Author Lee Kang shared the behind-the-scenes story of writing ‘Unknown Seoul’.

tvN new Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Unknown Seoul’ (written by Lee Kang/directed by Park Shin-woo), which will be first broadcast on the 24th(Sat)at 9:20 PM, is a romantic growth drama about twin sisters who are different in everything except their faces and find true love and life through a lie that switches their lives.

This is the next work by writer Lee Kang, who left a lasting impression with ‘Youth of May’, which depicts the story of youth wavering in the pain of the times, after four years.

Writer Lee Kang expressed his excitement, saying,“ ‘Unknown Seoul,’ which I have been writing steadily like a letter or a diary with the hope of reaching viewers again as soon as possible, is finally about to be broadcast.”

Author Lee Kang, who said that through this ‘Unknown Seoul’ he wanted to write “stories of people who seem fine on the outside but are already shaken and exhausted inside,” said, “I imagined that it would be nice if a twin who looks exactly like me took my place, and then suddenly the question occurred to me whether that twin’s life would be more peaceful than mine,” explaining how he came up with the subject matter of twin sisters ‘life changes.

He continued, “I started this story with the thought that everyone feels like their life is the hardest, but if you look closely, aren’ t we all fighting our own battles?” He continued, “Self-loathing, which causes us to whip and belittle ourselves with words and thoughts we wouldn’t say to others, is my oldest enemy and an unsolved problem.I wrote the piece with the hope that our main characters and the viewers who watch this story will be a little more generous to themselves.”

Regarding Seoul and Duson-ri, the main setting of the drama, he said, “We wanted to depict them as spaces that exist with different faces in each character’s heart, breaking away from the dichotomous framework of a bleak city and a leisurely hometown.Seoul and Duson-ri in our drama will be depicted through the eyes of Yumi-ji and Yumi-rae,” raising curiosity.

‘Unknown Seoul’ is a hot topic because of actress Park Bo-young’s(as Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae)challenge of playing four roles, and the fresh combination of Park Jin-young(as Lee Ho-soo)and Ryu Kyung-soo(as Han Se-jin).Regarding this, writer Lee Kang expressed his affection, saying, “I was very happy when I heard the casting news, but when I actually met the actors, it felt like I was meeting the characters in the drama in real life, so it was amazing and exciting.”

Also, “Whenever I see the characters breathed life into by the actors on set and in the video, I am amazed that they are much more vivid and clear than the characters in the script, and that the actors understand the characters better than I, the writer.I am sure that the viewers will also enjoy the loveliness of the different resolutions created by the three actors,” raising expectations.

In this way, ‘Unknown Seoul’ is adding to the curiosity by foreshadowing a warm message of comfort from author Lee Kang to those who are still growing, regardless of age or location.

tvN new Saturday-Sunday drama ‘Unknown Seoul’, which was completed with writer Lee Kang’s affectionate sincerity in the hope that it will provide a small comfort to everyone’s weary hearts, will first air on Saturday the 24th at 9:20 PM.

Reporter Jeon Hyo-jin, Donga.com jhj@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.