Director Lee Jung-hyo’s ‘Doona!’ brings youth’s awkward romance to life
Director Lee Jung-hyo, known for his refined sense and delicate storytelling in dramas like ‘Crash Landing on You,’ ‘Romance Is a Bonus Book,’ ‘I Need Romance 2012,’ ‘Life on Mars,’ and ‘The Good Wife,’ is returning with ‘Doona!’
The Netflix drama ‘Doona!’ set to be released in October tells the story of a regular college student named Won-jun, who meets the retired Doona in a share house, leaving behind her glamorous K-pop idol days. The casting of Suzy and Yang Se-jong, as well as the return of director Lee Jung-hyo has generated high expectations.
Director Lee Jung-hyo, after reading the original webtoon, said, “I thought I depicted that awkward time in relationships realistically,” and expressed the hope that “‘Doona!’ would become a work that beautifully reminisces about ‘my awkward 20s.'”
The meticulous portrayal of the gradual merging of Doona and Won-jun’s worlds, as they lived in different universes, is a key element in the drama. Director Lee Jung-hyo explained about the two characters, “Doona took a completely different path from her peers of the same age. She must have wondered if she could really go to that other world, even while admiring the innocence of friends her own age.”
He continued, “Won-jun is someone who runs forward, thinking about his family. Meeting Doona, who crashes into his 20s like a traffic accident, makes him grow.”
Director Lee Jung-hyo carefully considered the backgrounds, personalities, and thoughts of the characters to create a story where viewers could naturally immerse themselves in the characters’ emotional changes.
‘Doona!’ not only explores romance but also depicts the struggles of young adults living with their own dilemmas within complex relationships. Director Lee Jung-hyo focused on creating a story that anyone who has passed through youth can relate to, “It’s not just pretty and beautiful; it’s a work where people can look back on their own past relationships and awkward moments, and share stories with friends.”
Suzy said, “Director Lee Jung-hyo would ask about Doona’s emotions as if he were dealing with a real person. Answering those questions made me rethink my emotions, and those moments were valuable.” Yang Se-jong added, “Through communication with Director Lee Jung-hyo and acting, I could feel alive as Won-jun.”
The exciting youthful romance brought by Director Lee Jung-hyo in ‘Doona!’ will be available on Netflix on October 20th.
Source: daum
