"Mystic Pop-Up Bar" Cast Talks About What To Expect And Wishes Well For Yook Sungjae's Enlistment

The cast of “Mystic Pop-Up Bar” talked about their love for the drama, their characters, and what to watch for ahead of its premiere.

On May 18, a press conference for the cast of “Mystic Pop-Up Bar” was held live on YouTube. Hwang Jung Eum, Choi Won Young, Lee Joon Hyuk, Jung Da Eun, and director Jeon Chang Geun were present for the conference, while Yook Sungjae could not join his cast members as he had enlisted in the military on May 11.

Based on a popular webtoon, “Mystic Pop-Up Bar” tells the story of a mysterious pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment) run by an ill-tempered woman named Wol Joo (Hwang Jung Eum), an innocent part-time employee named Han Kang Bae (BTOB‘s Yook Sungjae), and a former afterlife detective known as Chief Gwi (Choi Won Young) who visit customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems.

Hwang Jung Eum’s character Wol Joo is a woman who must relieve the grievances of 100,000 people to pay the price for the faults of her past life. Yook Sung Jae plays Han Kang Bae, the character who became a part-time employee to improve his habit of confessing his inner thoughts to whoever he comes into physical contact with.

Meanwhile, Choi Won Young’s character Chief Gwi is sent to manage the store’s poor performance, and Lee Joon Hyuk plays the grim reaper Yeom, who relays the messages of the underworld. Playing the role of Kang Yeo Rin, the VIP security guard of the store, is Jung Da Eun.

During the press conference, director Jeon Chang Geun talked about the drama and the webtoon that inspired it. He said, “I’m sorry to those who loved the original webtoon, but there are some differences between the webtoon and the drama. In the webtoon, there are long descriptions of the happenings in every episode, but in the drama, there is more of a focus on how the main characters navigate these events.”

He continued, “I think the actors are all well-suited for their roles. I worked very comfortably because they did such a good job. The actors, immersed in the script’s characters, all worked hard. You will be able to see some sides of them that you couldn’t usually see in other dramas.”

The actors showed their love for the drama. Hwang Jung Eum said, “I joined because I loved the script. The director guided me very well on set, and the more I worked on this drama, the more I kept thinking that I made the right choice to do it. I have put all my effort into this drama.”

Yook Sungjae chimed in through a video, apologizing for not being able to attend the press conference due to his military service and promised to meet viewers through the drama’s first episode. Hwang Jung Eum revealed that she had wished him well on his enlistment.

Choi Won Young spoke about how quickly Yook Sungjae had to leave after his enlistment date was confirmed. He then sent a message to his newly enlisted co-actor, saying, “I’m sorry I couldn’t buy you a meal before you left. When you’re on leave, I’ll treat you.”

Lee Joon Hyuk also said a few words to Yook Sungjae. “Sungjae, eat well, listen to your seniors, and take care of your juniors. It’ll be over soon. Time goes by fast. Let’s drink together once you’re out,” he said. Lastly, Jung Da Eun shared her well wishes to Yook Sungjae also.

Next, Choi Won Young spoke up about the drama. “The drama was pre-produced. On set, I had both fun and hard times, but I finished the job well while sharing these experiences with great actors, our director, and the staff. It’s an honor to have worked on this project. I think you will enjoy it,” he said.

Lee Joon Hyuk complimented director Jeon Chang Geun as well, saying, “Thanks to our director, things on set went smoothly and well.” Lee Joon Hyuk then expressed his satisfaction that he was able to move on comfortably even after making mistakes on set.

Jung Da Eun also expressed her gratitude for the drama and commented on her character. She remarked, “Since I have acted a lot as powerful characters, I want to say that I was able to express the feminine and cute side to me through the role of Yeo Rin.”

Additionally, Hwang Jung Eum revealed that she had cried while reading the original webtoon. “There are parts where it isn’t very light, but there are funny moments too,” she said. Then, she commented that in the drama, she has created a kind of character that she has never played before. “I wanted to play a role that wasn’t very comical, but once I started, I noticed there are moments of comedy, but there are also serious parts to my role,” she explained.

Hwang Jung Eum additionally mentioned that she had more and more fun as filming progressed and compared her role to her real self. “In reality, I’m usually the type to do all the talking. Whenever someone opens up to me, I space out,” she confessed.

Hwang Jung Eum continued to describe the drama: “There can be some strong topics in the drama, but you will be able to see how our society is.” Choi Won Young agreed, adding, “You will be able to reflect upon the lives of people as you watch the drama. In that sense, there can be a feeling of emotional healing.”

Lastly, director Jeon Chang Geun emphasized that there will be new stories in each episode. “You’ll be able to experience a lot of fun and various emotions,” he concluded.

“Mystic Pop-Up Bar” premieres on May 20 at 9:30 p.m. KST.

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