Starring: Bae Suzy, Yang Se-jong, Park Se-wan, Ha Young, Kim Do-wan

TV Network: Netflix

Premiere Date: Oct 20, 2023

Genre: Romance

Press Conference with Actors Suzy, Yang Se-jong, and director Lee Jung-hyo

 

Q : So great to have you all. And before we invited the three of you, we saw the main trailer for Doona!. And it feels like definitely no one let us down. I called Doona “Doona Bae,” right? I got that mixed up, but because Doona has such a strong presence.  And Suzy, can you tell us a little bit about what Doona! is about? 

Suzy : Yes, so Doona! is a story of a former K-pop idol who has gone into hiding. Her name is Lee Doona. And there’s Won-jun, a very ordinary college freshman who finds romance to be a luxury in his busy reality. And as they meet, and in a shared housing, it’s about how they heal each other’s souls and the heart fluttering.

Q : I see. So, the attraction, the heart fluttering, and healing. I feel like the first two, I’m definitely getting that today. Just by seeing the two of you here, I can definitely feel that attraction and heart pounding. Now I want to ask you, director Lee, what was your take on the story of Doona!, and what were some of your main areas of focus? 

Lee Jung-hyo : So Doona! is a story about these two people who lived in completely different worlds and who come and meet each other and blend into each other’s worlds. It’s the process of it. And it’s also the process of beginning to understand each other. So, it’s a drama series that follows that story of blending into one another. And also that very early 20s vibes, when you are not as skilled with everything, you are a little bit naive. And I really wanted to focus on that youth.

Q : I see. All of the words that you’re speaking really makes our hearts flutter. And the process of meeting someone and really entering their world and the worlds blending into one another, that’s definitely something that we’re looking forward to. Now Se-jong, what drew you in? And also Suzy, what drew you into this project? 

Suzy : Well, when I first got the script, I went ahead and read the original webtoon, because it is based on an original webtoon. So, I wanted to know the mood and vibe of the webtoon, and it was so exciting, really. And there was this particular mood and vibe that was unique to Doona!. And also, I was drawn to the character because it was a character I’ve never played before. And I also had some parts where I really felt for the character Doona!, so it tapped my curiosity. And when I got the script, I was just… you know, my heart was really fluttering. I would sometimes scream as I was reading the script. Before I got older, I thought that this would be a perfect character that I could play really well.

Q : Wow, you know, I think we’re in trouble. Because Suzy, when you were screaming as you were reading the script, I feel like we are all going to be screaming even harder. Yes. All right, I cannot wait to see it. Now Se-jong, what drew you into the project?

Yang Se-jong : When I read the script for Doona!, first of all, I was also very excited. My heart was pounding so loud. And I think the fact that I’m able to play this might be the last drama series ever for me to be able to play a character like Won-jun, who’s in his very early 20s. So that’s why I decided to come on board.

Q : I see, I feel like this is a very meaningful series to the both of you too. And I’ve heard that the two of you played roles that are truly the role of your lives. So, let’s dive in and learn about the characters. Tell us, Suzy, about your character Doona. 

Suzy : Yes. Doona is, she’s a member of a very popular K-pop girl group called Sweet Dream and she was the main vocal. She was very, very popular, and was at the peak of her popularity. But for a certain reason, she went into hiding from the world and she’s living in this shared housing in a college town. She is very sensitive, very alert and she has a guard up, and it’s hard to tell what she’s thinking. That’s the kind of character she is. But once you get to know her, she really loves people, and she has that thirst for love. And I think she’s someone you just want to reach out and hug.

Q : I see. So Doona, you said that the character Doona, Suzy, you said that this is a character that’s also like a haughty cat but also an adorable people-loving puppy. So, as you were speaking we are looking at two stills in the background and I think both of them really expressed that puppy-like kitty trait of Doona, and then the cool cat-like trait. Tell us, what were the main areas of focus? 

Suzy : So, when I thought Doona, I thought she was like someone who you can’t really expect what she’s feeling, but I wanted to give her a hug. So that’s what I talked about with the director. You know, people would misunderstand her in the beginning, but as they watch the show, they will get to understand about this person Doona. So that’s what I talked about with the director. You know, there could be a lot of misunderstandings in the beginning. But then, you know, she doesn’t really think about what others think, so she might come off as offensive to some people. But she doesn’t care about what people think of her and she would express her own feelings and her thoughts. So that’s the point that I was focusing on.

