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| ▲ Screenwriter Jung Seo-kyeong of Disney+’s upcoming original series "Polaris" attends the show's press conference held in Seoul on Aug. 20, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL,
Aug. 21 (Yonhap) --
"When imagining this story, 'Moon-joo' was Jun Ji-hyun from the very beginning. When Gang Dong-won was cast as Sanho, it felt like hitting the jackpot," Jung said during a creators talk event at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in central Seoul on Wednesday.
"Polaris" follows Moon-joo (Jun), a UN ambassador with international renown who investigates the mastermind behind an attack on a presidential candidate. Alongside Sanho (Gang), a mysterious special agent without nationality, she confronts a far-reaching truth that threatens the Korean Peninsula.
The series has drawn attention for its star-studded cast, which includes John Cho, Lee Mi-sook, Kim Hae-sook and Oh Jung-se.
Jung said she had Jun Ji-hyun in mind for Moon-joo from the beginning.
"(Moon-joo) is a character who has lived in cold and lonely places," Jung said. "I felt fortunate that a warm person like Jun Ji-hyun would bring this lonely character to life."
On casting Gang Dong-won, she said, "I wondered if such luck could exist in life. 'Sanho' is a very difficult character, even a challenge for an actor. But Gang Dong-won can show the coldness and warmth, the maturity and boyishness, all at the same time."
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| ▲ The creators of Disney+’s upcoming original series "Polaris" attend the show's press conference held in Seoul on Aug. 20, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
The drama was produced by a veteran team including directors Kim Hee-won of "Queen of Tears" and "Vincenzo," Heo Myeong-haeng of "The Roundup: Punishment" and "The Wild," and screenwriter Jung Seo-kyeong of "Decision to Leave" and "Little Women."
Director Kim said, "I like stories where characters risk their lives and fight. As we kept adding ideas, the scale grew, and since action is key in this series, I asked Director Heo to co-direct."
Heo said, "I agreed to co-direct because I personally respected Director Kim. In previous projects, tight schedules often limited my directing ability, but through this partnership I could enhance it."
Art director Kim Byung-han, who worked on "Mother" and "Narco-Saints," oversaw the production design. "This project required the most sets I've ever built. If another project needed 100, this one needed 200. The story is set in as many as 13 countries, which was also a challenge for me," he said.
For visual effects, Hong Jung-ho, VFX supervisor of "Along With the Gods" and "Parasite," joined the team.
The cathedral scene in the first episode was the most ambitious. Unable to find a suitable filming location, the crew built a set and completed the details with CGI.
Jung recalled, "I was surprised at how beautiful the set was, even though it was used for only a couple of scenes. I asked, 'Who forced you to make it this way?' and the art director replied, 'Didn't you write it like this?' So I decided to use it for the ending scene as well, to make it meaningful."
The soundtrack was composed by Dalparan, a former bassist of the rock band Sinawe, and Jung Jae-il, the music director of "Squid Game."
Director Kim said, "I have no regrets, even if I die now. It was nearly impossible to bring them both on board, but we were lucky. Working with them felt like a huge jam session and gave me catharsis."
"Polaris," consisting of nine episodes, will be released on Disney+ starting Sept. 10.
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