[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yoon] "At first I looked at the script wanting to do action, but I was drawn to Kim's paternal love instead."

Actor So Ji-sub demonstrates once again that he is the ultimate action master. What makes this action special is that it is based on paternal affection. He presents what is being called the Korean version of "Taken."

The production team of SBS-TV's new Friday-Saturday drama "Kim" (Screenplay by Nam Dae-joong, Directed by Lee Seung-young) held a production presentation on the 25th at SBS Hall in Mok-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul. So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yun Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, Son Na-eun, and PD Lee Seung-young attended.

"Kim" is a revenge action drama. It tells the story of the most ordinary father in the world becoming the most dangerous man in the world to fight and reclaim his one and only daughter.

So Ji-sub leads the story as Kim. He is an ordinary small savings bank employee, but is actually a former operative who has been dispatched on countless special operations.

So Ji-sub said, "After 'Gwangjang,' I wanted to do action again, so I looked at the script. But I was drawn to the narrative between father and daughter instead. Acting from a father's perspective seemed like it would be a great challenge, so I chose it."

The difficulty level of this action is high. "In other action, I threw myself into it risking my life, but this time it is desperate action where I throw myself forward wanting to live together with my daughter," he explained.

This is his first time acting paternal love. So Ji-sub said, "I received a lot of help from Sumin, who played my daughter. It helped that she treated me the way an actual teenage daughter treats her dad."

Choi Dae-hoon and Yun Kyung-ho depict the "dad universe" alongside So Ji-sub. Sung Han-su, played by Choi Dae-hoon, is currently a taekwondo academy instructor, but is a former taekwondo gold medalist and secret operative.

Park Jin-cheol, played by Yun Kyung-ho, is a secret operative who was once called the god of the battlefield. He is currently a devoted father figure with a special attachment to his daughter Dabin.

The three display distinctive action each. While Kim's action is cold yet hot, Choi Dae-hoon shows flashy kicks, and Yun Kyung-ho demonstrates powerful action.

In particular, both are doing full-fledged action for the first time. Choi Dae-hoon said, "In taekwondo, I had to make good use of my feet. I paid a lot of attention to angles while looking up videos of skilled people."

Yun Kyung-ho said, "The action I show is powerful yet satisfying," and emphasized, "Since the character basically likes rock and roll, you will feel a subtle sense of pleasure."

Beyond the action, the three's genuine chemistry is also a sight to see. The chemistry in the drama is reflected in reality. During the photo time, they showed the trending "Ya-ho" pose and pleasantly brightened the scene.

So Ji-sub was at the center. Choi Dae-hoon said, "So Ji-sub drove us hard, saying 'let's not get hurt and see this through to the end.' He played the role of foundation well, making it an incredibly good set."

Yun Kyung-ho said, "It's not a comedy genre and we're not promoting fun, but the set was truly enjoyable. It was a shame when it ended."

That energy carries over to the screen. After the trailer release, it earned the nickname "Korean Taken." Director Lee Seung-young said, "'Taken' is a real-time chase drama of a dad finding his daughter, but we have rich narratives for the surrounding characters as well. Multiple characters come alive."

However, he did not focus solely on the "refreshing satisfaction" plot of good versus evil that is currently trending. The director said, "Rather than refreshing satisfaction and revenge, we think in terms of karmic retribution and how happiness comes after hardship. We wanted to show how strong an ordinary person can become, not to encourage refreshing satisfaction."

The ratio with the original webtoon is around 7:3 or 8:2. The director said, "We tried to take the best of the original while implementing realism instead of its characteristic unrealistic elements."

"Kim" is the follow-up to "Wonderful New World," which ended with high ratings and heated buzz. The director said, "If 'Wonderful New World' felt like a sweet cake, ours feels spicy and refreshing. We will compete with a different flavor."

So Ji-sub said, "Please watch the diverse combination of refreshing and cool action, each character's story, and the vitality created by our friends."

Finally, the director said, "This week we finished post-production on episodes 9-10. This is a work that doesn't tire or stop," adding, "It becomes more fun as the episodes progress, so please join us until the end."

"Kim" airs its first episode on the 26th at 9:50 p.m.

<Photos by photographer Song Hyo-jin>