Q : A lot of people said that after they knew about this cast, they said that Suzy was cut out for this role. And when there were trailers and still shots dropping, everyone was like “she is perfect for the role.” How did you feel? 

Suzy : I felt exhilarated. I did read the original webtoon, Doona!, and I thought that I also do have those cold-heartedness to me, but people don’t know those sides of me. So I wanted to show that side of myself to the viewers and my fans. And I really wanted to do a good job portraying this character. If you watch the show, I’m sure that you will think that I’m perfectly in sync with the character.

Q : Well looking forward to it, definitely. So, we’re going to see various aspects and facets of Suzy through Doona!. So, you were perfectly into your role and Se-jong, you could really immerse yourself into your character, because Suzy was doing such a good job, right? 

Yang Se-jong : Yes, of course. She really helped me focus and immerse into my character because she was doing so well becoming Doona. And as we were acting together, we didn’t even have to say things because we would know what each other’s thinking just by looking at the glances of each other. I think we had really nice chemistry on set.

Q : So how good was the chemistry? Se-jong, he was very slow in speaking that sentence. He was like “The chemistry. Was. Good.” I bet the chemistry was really, really perfect. And director Lee, you also said that Doona is a character that only Suzy could pull off. So what was she like on set? 

Lee Jung-hyo : This is like creating a show, right? There are so many things that Suzy had to do. She had to sing, she had to dance, she had to perform, and she had to act. So, there were so many different roles that she had to take on. And I thought that Suzy had so many things to do compared to other projects and she would have been very tired, but she never showed that tiredness to us.

That’s what I really loved about her. You know this actress Suzy is actually a much bigger person than I thought she was. When we were talking about the cast lineup of Doona!, the only person that came to my mind was Suzy. So, when I was proposing and offering the role to Suzy, I said I really want you for the role, and she said right away that “I’ll do it.” So I was really happy when we met for the first time we were talking, and I knew that she would pull off the character so well. And I think she really did so well on set. I was very, very satisfied.

Q : Great. So when we think about Suzy, people know her as the “first love of the nation,” right? So now you become the big person Suzy, right? With a big heart. Okay, so that’s how you performed on set. And if you watch Doona!, you have that new hairstyle “Hime cut.” And people said that the cut looks perfect on you. It’s so flattering on you. But in the original webtoon, that was not the haircut, right? Was it your idea? 

Suzy : Yeah, in the original webtoon, she has a full frills, and then she has a little bit of hair on the side. So, when I was doing photo shoots and in other projects of mine, I did have those full bangs. And I thought that I needed a new hairstyle that really showed the characteristics of Doona, because she’s very fickle, she is very frank about herself. So I wanted to add a styling that is kind of new and something that people wouldn’t do so much. And I think it was flattering on me, yes.

Q : How can you say that yourself that it was flattering on yourself? But you’re right on point, because I think that Hime cut hairstyle was the perfect hairstyle that showed who Doona is as a person because Doona wants to lead an ordinary life, but she also wants to stay special. So I think that was shown through her hairstyle. And other than that, there were various props and setups to show her character. Can you talk about that, director Lee? 

Lee Jung-hyo : The writer wrote the script, and there’s those toe socks. If you watch the entire series, you’re going to know what those toe socks mean to Doona, and what it portrays about her mindset. Because she says she likes ordinary things, but she also wants to stay special and be special. So there’s that kind of dichotomy inside of her and conflict inside of her. If you keep on watching the show, you will see that these props kind of show what kind of feeling she has and what she’s thinking inside of her. And we also had an outdoor set, there was this pathway and there’s the shared housing. And I wanted to portray a lot of meanings through these setups and prop and sets. If you keep watching the show, you might be able to think about what this means.

Q : So much detail, right? I think we’re going to learn a lot of meanings through these details. And director Lee is known for the details. Director Lee is known as the master of romance, Crash Landing On You, Romance is a Bonus Book, and I Need Romance 2012 are some of our must watch romance shows that were created by director Lee. So what’s your focus on directing a romance show, and what was your focus for this particular show? 

