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Song Joong Ki is making his much-awaited romantic comeback after nearly a decade with My Youth. The Korean star, who shot to global fame with Descendants of the Sun, disappeared from melodramas for years but will now be seen alongside Chun Woo Hee, an interesting pairing fans have sky-high hopes for. His recent films and dramas, where he experimented with action and mature themes failed to impress audience at large. At the Seoul press conference, Song admitted he felt both excited and nervous stepping back into romance. He was joined by Chun, who spoke about her own journey, as the series also marks her first classic melodrama.
“I never meant to avoid doing romance projects,” Song said in a statement to Korea JoongAng Daily. He explained that even though he didn’t avoid romance projects, he hadn’t found the right one in years. For him, melodrama is the most meaningful genre to act. “But since it’s been a while since I last worked on one, I felt really excited. Honestly, I think melodrama is always the most desired genre that actors want to be part of. I’m not sure about others, but that’s definitely how I feel.”
Song, who debuted in the Korean entertainment scene in 2008, has built a career with big projects and is arguably one of the most popular Korean stars overseas. His hit dramas include Arthdal Chronicles, Vincenzo, Little Women, and Reborn Rich. His last melodrama, however, was nine years ago with Descendants of the Sun alongside Song Hye Kyo. Explaining the long gap, Song admitted he avoided romance because many of his past characters felt too unreal or distant from everyday life. “Looking back at the characters I’ve played, many of them felt like they weren’t really grounded in reality,” he said. “That made me want to take on more everyday, relatable character, one that could actually exist in real life. That’s why My Youth was such a thrill for me.”
In My Youth, Song plays Sunwoo Hae, a former child actor who now runs a flower shop. The story takes a softer tone, following his reunion with first love Sung Je Yeon, played by Chun Woo Hee. She’s now working as a manager in the entertainment industry, and though both carry old wounds, they slowly begin to heal together. The cast also includes Lee Ju Myoung and Seo Ji Hoon and is directed by Lee SangYeop, best known for Yumi’s Cells. Unlike Song’s past projects filled with style and spectacle, this drama focuses on relationships, healing, and the slice-of-life rhythm.
For Chun Woo Hee, this is her first time doing a classic melodrama. Even though she has been acting for more than 20 years since her debut in the 2004 film Love, So Divine, she usually acted in romantic comedies or genre films, but said she felt this was the right moment to try melodrama. “While working on this project, I found myself wondering why I hadn’t done more melodramas until now,” Chun said. “As I focused on acting in melodrama, I realised that although I used to think I was better suited for genre pieces, melodrama actually feels like the one that fits me best.
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