Kim Hye-soo and Cho Yeo-jeong Reunite After 23 Years in Black Comedy 'If'

Affairs are just the beginning. An influencer couple who has lived their lives projecting a perfect family image meets a doctor couple embroiled in a messy divorce, leading to an uncontrollable chain of events. Coupang Play's new series, 'It's Not About the Affair,' was unveiled during a production press conference held on the 28th at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. Actors Kim Hye-soo, Cho Yeo-jeong, Kim Ji-hoon, and Kim Jae-cheol, along with director Lee Chang-hee, attended the event to preview the production's provocative narrative.

Despite the provocative impression given by its title, this 8-episode series poses the question, "If an affair isn't the problem, then what is?" before racing toward an unexpected conclusion. The series is directed by Lee Chang-hee, who helmed 'A Killer Paradox' and 'Strangers from Hell,' and produced by Hwang Dong-hyeok, the director of 'Squid Game.'

Kim Hye-soo and Cho Yeo-jeong reunite after 23 years for an unstoppable progression

The reunion of Kim Hye-soo and Cho Yeo-jeong comes 23 years after the KBS2 drama 'Jang Hui-bin,' which aired from 2002 to 2003. Kim Hye-soo plays Kyung-hee, a successful interior design CEO and popular influencer who pursues success while portraying a perfect family. Cho Yeo-jeong dominates the screen as Soo-jung, a dermatologist and Kyung-hee's neighbor who endures everything to protect her daughter.

At the press conference, Cho Yeo-jeong described the pacing of the work, saying, "It's a story like a bowling game where once you drop the ball, it doesn't stop rolling," adding, "Once you start watching, you won't be able to stop." Kim Hye-soo explained her motivation for joining the project, stating, "After seeing the title, I started reading the script out of curiosity, wondering, 'If it's not an affair, then what is the problem?'" She added, "As the episodes progressed, the unexpected twists and the way the story rushes toward an unforeseen conclusion made me want to take on this challenge as an actor." To express the transformation of the character Kyung-hee, Kim Hye-soo focused on fine-tuning the character's depth and intensity.

The connection between the two actresses goes even deeper. Cho Yeo-jeong revealed her profound trust in Kim Hye-soo, noting that she told her during a phone call before filming, "I can do anything as long as I'm with you, Unnie." Kim Hye-soo also added that she felt excited every time they worked together, saying, "You will be able to feel how multi-dimensional her acting is and how overwhelming her screen presence becomes."

Kim Hye-soo personally prepares costumes for 1-million-subscriber influencer Kyung-hee

Kim Hye-soo conducted thorough research to realistically portray Kyung-hee, an influencer with 1 million subscribers. She remarked, "I don't usually watch YouTube much, but for this project, I searched very hard for famous influencers both domestically and internationally. I realized there are many people in the YouTube space with global influence that rivals celebrities." In particular, to embody the appearance of highly likable influencers, she personally prepared the costumes and styling for the shoot.

Kim Ji-hoon plays Jae-hong, Kyung-hee's younger husband and a struggling actor working to make a living. He confessed, "I have respected senior Kim Hye-soo as an actor since I was young, and I chose this project with 99% certainty at the thought of daring to act alongside her as a couple." Kim Ji-hoon defined Jae-hong as "a character who is most human and pure, yet at the same time, possesses petty and snobbish sides."

Praising Kim Ji-hoon's efforts, Kim Hye-soo said, "I laughed the most during Jae-hong's entrance scenes, and you will be able to see a side of Kim Ji-hoon's acting that you've never seen before." Kim Ji-hoon expressed his hope that Jae-hong would be portrayed as a realistic character that makes viewers feel, "There might actually be someone like him living next door."

Secret weapon Kim Jae-cheol and Director Lee Chang-hee discuss on-set synergy

Another pillar of the production is Kim Jae-cheol, who plays Bo-seong, a doctor in the middle of a divorce lawsuit. The lead actors unanimously pointed to Kim Jae-cheol as the "secret weapon" of this work. Kim Hye-soo noted, "As the story progresses toward the latter half, he shows an irreplaceable, serious comedic performance." Cho Yeo-jeong and Kim Ji-hoon also emphasized Kim Jae-cheol's presence. Kim Jae-cheol mentioned that the role is a very challenging character.

Specific connections between the actors were also confirmed. Kim Hye-soo and Kim Jae-cheol reunited after six years since the drama 'Hyena' (2020), and Kim Ji-hoon and Cho Yeo-jeong have previously played a couple twice. Kim Ji-hoon portrays the setting where Kyung-hee's husband, Jae-hong, works as a struggling actor under the pseudonym 'Cha Eun-bin.'

Director Lee Chang-hee shared the joy of the production process. He said, "Throughout the filming, rather than just following the script, spontaneous acting and ad-libs kept bursting out, which made me very happy as a director. The synergy created by all the actors, including the four leads, produced a result that exceeded the script." The director stated that he wanted to modernly reinterpret the styles of the Coen brothers or director Tarantino, solidifying the identity of a black comedy that undergoes constant twists, making the keyword 'affair' seem trivial. 'It's Not About the Affair' will be released on Coupang Play on the 31st.