Lee Jung-hyo : When we think about romance shows, what’s really important is the chemistry between the two characters. And in order to build that character, build that chemistry, I talked a lot with the two casts. I wanted to learn about their opinions. And on set, when you’re filming a romance show, you know sometimes the feelings and vibes are different from what you saw on the script. And that is only possible when you have good chemistry between the two characters.

So I thought it was important to communicate and talk with the two actors to learn about their feelings, their opinions. And then if they talk more, they become closer to each other. So later on, Se-jong also said that he didn’t really have to say much because he would know from the looks in Suzy’s eyes what she wants. So, I wanted to make sure that we had a lot of communication going on in the beginning.

Q : All of these scenes piled up, and I think this show and this romance is going to “crash land” on the viewers’ hearts. This is like the signature dish of director Lee. So looking forward to that. And director Lee said that there’s that Sweet Dream K-concert scene that Dr. Lee really loved and adored. And it was actually filmed on the Japan KCON stage in 2022, right? Can you tell us more about it, director Lee? 

Lee Jung-hyo : Yeah, I was very touched by the two actors a lot of the times when we were on set, because this is something that I’ve never been to. I’ve never, I don’t have any experience in concert and music. But the four people in this Sweet Dream group, including Suzy, would do the choreography, do the dance, and do the recording. And then we all flew over to Japan to do that performance on KCON. We weren’t on the actual stage, but it was the prequal stage.

And we only had two shots to go, two takes to go. So, one was the actual performance, and the second was the scene in the drama where there was a little bit of an accident. So when we did the whole song, my heart was fluttering and I felt like I was like the agent for Sweet Dream. I felt like I was giving them this dream debut stage. So I felt very touched. And you know, doing a drama I get to do a lot of things, and I could feel a lot of different things and experience new things.

Q : Great. And Suzy, in order to film this scene, you also have to become Sweet Dream, part of Sweet Dream, and you have to perform on the KCON stage. So you did your choreography and dance practice for this one, right? 

Suzy : Yes, while we were filming the show I had to practice the dance moves. And, you know, it’s been quite a long time since I had members together with me and doing a group performance. It was quite new because I had different members this time, but then we got quite close to each other. At first, it was a mess. But then later on, we became better synchronized as a group. So I felt very satisfied and I felt this whole suite of feelings.

Q : I’m really curious about this group Sweet Dream, so we’ll be able to meet them through Doona!. So as we are talking, I feel like Suzy truly is Doona herself. She’s the personification of Doona. And she’s so charming and she keeps pestering you, saying “eat with me,” “play with me,” then it’s going to be very puzzling for the guy. So Se-jong, tell us about your character, Won-jun.

Yang Se-jong : Won-jun is a perfectly ordinary college freshman. He’s in his early 20s, and he has his own responsibilities. And as he moves into the shared housing, he bumps into Doona, and he’s always puzzled and confused. And he doesn’t want to get close to Doona in the beginning. But later on, at one point, he kind of blends into Doona’s world and vice versa. And he feels new feelings as he becomes close to Doona.

Q : He looks quite puzzled and confused right now as he’s speaking. So I feel like you are also the true personification of Won-jun. Se-jong, when you were discharged from military service, director Lee was like “OK, he is exactly the one that I want for Won-jun.” Is that right? 

Lee Jung-hyo : There was this show that I saw, and Se-jong was in it. And I wanted him to be on our show as Won-jun. And in the webtoon, Won-jun is someone who’s really ordinary but he has that naiveté and childlike character. And when I saw Se-jong for the first time, I had that feeling that he was the perfect person for this role. And as we were filming, we talked so much. Because Won-jun goes through a whole lot of array of emotions, so it was important to control those emotions. So I talked a lot with Won-jun. And as I was talking with him, I felt like he is truly Won-jun himself. There are certain emotions that he feels, and when he communicated those feelings with me, I felt like he is so green and naive and I really love that aspect of him. So I think I have the perfect cast lineup.

