On July 23, KBS-2TV held a press conference for its upcoming Wednesday-Thursday drama 'My Girlfriend is the Man,' written by Lee Hae Na and directed by Yoo Gwan Mo.
The event featured the main cast including Oh My Girl's Arin, ASTRO’s Sanha, Chuu, Yoo Jeong Hu, and director Yoo Gwan Mo.
This drama marks a new challenge for Oh My Girl’s Arin, who takes on her first leading role in a romantic comedy. “It felt like the perfect fit for me at this age,” Arin said. “While 'S-Line' had a dark and provocative tone, this drama radiates a bright and charming energy.”
She added that reading the script made her heart race. “It is more than a typical romantic comedy. It includes stories about love, friendship, and family.”
Director Yoo described the project as a “watercolor painting of K-youth this summer.” He said that the drama will present a variety of colorful episodes and asked for viewers' support and interest. Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, 'My Girlfriend is the Man' tells a chaotic love story between a woman who wakes up one day as a handsome young man and her devoted boyfriend.
The drama includes elements of boys’ love (BL), which is relatively uncommon in mainstream Korean dramas. Director Yoo admitted that there were concerns about how the topic would be received in the local market, but he expressed confidence in the production team’s smart adaptation of the original work.
Arin plays Kim Ji Eun, a young woman who suddenly transforms into a man due to a rare genetic condition passed down from her maternal family. Despite the unexpected change, she tries to protect her relationship with her boyfriend. “Ji Eun is a refreshing and energetic character,” Arin explained. “I want to share that energy with viewers.”
She is also currently appearing in the Wavve original drama 'S-Line,' which features darker and more provocative content. Arin said this new project feels more fitting for the current season with its light and cheerful tone.
ASTRO’s Sanha plays Park Yoon Jae, an astronomy student at Yeonhee University and Ji Eun’s loyal boyfriend. Yoon Jae is sincere and devoted in love but becomes confused when his girlfriend suddenly becomes a man.
Sanha shared that he was immediately drawn to the script. “The title was eye-catching, and I was curious about the situation Yoon Jae would face. The story was so unique that I read it quickly without stopping.”
When asked how he would react if someone he loved suddenly changed gender, Sanha said he would probably be very surprised. However, if the person was important to him, he believes he would react calmly like Yoon Jae.
He also admitted to feeling some pressure about his first lead role on a major broadcasting network. “I was happy about the prime-time slot, but I was also worried. Looking back, there are scenes I wish I had done better, and that motivates me to work even harder.”
Chuu returns to acting after six years, taking on the role of Kang Min Joo, a cheerful and popular student at Yeonhee University who secretly likes Yoon Jae. She described the role as her first serious acting project and said she felt both nervous and excited. “Playing the school queen bee was something I always wanted to try since my school days.”
She added that Mi Jjoo is not good at expressing her feelings, a trait she relates to. “I thought a lot about how I would act if I had a secret crush on someone like Yoon Jae. I had fun with that while filming.”
Yoo Jeong Hu plays Kim Ji Hoon, Ji Eun’s male alter ego. Although Ji Hoon appears male on the outside, the character remains female inside. Yoo said the gender-switch concept was refreshing and explained that, as a rookie actor, he wanted to take on a bold challenge.
Many cast members come from idol backgrounds. Arin pointed out that she had performed with them during music shows and end-of-year events, but once filming began, she saw them only as their characters.
Director Yoo said that the casting was based on both the characters’ images and acting ability, and it just happened that many of the ideal fits were idols. He emphasized that the synchronization with the webtoon characters was 200 percent and proudly stated that the production had created a team of four "Avengers."
The chemistry among the lead actors was another highlight. ASTRO’s Sanha said their teamwork was excellent and that their experience as idols helped with concentration and emotional expression during filming.
Chuu confidently stated that the drama stands apart from other romantic comedies. “Its lively and unique story will help viewers forget the summer heat.” Arin concluded by saying, “This is a healing drama for anyone tired during the week. I hope many people will tune in.”
'My Girlfriend is the Man' premieres tonight at 9:50 PM KST on KBS-2TV.
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