Kim Hee-ae, Seol Kyung-gu Say 'The Whirlwind' Shows 'New Character Never Seen Before'

연합뉴스 / 2024-06-25 15:55:09

▲ Actress Kim Hee-ae (L), actor Seol Kyung-gu pose for photos at the press conference for their new Netflix series "The Whirlwind" held in Seoul on June 25 ,2024. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- "In Korean dramas, have we ever seen such a character with intense charisma and narrative?"

This was the sentiment expressed by veteran actress Kim Hee-ae during the production presentation for Netflix's new series "The Whirlwind" held on the 25th at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul. "We will show you a new character like no other," she promised.

Set to be released on the 28th, "The Whirlwind" portrays the clash between a Prime Minister who wants to uproot corrupt power and a Deputy Prime Minister who opposes him. This marks the third collaboration between Kim Hee-ae and Seol Kyung-gu, following their films "The Moon" and "Ordinary Family."

In "The Whirlwind," Seol Kyung-gu plays Park Dong-ho, a Prime Minister determined to judge the president who is in cahoots with conglomerates and change the political landscape. Kim Hee-ae takes on the role of Jung Soo-jin, the Deputy Prime Minister who fiercely opposes Park Dong-ho.

Kim Hee-ae remarked, "In our previous projects, I had very few scenes with Seol Kyung-gu, but this time, we meet as arch-enemies, which allowed us to fully explore our acting potential together." She highlighted the allure of her character, who, despite starting out righteous, becomes corrupt through compromises with reality. "It was very attractive," she added.

"I usually don't watch my own works, but surprisingly, I've watched 'The Whirlwind' three times already. Even though I memorized and acted out the scenes, they feel different every time I watch them. It made me wonder if I had acted incorrectly," she confessed.

▲ From left: actress Kim Hee-ae, screenwriter Park Kyung-soo, director Kim Yong-wan and actor Seol Kyung-gu pose for photos at the press conference for their new Netflix series "The Whirlwind" held in Seoul on June 25 ,2024. (Yonhap)

"The Whirlwind" is scripted by Park Kyung-soo, known for his political drama trilogy "The Chaser," "Empire of Gold," and "Punch." This marks his return after seven years since "Whisper." Park expressed his confidence, saying, "I did my best to create a work that I'm not ashamed of, and I believe I achieved that." He elaborated on his desire to create a character that embodies impossible ideals, reflecting the frustrations of reality.

He said, "Although I don't believe in a hero on a white horse, our frustrating reality makes us yearn for such a figure. I wanted to create such a character in drama, at least." He described his fascination with characters who dream impossible dreams, refuse to compromise with reality, and ultimately face downfall, with Park Dong-ho being a variation of this archetype.

"The Whirlwind" is also notable for being Seol Kyung-gu's first drama in 30 years, since the 1994 series "Big Sister." Seol said, "If the script is good, there's no reason not to do it. I got to read the 'The Whirlwind' script through Kim Hee-ae's recommendation and felt the immense power of the script after reading five episodes." He humorously mentioned the difficulty of frequently portraying high-ranking officials in recent years, while considering Park Dong-ho as a fantasy character.

Seol emphasized, "The story develops powerfully with relentless twists and turns." Kim Hee-ae and Seol Kyung-gu's performances in "The Whirlwind" promise to deliver a gripping and unprecedented drama experience.