Q : Ok, Se-jong, you are like the personification of naivete, and he said that you are cut out for the role Won-jun. I think you know you guys are perfect for your respective roles. Do you also think that you are quite like Won-jun? Do you think you’re in sync with the character? Looking very sincere, he’s always very Won-jun like, I think. 

Yang Se-jong : Well, I think the fact that there’s just a lot going on in my mind that he thinks a lot, I think I’m very like Won-jun like that, but I think Won-jun’s a little bit more naive than I am. I think that’s about it.

Q : I see. So you both, you have a lot of thoughts going on in your mind. But when it comes to being naïve, Won-jun is a little bit more than yourself. So director Lee said that you had many conversations. What kind of conversations did you have with the director? And director Lee, what was Se-jong like on set? 

Lee Jung-hyo :  So like I said before, the character Won-jun, and there are three different female characters. And so Won-jun is the person who goes through the biggest emotional arc and emotional change. And, how to put it? Sometimes in order to not make his emotions confusing, I constantly asked him questions, I would ask him how he actually felt about each character. And we just made sure to communicate as much as possible about those emotional nuances. 

And what I really loved was exactly just that. When you ask Se-jong, there’s a lot that he is already thinking about, and I think that’s exactly what Won-jun is like. So I really love that about working with Se-jong. And he is just a hard worker and he’s very honest. And in order to really capture those emotional nuances through his character in the drama series, he is someone who’s very hardworking where he will be sure to bring that and really deliver, whether it’s through conversations with me or through his own work. He is someone who’s very focused, so I’m just always rooting for him. I really want Se-jong to do well.

Q :  Wow I see that. We just saw you pour your heart out for Se-jong, being a very hard working guy just like Won-jun. And hoping, you know, director Lee is rooting for Se-jong, for their career. 

Yang Se-jong : And on set, as we were shooting about the very detailed parts, even parts that I wasn’t aware of as an actor, director Lee is so detailed. He is sure to touch upon each and every detail, and I think that helped us have those many conversations.

Q :  I see. So Se-jong’s comment, I think, goes to say that director Lee, you really were the one who brought it all together. Now Se-jong, I know that in the past you’ve said something about having met a first love during your actual early 20s and how that turned you into a better person. And I think that’s very much in line with what Won-jun goes through in the story of Doona!. How did you interpret the character Won-jun and what was your take on him? 

Yang Se-jong : As for how I wanted to express him, rather than approaching it from that aspect, I wanted to, even more than myself, I wanted to focus more on the character Doona. Because the changes in character dynamics between Won-jun and Doona, I felt like it was more helpful for me to do that, not focusing on myself but on Doona. And as was said before, I think that helped bring out the convincing expression of the character Won-jun.

Q : I see, so you focused more on the character Doona. And you said that both you and Won-jun have a lot going on in your minds. You really think long and hard about a lot of things. Did you think about how you would react as Se-jong if events like this actually occurred to you in real life? How do you feel, Se-jong, if you were, all of a sudden, met by someone you’ve never experienced before, how would you react? 

Yang Se-jong : I think I would not look at her. I think I would just give up as fast as possible.

Q : You mean, unlike Won-jun?

Yang Se-jong : Yes. I think in that way Won-jun is more naïve. Because for me, if that happened to me as Se-jong, I think I would just probably shut it down. Wouldn’t even look.

Q : Wow. All right. And this time, you two really are capturing the sweet and naive romance of your early 20s and that’s really heart pounding, heart fluttering but also a little bit clumsy and unskilled. What were some of the things that were on your mind when you were capturing that vibe?

Suzy :  For me, while it’s set in early 20s, Doona, in her mind, she feels like she knows stuff. She knows life. She feels like she’s figured it out, she knows how to handle things. And because she’s also “Noona,” which is like an older sister, so she’s older than Won-jun in that sense. At times when Won-jun would say something that’s a little bit painful sometimes, something that’s very based on facts or hurtful to her, sometimes Doona would realize that “Oh, I wasn’t aware of my own emotions.” So I tried to focus on those particular nuanced moments.

Q : I see. So it’s naive and unskilled to other people but sometimes you yourself feel like you just know it all. Yes. How about you, Se-jong? 

