New MBC series depicts world ruled by power, money and greed

[waves-of-light.livejournal.com]

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How far can a woman get when she sets her mind on building an empire out of her father's business, which once reigned over the world of finance but now faces ruin?

The forthcoming MBC series "Night Light" seeks to provide an answer in the life of protagonist Seo Yi-kyung (Lee Yo-won), a cold and ambitious woman who sees no wrong in displaying her unfettered desire for power and wealth. Seo is the only child of a Korean-Japanese business mogul who moved to Japan in search of his father after Korean liberation from Japanese occupation. From a young age, she has been groomed to take over the family business. But when crisis hits, she moves to South Korea to find a solution and runs into two people -- her ex-boyfriend and a poor but daring young woman -- who could reshape her future.


"It's a story about a woman in a world that is dishonest about greed, ambition, money and power, who reveals her greed honestly, doesn't hide it and boldly walks toward her goal," Lee Jae-dong, the series' director, said during a press conference held at MBC headquarters in western Seoul.

In her quest for power, Seo meets Lee Se-jin (Uee) and discovers in her a thirst for money and other things she wasn't born with. The heiress begins to train her and draws her into the corporate hell.

"(My character) is someone who could do nearly anything to get her hands on the things she wants," Lee Yo-won said. "It's my first time playing a character who reveals such greed and ambition, and I'm really enjoying filming and feeling vicarious gratification."

The actress said she was drawn to her character as soon as she read the script. She then took the role because she believed it wasn't something she could come across twice. "I, too, have a cold side, and I tried to bring that out in my acting," she said. "(My character) speaks very bluntly to Se-jin and I also tend to speak bluntly in real life. I tried to shape my character in that direction."

Uee, who debuted as a member of the girl group After School, described her character as a young woman who admires and wants to emulate Seo. "When I first shot a scene with Seo Yi-kyung, I immediately felt that she was a chic woman," the singer-actress said. "I've been filming with that impression in mind. It makes me excited and look forward to more."

The Monday-Tuesday series comes at a time when the country has been roiled by a corruption scandal involving the president and her confidante.

Jin Goo, who plays the ex-boyfriend and a chaebol heir, hinted that audiences may find the drama more entertaining in light of the current political situation.

"The protagonist is a woman ... we see a lot of women and men in dark suits in the news. I just thought that there are similarities in terms of the picture," he said. Lee, the director, played down the similarities, saying the drama was conceived long before the scandal broke.

Jin is best known for his role as a tough special forces soldier in the megahit series "Descendants of the Sun," which aired early this year. This time, his character looks people in the eyes as he speaks and doesn't give up on the woman he loves, the actor said.

"I've become a lot softer, but (both characters) reflected different sides of me, so I didn't really have difficulties (playing the new part). There's a warmth deep inside of me," he said with a laugh.

"Night Light" will premiere at 10 p.m. Monday.


Yonhap News

Comments

[chimpansee.livejournal.com]

This actually sounds interesting... I don't know anything about Uee's acting though? Can she act? I wonder if she lost so much weight in order to get more roles as an actress. If so, that's sad.

Anyhow, this plot seems like it has potential. But there's also a lot of potential to fuck up. I hope that whether they show the main character's greed and passion in a negative light or a positive light, they don't change it (and certainly don't make her change because of some man). It would be nice to see an interesting, unapologetically evil female character for a change, rather than the standard ~evil housewife~ who has nothing better to do than annoy her husband and meddle in things she doesn't understand, the one we often see in kdramas.

[noonakaia.livejournal.com]

Last drama I watched with Uee was High Society and she was unsufferable, maybe it was her role, her acting or the drama in itself but I really didn't like her in it. Maybe this time she will be better, the plot sounds interesting.

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

High Society was the worst, I have no idea why I suffered through it (I had to break up with my boy Sung Joon after that one, burned too many times by him). I haven't seen Uee in a lot but I think the lead characters in High Society would have been awful with almost anyone playing them.

[opd-devil.livejournal.com]

I didn't learn from my lesson after High Society... I tried Madam Antoine and couldn't finish that one either... Sung Joon's best role for me was in I Need Romance 3.

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

If we're being totally honest, same haha. I couldn't finish Madam Antoine, he was so unlikeable and terrible. I have such love for Shut Up Flower Boy Band but the characters he's taking and his acting in the last few years is just not good and I'm so bummed about it.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

i love sufbb so much but sung joon has not been living up to what he did there. like i'm ready to give up on him but then i remember it, can we get married, inr3, even white christmas and i just wish he'd show the stuff he's made of again.

