[Dispatch=Kim So-jung Reporter] Fifty percent of life, the age to understand heaven's mandate. Middle-aged men whose bodies may have grown sluggish from the wear of the world, yet whose instincts remain, have gathered together. Three men collide brutally. They are beaten, bruised, and broken. Yet despairing, self-recrimination, and lying down are not their way. With their malfunctioning bodies, they push through all manner of adversity. An "human rebooting project" begins, where imperfect men stubbornly stage comebacks. Director Han Dong-hwa said, "We've unfolded the process of rising again amid frustration and hardship through action, comedy, melodrama, and humanity." The production presentation for the new MBC-TV Friday-Saturday drama "Fifty Percent" took place on the 21st at the Golden Mouse Hall in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Director Han Dong-hwa and actors Shin Ha-gyun, Oh Jung-se, Huh Sung-tae, Kim Shin-rok, and Lee Hak-joo attended. The greatest weapon of "Fifty Percent" is "acting cast." Director Han and the staff prepared with Shin Ha-gyun, Oh Jung-se, and Huh Sung-tae in mind from the planning stage. "When consulting with the writer and PDs, the three roles of Ho-myung, Je-soon, and Beom-ryong came up exactly as these three. Whether it worked or not, we tried it out and proposed it, and they accepted right away. I'm grateful because they're optimized for salty comedy." (Director Han) The actors gathered with solid faith in each other. Huh Sung-tae said, "Honestly, I made the decision to appear before even looking at the script in detail. It was more than enough just for the reason of appearing with senior Shin Ha-gyun and senior Oh Jung-se." Oh Jung-se also said, "Until now I only met them briefly and always felt regretful, but in this work I was able to have a longer rapport, so I approached it with a sense of security and excitement." The character settings in the drama are fascinating. A National Intelligence Service agent, a North Korean operative, a former gangster. Regarding a question about some public backlash, Director Han explained, "Our story is close to a cartoon. The positions were determined by physical ability stats. We exercised cartoon-like imagination." Shin Ha-gyun, who was a former NIS black operative, takes on Jongho, a man falsely accused and confined to an island called Yeong-seon-do, living as a Chinese restaurant kitchen manager. "Jongho and I are similar in age. Because there are many action scenes, I learned boxing to manage my stamina," he revealed. Oh Jung-se was the finest human weapon North Korea produced. However, he now plays Bong Jae-soon, suffering from an overbearing boss and an irresponsible nephew. "I spent more than six months in rehabilitation exercises and, with my toughened body, received help from the martial arts team to become a human weapon," he joked. Huh Sung-tae plays Gang Beom-ryong, the second-in-command of the Hwasan faction. He is a character who has been masquerading as a convenience store owner on Yeong-seon-do for ten years, observing Jongho. "Gang Beom-ryong is a character with both charisma and foolishness, and much of my true self is reflected in him," he introduced. The relationships among the three people in the drama are not particularly sweet. Shin Ha-gyun pointed out, "In the drama, all their relationships are poor. These rivals gradually become harmonious for one shared goal, which is a major viewing point." Within rival chemistry, respect for each other shone. Shin Ha-gyun praised Oh Jung-se, saying, "Though a colleague I've known for a long time, he's an actor who makes me discover something new each time." Regarding Huh Sung-tae, he said, "He's usually quiet, but the moment the camera rolls, he becomes a completely different person and pours out diverse acting. I learn so much from my juniors. They're colleagues I'm grateful for." Huh Sung-tae's silence had a reason. "Before rolling the camera, the two of you were constantly practicing and I didn't want to be in the way. I looked at the two of you from behind many times," he explained. At this, Oh Jung-se said, "So I told senior Shin Ha-gyun, 'Why is that guy always looking at us?'" which drew laughter. Kim Shin-rok plays prosecutor Kang Young-ae. "My nickname is Nonggae. Once I bite into a case, I never let go. I have a history of working as a violent crimes detective. At some point I join the three men and go through change," she said. The mood maker on set was the youngest, Lee Hak-joo. He plays Ma Gong-bok, who joined the Hwasan faction out of admiration for Gang Beom-ryong. Huh Sung-tae smiled and said, "Just being with Hak-joo is fun. I even thought of him when I was at home." "Fifty Percent" is a follow-up to "The Empress of the Century." It ended with a high viewership rating of 13.8%, but controversy over historical distortion emerged and caused a stir. Director Han remained composed. "The previous work's viewership came out well. I think it being an issue means it's a good work. Since we have our own color, I ask that you focus on just that aspect," he urged. Finally, Kim Shin-rok encouraged viewing, saying, "Our drama is pleasant and stress-free. I hope it becomes a meal companion, drinking companion, and late-night snack companion for viewers." Director Han's target viewership rating is double digits. "When we have these people, there's no way it can't be fun. They're acting monsters, aren't they? Black comedy is difficult without acting ability to back it up. It couldn't have happened without these people," he expressed confidence. Shin Ha-gyun confessed, "The script is fun, and the character relationships playing out between the three of us are good. We tried our best to convey the story we wanted to tell. Since filming was pleasant and enjoyable, I hope the viewership rating comes out well." Meanwhile, "Fifty Percent" airs its first broadcast on the 22nd at 9:50 p.m.