“Award Collector” NamKoong Min’s Long-Awaited Romance Drama “My Dearest” Exhibits Single-Minded Love and Maximum Emotional Depth
Source: 韓国TVドラマガイド ONLINE
Written by: Masako Aoshima
Photography: Lee Jun-Young
During the reign of King Injo, the 16th monarch of Joseon, women were expected to prioritise chastity over survival during wartime. “My Dearest~ The sound of flowers blooming that I heard that day~ “(hereafter referred to as “My Dearest”) portrays a heroine who, despite facing prejudice, stands tall and lives courageously, while the hero offers unwavering love, protecting her with all his might. NamKoong Min, who has recently been less involved in romance dramas, teamed up with newcomer Ahn Eun-Jin to create this masterpiece of romantic historical drama. We interviewed NamKoong Min, now a leading figure in the Korean drama industry and highly respected by junior actors, to learn about the interesting stories from the set.
“You had great chemistry with Ahn Eun-Jin. The director’s passion always moved me, making it feel like the character was truly possessed.” Not only with “My Dearest”, but you also seem to have an eye for selecting excellent projects. Do you have any criteria for choosing roles or anything specific that draws you in?
“I think it’s intuition. What people find interesting varies, but I want to try it as long as it meets what I find intriguing. I found the script for “My Dearest” very engaging and solid when I first read it, so I decided to take the role within about three days.”
Could you share what you find interesting about “My Dearest” from NamKoong Min’s perspective?
“I think the charm of this drama lies in its meticulous structure. For a drama to succeed, the narrative and content are fundamental. Without these, the story that follows becomes meaningless. I don’t appear much in the first half, especially in the first episode. The village where Gil-Chae lives and the people around her are introduced first, and then I slowly enter. I believe that these seemingly slow scenes in the first half are all foreshadowing for the later parts. If you watch with this in mind, you’ll be moved to tears from start to finish and enjoy the viewing experience.”
Can you share a line or scene that best represents the character Lee Jang-Hyun?
“In that era, maintaining chastity was extremely important for women. When dealing with the situation where the enemy assaulted Gilchae, I wondered what line I would say. So, when I saw the script saying, ‘It must have been painful; let me hold you,’ I couldn’t help but cry. After reading it, Gil-Chae (played by Ahn Eun-Jin) also cried a lot. I think this line fully captures Lee Jang-Hyun’s deep affection.”
Even in scenes without crying, both of you seemed to always have teary eyes.
“Yes! Ahn Eun-Jjin is the most tearful actress I’ve ever known. She often cries, with tears falling one by one, making you wonder if an actress in the world could cry so well. As a man, I didn’t cry much in front of her, with many scenes where I cried alone or held back tears when she wasn’t around.”
You and Ahn Eun-Jin seem to have great chemistry.
“I had a great rapport with Ahn Eun-Jin. I like Eun-Jin so much because she isn’t like most young people; she has a perfect approach to life. As an actress, she’s also very reliable and worked well with me in romantic scenes. Without mutual trust and basic respect, it’s impossible to portray romance in acting successfully. Even if she made a mistake, knowing her genuine passion for acting, there was no problem. She also felt my sincerity in acting, so when we looked into each other’s eyes, we naturally conveyed romance without needing to force it.”
Are there any scenes or lines from working with Ahn Eun-Jin that left a particular impression on you?
“There are so many iconic scenes, especially the kiss scene in the green wheat field. It was filmed at dusk, and the cinematographer was very particular about the lighting and tone, resulting in a very beautiful shot.
Another memorable moment was when I reunited with Gil-Chae. I had promised to return to her but delayed for a long time because of Nam Yeon-Joon (played by Lee Hak-Joo), so I said, ‘I really hate it.’ That line stuck with me. At the time, I thought, ‘This is such an awkward scene; how should I deliver this line?’ But many viewers liked that part, so I’m very grateful.
And finally, when Gil-Chae confesses everything in Shenyang, there’s a line, ‘It must have been painful; let me hold you.’ I was fully immersed, so I wondered how that scene would turn out. Just reading that line in the script made me think it was beautiful, so I was filled with anticipation.”
This is your second time working with Director Kim Sung-Yong after “The Veil”.
“The director is very passionate and talented. I trust him completely, so I don’t need anything else. If there’s any change between us, we’ve become closer. I decided to take on this role because I heard that Director Kim SungYong was directing.”
Behind-the-scenes footage shows that the director often personally demonstrated scenes.
“The director himself seemed to be possessed by Lee Jang-Hyun. As soon as he arrived on set, he would first transform into Lee Jang-Hyun. He was like this when I played Han Ji-Hyuk in “The Veil“, too. I really like his passionate approach. Even if I was tired, seeing someone so passionate gave me energy. The entire set was filled with passion.”
The protagonists in “My Dearest“ face many challenges and difficulties for the sake of love. How does NamKoong Min overcome trials and hardships?
“Challenges and difficulties are everywhere, but I’m positive. Hmm, when something happens, I believe there’s a reason for it. Then, I try to find that reason as soon as possible. For example, if a dumbbell suddenly falls and hits my foot during weight training, I’ll quickly take off my sock. Even though there’s bleeding, if there’s no fracture, I feel lucky. It might have broken if I had been barefoot at home, so I consider myself fortunate. I always think positively like this. Although I sometimes feel sad and may cry while showering, I’m optimistic overall.”
Lastly, could you say a few words to the Japanese audience about to watch this drama?
“I’ve experienced dramas that suddenly became interesting from a certain moment, like discovering hidden treasures or gifts. “My Dearest“ is one of those works. I hope everyone can enjoy watching it from start to finish.”
*** Translated by ChatGPT, Papago, Google Gemini & Google Translate ***
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