"Our Blues" Cast Shares Reasons For Joining The Drama, Message They Want To Convey, And More

On April 7, “Our Blues” held an online press conference where its star-studded cast spoke about the new drama!

tvN’s “Our Blues” is an omnibus-style drama set in Jeju Island that tells the sweet, sour, and bitter life stories of a diverse array of characters. At the press conference were cast members Lee Byung Hun, Shin Min Ah, Cha Seung Won, Lee Jung Eun, Han Ji Min, Kim Woo Bin, Uhm Jung Hwa, director Kim Kyu Tae, and writer Noh Hee Kyung. The cast also includes Go Doo Shim, Kim Hye Ja, Park Ji Hwan, Choi Young Joon, Bae Hyun Sung, and Noh Yeon Seo.

On choosing to make an omnibus-style drama, writer Noh Hee Kyung explained, “I was getting tired of stories with one male and one female lead. We’re the main characters of our own lives, so while wondering whether we had to only follow the lives of two people, I chose the omnibus-style.”

In “Our Blues,” Lee Byung Hun plays Lee Dong Suk, while Shin Min Ah plays his love interest Min Sun Ah. The two previously worked together in the 2001 drama “Beautiful Days” and the 2005 film “A Bittersweet Life,” where they play lovers. Lee Byung Hun shared that as he only remembered Shin Min Ah’s cute and innocent image, he was surprised to see the depth of her acting this time, adding that their chemistry was great.

Shin Min Ah’s role as Min Sun Ah is the actress’s first portrayal of a mother. She commented, “Rather than feel pressured by the fact that she’s a mom, I thought that the transformation of Sun Ah’s emotions and the process of overcoming that would be difficult. Weirdly enough, I understood how Sun Ah felt. I felt hurt. [I thought] It’d be fun to express her emotional wounds and her will to overcome them. I related to Sun Ah’s emotions and charms.”

Regarding his choice to star in the drama, Cha Seung Won shared, “There was no reason not to. I couldn’t believe it when they said Lee Byung Hun was doing [the drama]. There was mental satisfaction in just being able to work together.”

Cha Seung Won plays the role of Choi Han Soo, a “wild-goose dad” with a daughter. The term “wild-goose dad” is used in Korea to refer to fathers who stay behind in Korea to work while their family lives abroad.

The actor continued, “From the perspective of someone who is also raising kids, I could relate and there was an overlap in our emotions. Instead of [thinking] ‘I have to do this,’ I like just doing it. This jewel-like script really encompasses the acting. I liked that aspect.”

“Our Blues” is Han Ji Min’s second project with writer Noh Hee Kyung and her first in the role of a haenyeo, a female diver that harvests sea life for a living. She commented, “[My character] Lee Young Ok is unstoppable, to the point where I think she’s selfish. She also has a rude side. She has a lot of inner issues that aren’t seen from the outside.”

Han Ji Min said that the idea of acting as a haenyeo sounded fun to her and added, “Even putting on the haenyeo suit requires two to three people. Since we were filming on a boat, I couldn’t even drink a cup of water. There was also fear about filming in the ocean. After filming, I came to respect haenyeos. I’ve shown an image that I haven’t yet showcased before. Now that we’ve completed the project, I’m looking forward to it.”

Regarding his first drama in six years, Kim Woo Bin shared that he was nervous, but happy and thankful to greet viewers for the first time in awhile with a new project. Kim Woo Bin plays warm-hearted ship captain Park Jung Joon, of which he commented, “I tried to understand Jung Joon’s emotions exactly as they were written by the writer. I went to Jeju Island early to meet the captain, follow haenyeos, and learn how to fillet fish. I tried to understand Jung Joon. I already felt so happy to be able to work with [acting] seniors that I respect.”

This is also the first project that real-life couple Shin Min Ah and Kim Woo Bin will be appearing in together, although they will have different love interests. Writer No Hee Kyung explained this decision, sharing, “If I put them together, I thought that they would say they wouldn’t do it. I said that I wanted them to do it with the understanding that they had different love lines. Thankfully, they said it was okay. They’re doing it because they’re good actors. I didn’t have other worries.”

Uhm Jung Hwa talked about starring in a drama with veteran actresses Kim Hye Ja and Go Doo Shim, saying, “I’ve never worked with Kim Hye Ja or Go Doo Shim in a project. I nervously went [to film], feeling like I had gone back to being a rookie. While preparing to film with these two people in front of me, I thought that it was really great. I thought, ‘A day like this comes because I’ve endured for so long.’ I was shocked when Kim Hye Ja suddenly said, ‘Because we’ve been [acting] for so long, we’re seeing Uhm Jung Hwa.’ When I think about that, I gain strength.”

Writer Noh Hee Kyung explained that she wanted to convey a message of hope through “Our Blues.” “Blues are songs that people in pain sing to no longer feel pain,” she shared. “I hope it’s like a festival. Although there are scars, I hope it’s as enjoyable as a festival.”

For the drama’s focal point, Noh Hee Kyung chose the acting. Director Kim Kyu Tae added, “While watching the drama, you will be able to see and discover the ‘you’ that wants to become happier. I hope this lasts as a warm and happy drama.”

“Our Blues” will premiere on April 9 at 9:10 p.m. KST. Watch a teaser here!

In the meantime, watch Han Ji Min and Kim Hye Ja in “Radiant” here:

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…and Shin Min Ah in “My Love, My Bride” here!

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