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| ▲ This image of comedian Kim Won-hoon is provided by Coupang Play. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- “The script mostly just sets the situation, and 90 percent of it is ad-lib. Because of the limits of ad-libs and background knowledge, I feel a lot of pressure. I’ve even lost so much hair that I had to put on bangs today,” comedian Kim Won-hoon said with a laugh.
Kim, who drives much of the plot with his unpredictable improvisation in season two of Coupang Play’s office comedy series “Office Workers,” shared behind-the-scenes struggles in an interview with reporters at a café in Seoul on Thursday.
“I’m actually a really introverted and polite person,” he said. “When I make harsh or borderline comments as jokes, I go home and cry afterward.”
He plays a junior manager at DY Planning, a marketing firm established by CEO Shin Dong-yup. The series features various celebrity guests, and Kim often provokes laughter with risqué jokes.
“When a guest is confirmed, I thoroughly read their Namuwiki page and watch all their interviews,” he said. “I look for awkward moments in interviews and prepare ad-libs from them.”
He added, “Guests who have a lot of material to tease are the best targets. I was thrilled when Swings came on. I also wish veteran actor Choi Min-sik would appear one day so I could joke about his less successful films.”
“Office Workers” relies on teamwork, with nine cast members including actors, singers and comedians. Kim said singer Car, the Garden (Cha Jung-won), who plays an employee, reacts most effectively to his spontaneous lines, while he often relies on Shin Dong-yup to balance the humor.
“I don’t think too much before I speak. I just throw it out and trust the staff and fellow cast. If I think I crossed the line, I look at Shin, and he fixes it,” Kim explained.
Also attending the group interview were cast members Baek Hyun-jin, Kim Min-kyo, and former StayC member Sim Ja-yoon, as well as producer Kim Min.
The biggest change in season two is the addition of Baek Hyun-jin, who plays department head Baek, a typical middle-aged man with a slightly foolish side. “I enjoyed season one so much and wanted to do comedy with these eight great people,” he said. “I also wanted to soften my villain image.”
Producer Kim noted that Baek’s character was originally planned as a deputy head but was changed to department head during planning to create tension with Kim Min-kyo’s character.
Baek said even as an experienced improviser, “Office Workers” was on another level. “The script for episode one just said, ‘CEO Shin introduces department head Baek.’ That was it.” From then, the story unfolded naturally through the cast’s improvised exchanges.
Kim Min-kyo compared it to a jazz jam session: “We usually finish in one take and only rarely go for a second.”
But the show does not aim for laughs alone. “Season one focused only on guests, but from season two we’re pursuing a sitcom feel with storylines and relationships tied in,” producer Kim said.
By including non-comedians such as actors and singers, the series also uses their awkwardness and efforts to hold back laughter as comedic elements.
“Usually breaking character by laughing hurts an actor’s pride, but here I fail to hold back laughter every week,” Kim Min-kyo admitted.
Sim Ja-yoon added, “Among my friends, I’m considered funny, but here I felt like I was in the Amazon. I hope to adapt and show more of myself in season two.”
“Office Workers” season two has been airing every Saturday since Aug. 9 and will run for eight episodes.
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