[noonakaia.livejournal.com]

It was the worst indeed, I felt like losing SO much time watching that drama. Can't believe I watch it till the end.

[opd-devil.livejournal.com]

I could not finish High Society. Her role and Sung Joon's role was so unlikable... Thank lord for the second leads for being a little more tolerable.

[noonakaia.livejournal.com]

The second leads were the only reason why I stuck with that drama tbh, they were cute and their storyline was interesting. But Uee and Sung Joon? UGH.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

I'm not a UEE fan but I have seen her in many dramas. And in my opinion, she's one of the best idol actress out there and imo better than Eunji since she has taken more variety of roles to portray her ability as an actress. She lost a lot of weight in Marriage Contract (which btw my fave drama of 2016 :D) since she has to play a cancer patient. I thought her transformation is really amazing in that drama since she legit look like one tbh.

And kdramas have many unapologetically evil female characters as the main character but of course some of them change towards the end since if they stays evil, no character development on their part. On top of my head right now is Go Hyunjung in Queen Seondeok, Lee Soyeon in Temptation of an Angel, Soo Ae in Queen of Ambition and the recent one Song Yoonah in K2. The first 3 dramas I mentioned above worth to check out except for K2 unfortunately.

[shuumi-miss.livejournal.com]

*Butting in* How is Marriage contract? Is it well done? I've been meaning to watch it for a time now, and since I'm bored with The K2 (sorry, Chang Wook u_u) and I'm kind of meh with Shopping king Louis, I've been thinking about giving UEE's drama a chance. I need something good after Age of youth because nothing seems to be on par and I end up losing interest fast, lol.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Marriage Contract is soooooooo good! Its my fave drama of 2016 along with Signal. The plot is interesting, the leads have amazing chemistry and the kid actor is so adorable. And the tempo of the drama didnt change from beginning until the end so you will not lose interest in the later half of the drama. I thought the later half is more engaging and UEE totally show her ability as an actress. I totally impressed with her crying scenes. And the drama make me remember how much I adore Lee Seo Jin that I ended up rewatching Yi San lol.

[shuumi-miss.livejournal.com]

Oh, it sounds good. I'm going to give it a try. Thanks =D

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

as and Idol she can act.

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

jin goo described the show as a role reversal to many other kdramas in that he's the one playing the innocent damsel in distress

[anonymous-loljk.livejournal.com]

Uee has been losing weight since hogu's love. She played a swimmer which highlighted all of those weight loss.. she looks so thin, almost sickly even.
But she's definitely one of the better idol actress, imo.

[shuumi-miss.livejournal.com]

To me, she is one of the best idol actresses out there. There is still room for improvement, but she seems to be taking her acting career seriously and has been taking different roles and is not portraying the same character over and over again.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

She's a decent actress and has some range in her roles BUT she plays them all the same way (she has that weird pissed-off-sounding way of speaking in all her roles). I find Eunji more natural tho she's only done like three acting projects ever.

[lechuza-yoya.livejournal.com]

this can be very good!! so please let us have great story.

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

lol it seems like everyone is going to watch this b/c of uee or jin goo, but i'll tune in b/c of lee yo won.

since empire of gold, she was born to play the wronged chaebol heiress who is ready hunt everyone down. she even married her nemesis in order to protect her father's company in that drama.

[opd-devil.livejournal.com]

agree about tuning in for lee yo won instead of the others XD

[winegums.livejournal.com]

lee yo won was gold in mrs temper and nam jung ki. I've never been a stan for her/paid much attention to her before because she was kind of meh, but that one converted me.

[miyozari.livejournal.com]

I've only read good things about her acting in Ms Temper and Nam Jung Ki. I haven't watched it yet, but I'll put on my watch list. I wish intl fans would pay more attention to actresses like her... well, actresses in general and not just actors and idols.

[keytfelt.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the post OP! I knew this was a new drama coming out but I couldn't really find any info on the actual plot, so I really appreciate this. Hopefully this will be good.

[shcjplnktn.livejournal.com]

Plot sounds interesting. Might give it a go.

[opd-devil.livejournal.com]

The plot seems like it could be a potential for a great show, but also potential for a mess....

[amandaplan.livejournal.com]

this sounds very interesting and is this dots jin goo? if so count me in!

[demeulemeester.livejournal.com]

tldr but from the parts i did read this intrigues me.