Yang Se-jong : For me, I think I was focusing on the… I tried to understand as much as possible the emotions of Won-jun and the overall emotions of the story. So I really tried to stick to the script. It’s very hard, I’m not very good with my words. I actually took a drink so that I won’t be as nervous.

Q : But no, you’re doing fine Se-jong. So my question was, you know, were you really channeling your actual early 20s to bring this? 

Yang Se-jong : No, not at all. I never once thought of my own experience. And when we were on set, and even in the first day of shooting, I was completely immersed into character. Because before shooting, we had many conversations between the three of us here, and we just had so many conversations about the show. So the minute the camera started rolling, it was just Doona itself. And I was very confident that I could portray the character completely immersed.

Q :  I see. Also because your partner on screen is also immersed into the character, right? I’m sure you were able to concentrate right away. The romance between Doona and Won-jun, we are at the beginning of the colder weather and with autumn upon us, I feel like it’s really going to be even more heart fluttering for all of us. When you were doing the scenes, were there particular scenes that really made your hearts flutter? I want to ask you, Suzy. What about the character Won-jun did that for you? 

Suzy : Well, for me, because Doona always has her guard up, she faints one day and has to go to the hospital. And Won-jun goes ahead and he’s just so naive saying that he’s the person protecting, the legal guardian of Doona. And that was towards the initial days of our shooting. And I felt like Doona probably knew instinctly that Won-jun means absolutely no harm. And that was the moment I felt like Doona was first got curious about Won-jun.

Q : I see, right, and you know when you are sick, when you’re not feeling well, that’s when you’re a little bit vulnerable, right? 

Suzy : Yes.

Q : I see. All right, what about you, Se-jong? What about Doona made your heart flutter?

Yang Se-jong : For me, if I were to divide Doona into beginning, middle and end, I think his heart started to flutter from the very beginning, but he expressed it in a different way. He tried to avoid her, push her back. But as you go into the middle part, and then towards the end, I think every moment Won-jun’s heart was fluttering every time he saw Doona. So going forward through the story Won-jun feels there are many moments when his heart flutters. And he has that accumulated in his heart. So later on in the story, he says this particular line to Doona. And if you think about it, I think from the very beginning, probably from the first moment he saw Doona, his heart was already fluttering.

Q : Wow, I see every moment of Doona made your heart flutter. Now, whenever there were these scenes the two of you came on screen together, they were just so sweet. And Suzy, I heard that you had a lot of fun in scenes when you were sort of picking on Won-jun and making fun of him and just playing with him.

Suzy : Yes, because I was already immersed into the role of Doona, towards the initial days of shooting I was always just excited to mess with him. I think I was always excited.

Q : Wow, you were looking forward to getting on set. 

Suzy : Yes. So I would always just mess with him and Won-jun would always be a little bit perplexed and surprised or puzzled, and that makes you want to mess with him even more. For those scenes, I tried to mess with Se-jong in real life too.

Q : Oh, you tried to do that in real life? 

Suzy : Yes, because you have to maintain that vibe and tension.

Q :  I see. I’m sure that helped you get into your role once the camera was on. Yes, I see. I think this is definitely going to be a very lovable and heart fluttering series for all of us to see. From the amazing chemistry between the two of you, and also the overall process of blending into one another’s world. I think Doona! is definitely a wonderful romance that is waiting us.

So I’m sure there’s a lot of you from the members of the press who want to ask questions. We’re going to open up the floor for questions. Those of you who have questions please raise your hand and we’ll bring the mic over to you. I see hands up already. Yes, if you have your mic.  

(Questions from Journalists)

Q :  My question goes to the two members of the cast. So, to Suzy, your former drama series Anna was really successful. And in your career that was a drama series that really, you were recognized for your acting performance for. So this one is very different from that. And because Anna did so well in terms of your acting performance, is there a level of burden? I think there it might be a burden coming back with another series. So I’d like to hear how you feel about that. And Se-jong, you said that you took a pill before to relax. I think it shows that you’re a little bit quite nervous. So this is your comeback I think in about four years and during those years you served in the military, of course. How does it feel to be back with a drama series and tell us how nervous you are. I’d like to hear how you’re feeling right now. 

