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| yna@yna.co.kr 2024-04-17 14:53:08
SEOUL, April 17 (Yonhap) -- "When writing a piece, it's hard not to be conscious of the viewership ratings. However, 'Wonderful World' is the first work where I deliberately focused more on touching people's hearts than just chasing after ratings."
Kim Ji-eun, the writer behind the recently concluded MBC drama 'Wonderful World', expressed her sincere gratitude to viewers during a written interview on the 17th. She stated, "I really wanted to say this," thanking viewers who might have experienced emotional exhaustion from watching the drama. "Thank you very much for your support."
'Wonderful World' revolves around Eun Soo-hyun (played by Kim Nam-joo), a former professor and renowned writer who tragically loses her son in a traffic accident and seeks to uncover the truth behind the incident. Eun Soo-hyun takes matters into her own hands to seek justice against the perpetrator who has evaded legal consequences, ultimately confronting him in court.
Facing trial again as the accused, Eun Soo-hyun remains resolute. She expressed her lack of desire for leniency, stating that she would make the same choice again if given the chance. Eventually, she receives a seven-year prison sentence for retaliatory murder.
Kim, the writer, revealed that the character of Eun Soo-hyun was inspired by the first verse of Dante's "Divine Comedy," where she depicted a person who feels lost in the middle of their life's path, wandering through a dark forest. She reflected, "I felt a connection with the speaker, who continues to walk but doesn't know where they are or how to stop. It felt like a reflection of myself."
She continued, "I wanted to walk alongside someone else who might be wandering through another path in life. I wanted to listen to their story and find comfort myself, and that person turned out to be Eun Soo-hyun."
Kim praised actress Kim Nam-joo for her meticulous portrayal of Eun Soo-hyun's emotions, ranging from fierce maternal love to despair, betrayal, and determination to uncover the truth, using deep emotional acting to captivate viewers.
"Kim Nam-joo never took a single line or gesture lightly; she thoughtfully and carefully expressed every detail, considering the overall structure of the work. Thanks to her, Eun Soo-hyun became a much more multifaceted character than I imagined," Kim stated.
She also did not spare praise for Cha Eun-woo, who played Kwon Sun-yul in the drama, saying, "The actor who surprised me the most during this work was Cha Eun-woo." Kim emphasized, "Cha was able to portray a rough character with a seemingly unassuming appearance in a delicate, mysterious, poignant, and heartrending manner. Meeting Cha Eun-woo as the actor portraying Kwon Sun-yul allowed Kwon Sun-yul, who was once confined within dying elements, to become deeper and more beautiful."
In contrast to the typically popular light-hearted and comedic dramas on prime-time television, 'Wonderful World' chose to focus on characters placed in dramatic situations, delving into heavy and serious narratives.
Kim remarked, "When reality feels suffocating, dark, and hopeless, people tend to seek dramas that resemble reality or avoid more challenging ones than reality." She pointed out that 'Wonderful World' precisely fit into this category.
Despite Kim's concerns, 'Wonderful World' started with a viewership rating of 5.3% and gradually increased its ratings, achieving the highest rating of 11.4% during intense weekend competition. Kim expressed disbelief, saying, "Considering that our drama wasn't a comfortable watch due to its heavy themes, surpassing 11% in ratings is truly unbelievable."
She added, "Perhaps viewers were looking for a small glimmer of hope amidst darkness and difficulty, believing that wounded individuals can eventually rise again. I think that's the message I wanted to convey through this drama, spoken through Eun Soo-hyun's voice: 'May all those with the sorrow of loss find peace, may the world be a bit more affectionate to them, and may you, who are enduring pain, also see a beautiful world come to fruition, so that someday there can be a time with less pain.'"
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]