From left, actors Ryeoun, Yoon Sang-hyun, Lee Jin-woo and producer Kang Min-gu pose during a press conference for upcoming Genie TV original drama, "Namib," at The Saint in Guro District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Veteran actor Ko Hyun-jung will return to the small screen with a role that will remind many viewers of former Ador CEO Min Hee-jin, who stirred Korea's entertainment landscape this year.
The 53-year-old actor, making a comeback after a three-year break following her role in JTBC's 2021 drama "Reflection of You," portrays a star K-pop producer who has been fired from her own entertainment company in the new drama "Namib."
Set to premiere on Dec. 23, the series revolves around Kang Soo-hyun, a renowned producer and co-CEO of Pandora Entertainment, famed for producing K-pop idols with her unique vision and approach. But after being dismissed from her role as co-CEO, she embarks on a new project to craft a new star and reclaim her place in the industry.
Her character has drawn comparisons to former Ador CEO Min, who has been embroiled in a management feud with HYBE since April. HYBE attempted to remove Min, often referred to as the "mother" of the K-pop sensation NewJeans, accusing her of trying to gain complete control of Ador.
Ko, who was scheduled to attend Monday's press conference for the upcoming drama, was absent due to health issues. Earlier in the day, the drama's broadcaster Genie TV announced, "Following the medical team's recommendation this morning for her to have absolute rest and recovery, we regretfully had to cancel Ko's appearance at today's event," just two hours before the event was set to take place.
"The (filming) schedule was pretty demanding for us and given how hard Ko was working, there were times when she seemed physically exhausted. While she never left the set while shooting the drama, it was clear that she was struggling a bit," producer Kang Min-gu admitted during a press conference for the drama at The Saint in Guro District, Seoul, Monday.
"With only two more days to go, I'm confident that she'll power through with her strong determination."
Albeit her absence, the producer praised her detailed and charismatic acting, describing Ko's every move as impactful. "She naturally exudes a powerful aura, but in this drama, she delivers incredibly nuanced performances," said the producer, upping the anticipation for the drama.
When asked about the similarities between the plot of "Namib" and the actual events of the former Ador CEO, the producer acknowledged the parallels but clarified that the drama was developed and produced before those events came to light.
"I'm not overly concerned about the comparisons," he said.
The drama's title "Namib" comes from the name of a coastal desert in Southern Africa, where the desert meets the sea.
"It's a coming-of-age drama about the hardships of fired star producer Kang — whose heart is as empty and desolate as a desert — and longtime K-pop trainee Yoo Jin-woo (Ryeoun), who is adrift in the turbulent sea of life after he was released from the entertainment company," Kang said, briefly explaining the plot to the press.
After being dismissed, Kang takes Yoo under her wing as a trainee in exchange for her severance pay, aiming to uncover his potential as a star. Yoo, burdened by his parents' debts and the setbacks of his past career, had been on the verge of giving up his dream. However, his encounter with Kang reignites his passion, leading him to embrace his training with renewed determination.
Actor Yoon Sang-hyun will play Kang's husband, a former music producer who transitioned to being a homemaker after their son lost his hearing in a childhood car accident. Lee Jin-woo from the K-pop boy group GHOST9 portrays their son.
Ryeoun expressed feeling a significant amount of pressure mastering the dance sequences for his idol trainee role.
"While I was comfortable with guitar and singing from my previous role in 'Twinking Watermelon' (2023), dance was a completely different story. I had to put in countless hours of practice. Even though the dance sequences weren't lengthy, the need for memorization was intense. I was incredibly nervous during those scenes," the 26-year-old actor said.
"Namib" will premiere on ENA on Dec. 23 and will be available for streaming through Genie TV.