Suzy : Honestly, I didn’t feel burdensome at all. And the reason I didn’t feel a burden about that was because firstly, they’re very different characters. And as I was preparing for the character Doona, so vastly different, and the fact that I was able to portray someone who was extremely different, I think I was more excited. That excitement was too great for me to feel burdened.

Q : And Anna did so well you were so well loved for that. But I think as we watch Doona!, it’s we’re not going to be reminded of your former characters. 

Suzy : That’s exactly what I would like to see.

Q : All right, and I’m sure you are also looking forward to that as well. Can we ask Se-jong how does it feel to be about to be back?

Yang Se-jong : I think the burden, or just particular thoughts about coming back after a while, I didn’t really feel that. Rather, before going into the project, there was a very short but strong period when I felt this burden. But I controlled it and said I should get into character and just focus on the script.

Q : I see. And this is an event, you haven’t been in one of these events in quite a while. How do you feel right now?

Yang Se-jong : For me, aside from being on set, events like this is when I am the most nervous. I’m not quite sure why. But what I can say is I think I got a little bit better compared to my military service, before military service.

Q : I have a question for Se-jong first. So your role is in his early 20s and he’s like 10 years younger than you actually are, and you’re supposed to be younger than Suzy in Doona. So, were there some things that you did, you know, externally in terms of styling or internally in terms of like mindset to pull off this character especially since you’ve been to military service? And this is a question for Suzy, you are also a very successful girl group and you said that you wanted to give Doona a big hug. Why did you feel that way and did you resonate with Doona? In what aspects? 

 Yang Se-jong : So internally, I wanted to focus on the script. And style-wise, I said this in another interview so I’ll be frank. So usually, you know, I see myself in the mirror. I have beards, right? So I tried to take those beard off with the laser treatment. And then I had a lot of baths and I do a lot of facial masks as well. And I wanted to tell you that I have gained three kilograms after I’ve been on set, so I am skinnier in the show. Better looks. So don’t worry, I was three kilograms less in the drama. So yeah, I put a lot of effort into trying to look good because they saw what I was like as Se-jong.

Q : Well, that was a very good answer. You know there are words that we have never heard in a press conference like baths and facial masks. I could tell that you put a lot of effort into making yourself into this character. And Suzy, you are a successful girl group. So how did you resonate with Doona? Why did you want to give her a big hug? 

Suzy : So as I was acting as Doona, I did think of the times when I was part of a girl group. Looking back, like there were moments that I felt I was struggling but I didn’t really know much. You know I think I try to deny that I was struggling. I try to just stay a bubbly person and stay in my bright bubbly kind of character. But Doona is different. She would express her feelings to every extent, and she lets herself suffer. She lets herself go through all those emotions. So I kind of was envious of her and I could resonate with her in that sense. So that’s why I thought that I wanted to give her a big hug.

Q : I have a question for Suzy. Director Lee did talk about this, but you have to pull off a lot of different gigs. You were smoking in the show, and there were a lot of smoking scenes, and then you also had to go underwater. So weren’t there any challenges pulling off all those scenes? And when Won-jun and Doona bump into each other for the first time, I hope this is not a spoiler, and it was very impactful. So were there some directions from the director? How did you try to portray that scene? 

Susy : Instead of saying that there were challenges, I would like to say that it was exhilarating for me. Because in the webtoon, Doona smokes a lot. And director Lee said that he was concerned because there were a lot of smoking scenes. But when I was selecting the project, I think this was like a new side of me that I could show to people. So I actually was quite excited about these scenes. To portray this character Doona, I think cigarettes are one of the keywords that kind of describe who she is. So in order to pull off this character I just focused on that matter.

Suzy : I am a little bit scared of water, so I was concerned about this scene. But then when the camera was rolling, I didn’t feel that much fear. I could just do it. So it’s like the opening scene of the show. You know, there’s that accident on the stage, and the underwater scene is important in portraying her in her feelings. I thought a lot about this scene and I’ve jumped into water.

Q : So you were oblivious of your fear for water. I bet that you became Doona herself. And the smoking scenes and the underwater scenes were just scenes that could show different sides and new sides of Suzy. So it was like a nice challenge for you in terms of acting. And what about the first scene where you bumped into Won-jun? 

