▲ This photo, provided by MBC, shows actress Kim Hee-sun attending a press conference for upcoming series "Bitter Sweet Hell" held in Seoul on May 23, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, May 23 (Yonhap) -- "Though it's impossible for me to master what experts have studied all their lives, I tried my best to portray what it would be like if Kim Hee-sun were a counselor," said actress Kim Hee-sun.

 

Kim Hee-sun and Lee Hye-young team up in MBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Bitter Sweet Hell,' premiering on the 24th. Kim Hee-sun plays a family counselor and Lee Hye-young a mystery novelist mother-in-law.

 

During an online press conference on the 23rd, Kim Hee-sun shared her challenges in playing a psychological counselor. "There were too many technical terms, which made it difficult. In the end, practice was the only solution. I watched a lot of Dr. Oh Eun-young's programs," she revealed.

 

'Bitter Sweet Hell' is a human black comedy about counselor Noh Young-won (Kim Hee-sun) who collaborates with her mystery novelist mother-in-law, Hong Sa-gang (Lee Hye-young), to protect their family from an unknown blackmailer.

 

Known for her roles in romance dramas, Kim Hee-sun transitions to a psychological counselor in this series. Noh Young-won is depicted as a nationally popular figure, with her outfits often making headlines.

 

Reflecting on her career, Kim Hee-sun stated, "I've mainly done romance roles in my 20s and 30s, but now in my 40s, there are roles I can take on. I wanted to try and challenge myself with something outside my specialty, and this opportunity is a blessing."

 

▲ This photo, provided by MBC, shows actresses Kim Hee-sun and Lee Hye-young attending a press conference for upcoming series "Bitter Sweet Hell" held in Seoul on May 23, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Lee Hye-young, who plays the mystery novelist, felt a sense of solace from the script. "Somehow, I felt this project would comfort us. It's a family story, and I was eager to see what kind of prescriptions Noh Young-won would give," she said.

 

Praising Kim Hee-sun's performance, Lee Hye-young added, "Before this, I had never seen her act in person. Seeing her perform was surprising. She truly showcased the manners of an original Hallyu star."

 

Kim Nam-hee plays Choi Jae-jin, Noh Young-won's husband and a plastic surgeon, while Kwon Hae-hyo takes on the role of Hong Sa-gang's husband and former prosecutor general Choi Go-myeon.

 

'Bitter Sweet Hell,' consisting of 12 episodes, will air every Friday and Saturday at 9:50 PM starting from the 24th.

 

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