Esom Dishes On Her Real-Life Chemistry With Lee Je Hoon + Why She Was Drawn To Upcoming Drama "Taxi Driver"

Mar 24, 2021

Ahead of the premiere of SBS’s “Taxi Driver,” leading lady Esom shared her excitement about the upcoming drama!

Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, “Taxi Driver” tells the story of a mysterious taxi service that delivers vengeance on behalf of victims who are unable to get justice through the law. Lee Je Hoon will star as Kim Do Gi, a former special forces officer who works as a driver for the service, while Esom will star as passionate prosecutor Kang Ha Na, who begins to grow suspicious of both Kim Do Gi and the unusual taxi service.

As “Taxi Driver” will mark Esom’s first drama in two years, the actress remarked, “I’m delighted and excited to be greeting drama viewers for the first time in a long while.”

Explaining what drew her to the drama and the role of Kang Ha Na, Esom commented, “I’ve always tried to pick acting projects that move my heart and make me empathize with the characters. I really enjoyed reading the script of ‘Taxi Driver.’ I got so immersed in the story that I became curious what would happen next, and time flew by while I was reading it. Because Kang Ha Na was also such an appealing character, I chose the drama [for my next project] without hesitation.”

“I think Kang Ha Na’s charm lies in her personality, the way that when she makes up her mind to do something, she boldly goes after it,” continued Esom. “I think it’s cool that she has strong convictions and is confident in everything she does. It’s really charming how Ha Na is straightforward and quick to take action.”

When asked to rate her similarity to the character, Esom replied, “Only about 20 percent.” She went on to humbly explain, “Kang Ha Na is passionate about her goals, and she’s very bold and daring. I don’t think I’m quite like that yet.”

As for how she prepared for the role, Esom revealed that she was trying her best to stay true to the character, which first originated in the webtoon on which “Taxi Driver” is based.

“I think the essence of the character is what’s important,” said the actress. “I’m trying to stay true to the script. I’m currently making efforts to transform into the character of Kang Ha Na herself, exactly the way she is, so I’m always asking myself, ‘If I were Kang Ha Na and not Esom, what would I do?'”

She continued, “I also approached fashion with the same thought. As the character is a prosecutor who always needs to concentrate on her cases, even when I wore a neat suit, I wore it with sneakers, and I also went with relaxed curls for my hairstyle.”

Esom also spoke enthusiastically about her chemistry with co-star Lee Je Hoon. “We get along really well in real life,” she shared. “This is my first time working together with Lee Je Hoon on a project, and he’s so considerate that I feel really comfortable and relaxed during filming. Thanks to him, I think Do Gi and Ha Na’s unique bickering chemistry also came out really well [in the drama].”

Finally, Esom expressed her confidence in “Taxi Driver” overall.

“It’s a drama in which every episode has a tightly-plotted story, and each of those stories will give viewers a refreshing thrill,” she said. “These days, people feel sad and bitter because there are many unfortunate stories about mistreated victims and the disappearance of justice, but I think viewers will be able to experience vicarious satisfaction by watching ‘Taxi Driver,’ which tackles these kinds of problems. Please look forward to it.”