Suzy :  We filmed twice to film that scene. So at first, we wanted to show that impactful vibes of that scene, because it’s a very important scene. So we wanted to take another take, because it’s such an important scene. And to Doona, that’s the first impression she has of Won-jun, and she has her guards up. So those were the points that I was focusing on. And to Won-jun, I had to leave a lasting impression on him. So I think those were the parts that I focused on.

Q : Yeah, because when you bump into each other, that’s like a really important scene, right? The director and the actors both really worked hard on this scene, right? Was there anything that the director said to you about this scene when you were filming?

Suzy : At first, we did talk amongst ourselves. But when we did the retake, we wanted to film it in a way that Doona is just totally ignoring Won-jun. I would put myself in her shoes, and I thought it was right for her to just totally ignore Won-jun. It’s kind of too nice for her to answer him. So that’s how we pulled off that scene.

Q : What about director Lee? Can you add something to that? They’re first meetup? 

Lee Jung-hyo : Yes, that first scene, it was very detailed in terms of the script, but because of the seasonality we wanted to take another scene. Because we wanted that certain seasonal vibe. Because we filmed for a whole year, there’s fall, winter, spring, summer. As we were filming, we wanted to simplify that scene so they have that character. And then we wanted to really show that character through our retake.

Q :  I have a very light and casual question to the actors. Suzy, this is like a long photoshoot of yourself, because you are looking so good in the show. And now that the filming is over, how do you feel about people saying that this is like a long photoshoot of Suzy? And this is a question for Se-jong. We did talk a little bit about your military service. You went into military service in your late 20s and you were discharged when you were in your 30s. And now, you’re living your life as your early 20s again by filming this show. So how do you feel? And when you were preparing and acting the show, I thought you would have thought of your early 20s. But you said no, you didn’t. Is there a reason why? 

Suzy :  When I was filming, the director and the director of photography and the lighting staff, they all worked so hard to make sure that they captured the pretty aspects of Doona so that everyone would fall for Doona. I think people might feel that it’s like a long photoshoot of myself, but it’s kind of hard to say it with my own mouth.

Q : So we just saw the trailer, but we just thought that you were Doona herself and she was so beautiful and stunning. That’s why people say it that way. So it is a big photoshoot of yours?

Suzy : Yes, it is.

Q : Okay. So she acknowledged that it’s going to be a beautiful photoshoot of Suzy. And Se-jong, how do you feel to be back in your early 20s? 

Yang Se-jong : I want to answer the second part of the question. I did not think about my past girlfriends or relationships, but I did think about myself in my 20s. Won-jun and myself before 12 years are living a very different life, and the trends are different. And the way I lived in my early 20s and Se-jong in his early 20s would live totally different lives. Because I asked people in early 20s like what they do where they go to hang out, and it was quite different from my own experience. And after I got discharged from a military service, I was living as Won-jun in his early 20s. And I thought… Director Lee and Suzy would talk to me a lot and I thought there was no fine line between myself and Won-jun. I think I was totally immersed into the Won-jun character. But now I am Se-jong.

Q :  All right. So going back to your early 20s, you said that there wasn’t a difference between Won-jun and Se-jong because you were so immersed into your character. 

Yang Se-jong : Yeah, I think I kind of became his personality. Because you know, I have my own personality, but I would blend into Won-jun’s world and become more like Won-jun. I think I evolved into his personality.

Q :  I have a question from director Lee and a question for the actors. Director Lee, The Good Wife and The Life on Mars are some of the remakes that you’ve done. I think this is your first foray into a translation of a webtoon. I think that would have been a different experience for you. What was it like? And to the actors, the host said that director Lee is like the master of romance shows. So did you watch some of his previous shows, and were there some of your favorites? And did you refer to other shows when you were playing your characters in Doona? 

Lee Jung-hyo : I’ve done three remakes in my career, and you’re right. This is my first foray into translating a webtoon into a drama show. And there are a lot of webtoons that are becoming TV shows these days. When making webtoons into video format, I think there are certain differences. You know, webtoons are on air for quite a long time and the creator writes and creates the webtoon as they go.

