt at a romantic comedy—and even taking on a dual role.
From Kang Dan-sim, who rises from low birth to the highest concubine rank in the Joseon era, to Shin Se-ri, an unknown actress in modern times possessed by a spirit from 300 years ago, she poured everything into the performance.
Lim said, “I pushed myself to the point of wondering if I really had to go this far. I drew out every bit of ability I had,” adding, “I gave my whole self to fully express and build these characters.”
She did not hide her confidence. “To be honest, I’m very confident,” she emphasized. Director Han Tae-seob responded, “Lim Ji-yeon herself was the plot and the genre.”
SBS-TV’s new Friday-Saturday drama A Brave New World held its production press conference on the afternoon of the 7th at SBS Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Seung-jo, Kim Min-seok, Lee Se-hee, and director Han Tae-seob attended.
The series is a romantic comedy that tells the story of Shin Se-ri, an unknown actress possessed by the spirit of a notorious Joseon-era villainess, and Cha Se-gye, a ruthless chaebol heir (played by Heo Nam-jun), as they fall in love.
Lim plays both Kang Dan-sim and Shin Se-ri, taking on dual roles as well as melodrama, comedy, and even action.
“I’ve often played dark characters in genre projects. I really wanted to try something bright and cheerful,” she said. “I encountered this project at a time when I was deeply into comedy scripts. It was a big challenge.”
She continued, “Through this project, I tried everything I could. Shin Se-ri is a type of female character I’ve never seen before in other dramas. I expressed her with my whole body and a lot of affection.”
Director Han also praised her, saying, “Lim Ji-yeon was the plot and the genre itself. She handled romance, comedy, and action at 120 percent. She is the drama’s greatest strength.”
Heo Nam-jun plays Cha Se-gye, the heir to the Cha-il Group—a man who will stop at nothing for money. After meeting Shin Se-ri, he gradually begins to change.
“He’s rational and calculating, but as he finds someone he wants to protect, his human side starts to show,” Heo explained. “The clumsy charm of someone who seems perfect on the outside is portrayed in an entertaining way.”
He also expressed satisfaction with his romantic-comedy chemistry with Lim, saying, “It was one of the best. After each cut, we would always talk and joke around. As time went on, our acting became more natural.”
Lim added, “There were times when I felt exhausted because Shin Se-ri has such a large portion of the story. But Nam-jun was like a vitamin on set. He kept me going through the tough filming schedule. I’m confident that our chemistry will be fully reflected in the drama.”
The ensemble cast is also drawing attention. Jang Seung-jo takes on the role of Cha Moon-do, the president of Cha-il Construction, presenting another ambitious villain. Kim Min-seok plays Baek Gwang-nam, a realistic young man who brings vitality to the story.
Jang said, “It was a project I really wanted to do. I tried to portray a character who is restrained even in his actions and laughter. I’ll show a different kind of villainy from my previous work.”
Kim explained, “At first, he’s selfish and only thinks of himself, but after meeting Shin Se-ri, he gradually learns empathy and humanity.”
Director Han emphasized the importance of chemistry among the actors. “Because Se-ri is such a strong character, it was important for the cast to connect with each other. The trust they built on set created great synergy,” he said.
Will the drama continue SBS’s successful run of Friday-Saturday series? Lim expressed confidence, saying, “I’m certain this will not fall short of its reputation. It will be a refreshing and captivating drama.”
A Brave New World premieres on May 8 at 9:50 PM.
[Photo Credit: Lee Seung-hoon]
