On July 1, the production presentation for KBS2’s new weekend drama The Husband was held at The Saint in Guro-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Jung Hyun attended the event alongside cast members Namgoong Min, Lee Seol, Kim Dae Myung, and Lee Sang Hee.

The Husband is a crime thriller that follows doctor Kang Tae Joo (Namgoong Min), who finds himself locked in a desperate battle against the ruthless criminal Noh Man Hee (Kim Dae Myung) after his wife, Go Se Yoon (Lee Seol), is kidnapped just before they are set to divorce.

The drama marks Namgoong Min’s first television project in a year following the SBS series Our Movie. Despite airing in a prime-time slot, the previous drama struggled in the ratings, averaging only around 4%, falling short of expectations.

Reflecting on the experience, Namgoong Min admitted, “I still think it was a good drama, but I realized it wasn’t able to entertain a broad audience the way I had hoped.”

He continued, “For my next project, I wanted something that more viewers could enjoy comfortably. By ‘comfortable,’ I don’t mean simple I mean a story that keeps pulling you in without letting your attention drift. I felt The Husband achieved that through the way it builds its narrative, which is why I chose it.”

The actor confidently expressed his faith in the new project, saying, “We worked incredibly hard on this drama, and I’m genuinely confident. I believe it will deliver great results.”

Namgoong Min explained that his instincts played a major role in choosing the series. “Whenever I first read a script, I trust my initial feeling. With The Husband, I had a strong feeling right away. I read episodes one through four without stopping because the script was so engaging and unique. I thought audiences of all ages would find it entertaining.”

However, the new series faces tough competition from SBS's hit Friday-Saturday drama Agent Kim Reactivated, starring So Ji Sub. The series has become a major sensation, surpassing 15% in nationwide ratings after only two episodes.

Commenting on the competition, Namgoong Min said, “I’ve really enjoyed watching Agent Kim Reactivated. It’s fresh, entertaining, and makes great use of a uniquely Korean concept. In today’s difficult television environment, I’m actually happy whenever a drama performs well, even if it’s a competing show.”

Still, he admitted that the scheduling is somewhat unfortunate. “The only regret is that our broadcast overlaps with Agent Kim Reactivated. Since their story is hitting its most exciting point while our series is just beginning, it’s a little disappointing. The opening episodes of The Husband spend time establishing the story before the pace accelerates.”

Even so, Namgoong Min emphasized that the two productions offer completely different viewing experiences. “The tone is very different. Agent Kim Reactivated has a more imaginative style, while The Husband explores a deeper, more grounded reality. I believe our drama has its own unique strengths.”

He concluded by once again stressing his goal for the series. “More than anything, I chose this project because I wanted to give viewers an exciting and entertaining drama.”

The Husband premieres on July 4 at 9:20 p.m. KST on KBS2.

Sources: Daum