But then a TV show is like a few episodes, and you have to pick and choose some of the scenes in the webtoon. And I thought it was quite challenging to do that. But the creator of the webtoon and the writer of the script did so well in doing the selecting process of the scenes. So it was a very fun experience for me. And you would know when you watch the entire show as it progresses. Instead of thinking of the situational narrative, there’s more emotional arc, an emotional narrative. I think it’s quite different from other romance shows.

Q :  All right, so I think the fans of the original webtoon are really looking forward to watching this show. And the actors, you have worked together with the master of romance shows. Which of his shows did you like? And when you were creating this character Doona, did you refer to other shows? 

Suzy : I really love I Need Romance 2012. Yeah, it’s such a great drama, right? Yes. And in order to create this character Doona, I didn’t really refer to other shows, just the webtoon.

Q :  Okay, maybe that’s top secret. They’re saying something. What would have Se-jong said to Suzy? We’ll be able to know in a second. I think it’s top secret. 

Yang Se-jong : Director Lee recommended us a list of shows, but then I forgot the title of the show. So we did have reference but we forgot the title of the show.

Q : Should we try guessing the title of the show? 

Lee Jung-hyo : It’s a show from Iceland or the UK. Normal People. Yes, that’s the show.

Q : So director Lee recommended that show to you.

Suzy : I actually watched it before he recommended it to me. I loved the nuanced portrayal of the emotions and the evolving emotions in the show. And I thought it was quite similar to the emotional narrative of this.

Q : It’s a show that you saw already and but then you referred to the original webtoon, right? 

Suzy : Yeah, I wanted to look and feel the original webtoon, I didn’t read the latter part. I wanted to reference the first part of the webtoon.

Q : And Se-jong, you were reminded of the suggested work by director Lee. But what about you? What were some of the shows that you referred to?

Yang Se-jong : For me, among the shows that director Lee did, Life on Mars and Romance is a Bonus Book.

Q : I see, the two are very different genres. 

Yang Se-jong : Yes, director Lee is obviously the master of the romance genre, but I think he is the master of all genres. I was completely in awe. Honestly, I could not help myself and I told this to director Lee. I was in complete awe.

Q : Wow, I think at the very last question, you are finally not as nervous, you feel at ease. I love it. And Se-jong, were there anything that you referred to to create the character Won-jun? 

Yang Se-jong : For me, I read the webtoon up until the middle part of the story, and then I stopped reading because I was afraid I would try to copy the character in the webtoon. So I refrained from reading it too far. And there weren’t any characters that I referred to but I was focused on how what writer Jang had written into the script as the character Won-jun. I wanted to be as loyal to the script as possible.

Q : I see, and was there…?

Yang Se-jong : So to me also, director Lee suggested looking at the overall mood of Normal People.

Q : Got it. All right, so due to time constraints, we’re going to have to wrap up the Q&A session here. Thank you to the members of the press for your great questions. And as we wrap up today, there are going to be over 190 countries in which fans are avidly waiting to see Doona!. Let’s go ahead and say your wrap up comments. Se-jong? 

Yang Se-jong :  The drama Doona!, everyone including the director and the cast and crew, everyone, it was a challenge. We had so much fun working on it, and we really concentrated and poured our hearts and souls into it. So we hope that you show a lot of love and support. Thank you.

Suzy : To me, I have such fond memories of working on this show. And all of the crew, their hard work went into this show. So I hope you have high hopes for it, and I really hope you enjoy Doona!.

Q :  Thank you, Suzy. And director Lee?

Lee Jung-hyo : We really worked hard on it, and everyone did such a great job. We all went in it together. And I think this could be a slightly different romance drama than your typical romance series. And because you don’t have to wait for the next episode, this is Netflix we’re talking about, you can binge-watch it. I think this is a very binge worthy show.

Q : Wow. I think our autumns are going to be filled with this heart fluttering romance. Being even more special, because it’s ordinary, the beautiful romance, heart fluttering romance of the two youths. I think all of us are going to be reminded of our early 20s when we weren’t as skilled with our relationships. This is a name I cannot call enough, Doona. All of the fans are going to be very excited to see and meet Doona as it is launched on the 20^th, Friday. All right, so let us stand up and say goodbye to all of the members of the press. This was the press conference for the Netflix original, Doona!. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.

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Here’s the trailer of the film.