The collaboration between Director Kim Seok-yoon and Writer Lee Nam-gyu has brought a fresh breeze to the Korean drama industry. The duo has shown great chemistry in dramas such as <Awl>, <My Wife's Having an Affair This Week>, <The Light in Your Eyes>, and <Hiply>. Currently, they are presenting a rich humanism with the romance drama <More Beautiful Than Heaven>, featuring Haesook, who arrives in heaven at the age of 80, and her rejuvenated husband Nakjun. The two creators humorously unravel characters and situations that could exist in reality, while not missing out on social messages and a warm perspective on humanity. Particularly, <The Light in Your Eyes> and <Hiply> deliver realistic messages based on fantasy elements. Their collaboration is powerful due to their genre experimentation, multi-dimensional characters, and balance between popularity and artistry. They have built a unique worldview, crossing between reality and fantasy, comedy and humanism.
<Awl> (2015)
Based on the webtoon of the same name by Choi Gyu-seok, <Awl> depicts the process of ordinary employees at a large mart forming a labor union and fighting against unfair dismissal. The protagonist, Manager Lee Soo-in, stands against the company's unfair dismissal orders to protect the mart's sales staff. He seeks out Goo Go-shin, the head of the labor counseling center, to start union activities. The drama realistically portrays the labor scene, including the company's persistent persuasion and attempts to dissolve the union, as well as the economic and psychological pain and fatigue caused by strikes.
<Awl> is a drama that directly faces reality, without glamorous fantasy or romance. It shows how difficult it is for justice and common sense to be realized in the world, sharply delving into the absurdities of the labor scene and the contradictions of social structures. Director Kim Seok-yoon's direction captures the tension of the labor scene while portraying the characters' anguish and decisions in absurd situations in a calm and sincere manner. Writer Lee Nam-gyu weaves sharp dialogue and humor throughout the drama's heavy atmosphere. The drama received enthusiastic support from a cult fan base and critics alike.
<The Light in Your Eyes> (2019)
The JTBC drama <The Light in Your Eyes> is a work that warmly embraces the flow of time and the preciousness of life. Hye-ja (Han Ji-min/Kim Hye-ja), a 25-year-old aspiring announcer, lives an ordinary day of youth when she accidentally acquires a mysterious watch that allows her to turn back time. However, this ability comes with a harsh price. Hye-ja repeatedly turns back time to protect her beloved family, especially her father, and in the process, loses her youth and becomes an old woman overnight. Although she feels resentment in the face of lost time, she soon accepts her life and shows the courage to cherish each day. On the other hand, Lee Joon-ha (Nam Joo-hyuk) is a young man who, despite having the most youthful and brilliant time, is weary of life and wishes to grow old quickly. The two live with the weight of different times but quietly permeate each other's lives, offering deep comfort.
<The Light in Your Eyes> initially carries the genre colors of time-slip and romance but gradually shifts its weight to themes of family, old age, and the meaning of life. As the stories of Hye-ja's family, friends, and surrounding characters are added, it quietly reminds us of the preciousness of familiar daily life and how radiant the ordinary moments we enjoy are. <The Light in Your Eyes> left a gentle impression and deep resonance with viewers through Director Kim Seok-yoon's delicate direction and Writer Lee Nam-gyu's humane dialogue. The passionate performances of Kim Hye-ja and Han Ji-min, the personas of the Kim Seok-yoon X Lee Nam-gyu duo, also infused the work with warm and poignant humanism. Especially, Kim Hye-ja's narration touched many hearts for a long time. "My life was sometimes unhappy, sometimes happy. Although life is said to be nothing but a dream, it was still good to be alive. ... Don't ruin the present because of a past full of regrets and an uncertain distant future. Live today, brilliantly!".
<Hiply> (2023)
<Hiply> is a comic investigation drama set in the rural village of Mujin. Veterinarian Bong Ye-bun (Han Ji-min), who can see the past of animals and people through psychometry (a type of superpower that allows one to obtain information related to an object by touching it), can only activate this ability by touching her buttocks. She and Detective Moon Jang-yeol (Lee Min-ki), who has come down from Seoul, get involved in a serial murder case and begin a joint investigation. The life-like banter between the two protagonists and the absurd humor of the people in Mujin village provide great entertainment.
<Hiply> skillfully mixes comedy, thriller, and fantasy genres to present a fresh color of 'psychometry thriller'. The comic acting of actors who are not afraid to look silly, realistic dialogue, and unpredictable developments received positive reviews. Meanwhile, the setting that the superpower can only be activated by touching the buttocks was controversial, but many reviews stated that Han Ji-min's lovable acting and the comic direction offset the sense of alienation. This work, which blends the boundaries of the ordinary and the extraordinary, humanity and humor, showcases the experimental spirit of the Kim Seok-yoon X Lee Nam-gyu duo.
