▲ From left: Korean actors Choi Won-young, Bae Hyun-sung, Jung Chae-yeon, Hwang In-yeop and Choi Mu-sung pose at the press conference for JTBC's Wednesday drama "Family By Choice" held at Ramada Seoul Sindorim Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- "Though they aren't a real family, five people always gather around the same table for meals. It felt warmer than any other scene," said actress Jung Chae-yeon, who plays the lead role in JTBC's new Wednesday drama Family By Choice, during a production press conference held on the 8th at a hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul. She shared that she was drawn to the script, which portrays various forms of families and love.

 

Airing from the 9th, "Family By Choice" is a youth romance story about three young adults who, despite not being related by blood, spent their teenage years together and reconnect 10 years later. Jung Chae-yeon plays Joo-won, who grew up sharing meals like a family with her adopted younger brother Hae-joon (played by Bae Hyun-sung), a police officer named Dae-wook (Choi Moo-sung) who lived upstairs, and his son San-ha (Hwang In-yeop) for over a decade.

 

Describing her character, Jung said, "Joo-won is very bright, cheerful, and straightforward."

 

She continued, "When I first received the script, there wasn’t much romance, but as the story progressed, I realized that a love story would gradually unfold. Since the characters had lived as a family for 10 years, transitioning into romance felt challenging initially." She added, "The shift from being family-like to lovers might seem bold, so I filmed with both excitement and focus."

 

▲ Korean singer-actress Jung Chae-yeon poses at the press conference for JTBC's Wednesday drama "Family By Choice" held at Ramada Seoul Sindorim Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

 

San-ha and Hae-joon, who spent their teenage years with Joo-won, suddenly decide to leave to find their "real family," breaking off contact. Ten years later, they reappear, acting as if nothing had happened, stirring up Joo-won’s emotions.

 

Hwang In-yeop takes on the role of Kim San-ha, a mature and deep-thinking character, while Bae Hyun-sung plays Kang Hae-joon, who is naturally cheerful. Hwang said, "I haven't seen a drama quite like this before. I chose the project because I thought it would be a comforting show." Bae added, "I felt I could showcase various charms through the character Hae-joon, and I wanted to do my best."

 

Choi Moo-sung, who plays Kim Dae-wook, San-ha's biological father and a father figure to Joo-won and Hae-joon, emphasized, "This is a drama that offers the joy of warmth." He mentioned, "The characters are so kind that you might wonder if people can live this gently. I think it will provide a different kind of enjoyment and comfort compared to intense and sensational dramas."

 

▲ From left: Korean actors Hwang In-yeop, Jung Chae-yeon, and Bae Hyun-sung pose at the press conference for JTBC's Wednesday drama "Family By Choice" held at Ramada Seoul Sindorim Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

 

The drama is directed by Kim Seung-ho, known for Master’s Sun (2013), The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016), and Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022). Kim explained, "Though this drama is based on a Chinese series, it tells a story about family that resonates globally, so I didn’t focus on differentiating it from the original." He added, "We infused aspects of Korean lifestyle and culture, showcasing the unique charm and strengths of Korean actors."

 

The drama airs every Wednesday at 8:50 p.m.

 

▲ Korean actors Bae Hyun-sung (L) and Jung Chae-yeon pose at the press conference for JTBC's Wednesday drama "Family By Choice" held at Ramada Seoul Sindorim Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 8, 2024. (Yonhap)

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