The meeting of Director Kim Seok-yoon and Writer Lee Nam-kyu has brought a fresh breeze to the Korean drama industry. They have shown great chemistry while collaborating on dramas <Mole>, <My Wife is Having an Affair This Week>, <The Light in Your Eyes>, <Hip>, etc. Currently, they are presenting a rich humanism with the transcendent romance drama <More Beautiful Than Heaven>, featuring Haesook, who arrives in heaven at the age of 80, and her rejuvenated husband Nak-jun. The two creators humorously depict characters and situations that could exist in reality while not losing sight of social messages and a warm perspective on humanity. In particular, <The Light in Your Eyes> and <Hip> both convey realistic messages based on fantastical elements. The strength of their collaboration lies in the balance of genre experimentation, three-dimensional characters, and the ability to capture both popularity and artistic quality. The two have built a unique worldview that traverses reality and fantasy, comedy and humanism.
<Mole> (2015)
Based on the webtoon of the same name by writer Choi Gyu-seok, <Mole> depicts the process of ordinary employees working in a large supermarket forming a union and fighting against unfair dismissals. The protagonist, Manager Lee Soo-in, tries to protect the supermarket sales staff against the company's unjust dismissal orders. He visits the labour counselling centre to start union activities. The relentless attempts by the management to coerce and dismantle the union, as well as the economic and psychological pain and fatigue caused by strikes, are realistically portrayed in the labour scene.
<Mole> is a drama that directly confronts reality without any glamorous fantasy or romance. It shows how difficult it is for justice and common sense to be realised in the world, sharply uncovering the absurdities of the labour scene and the contradictions of social structures. Director Kim Seok-yoon captures the tension of the labour scene while honestly portraying the characters' anguish and decisions in absurd situations. Writer Lee Nam-kyu infused sharp dialogue and humour throughout the drama's heavy atmosphere. The drama received enthusiastic support from a dedicated fan base and critics alike.
<The Light in Your Eyes> (2019)
JTBC drama <The Light in Your Eyes> warmly embraces the passage of time and the preciousness of life. 25-year-old aspiring announcer Hye-ja (Han Ji-min/Kim Hye-ja) gains the ability to turn back time through a mysterious watch she accidentally acquires while living an ordinary day as a young person. However, this ability comes with a harsh price. Hye-ja repeatedly turns back time to protect her beloved family, especially her father, and in the process, she loses her youth and suddenly becomes an old woman. Hye-ja feels wronged in front of the time she has lost, but soon shows the courage to accept her life and cherish each day. On the other hand, Lee Jun-ha (Nam Joo-hyuk), despite having the most youthful and brilliant time, is weary of life and wishes to grow old quickly. The two carry the weight of different times but quietly seep into each other's lives, providing deep comfort.
<The Light in Your Eyes> initially has the colour of a genre combining time slip and romance, but gradually shifts its weight to themes of family, old age, and the meaning of life. The stories of Hye-ja's family, friends, and surrounding characters add depth, quietly awakening the preciousness of familiar daily life and how brilliant the ordinary moments we enjoy are. <The Light in Your Eyes> left viewers with a gentle touch and deep resonance, thanks to Director Kim Seok-yoon's delicate direction and Writer Lee Nam-kyu's humanistic dialogue. Additionally, the performances of Kim Hye-ja and Han Ji-min, the personas of the Kim Seok-yoon X Lee Nam-kyu duo, infuse the work with warm and poignant humanism. In particular, Kim Hye-ja's narration has touched many hearts for a long time. "My life has sometimes been unhappy and sometimes happy. Although life is but a dream, I am glad to be alive. ... Do not ruin the present because of a past full of regrets and an uncertain distant future. Live today, brilliantly!"
<Hip> (2023)
<Hip> is a comic investigation drama set in the rural village of Mujin. Veterinarian Bong Ye-bun (Han Ji-min), who can see the past of animals and people only when she touches their behinds, teams up with detective Moon Jang-yeol (Lee Min-ki), who has come down from Seoul, to investigate a serial murder case. The close-to-life banter between the two protagonists and the absurd humour of the Mujin villagers provide great entertainment.
<Hip> skillfully mixes comedy, thriller, and fantasy genres, showcasing a fresh colour of 'psychometry thriller'. The actors' comedic performances, which risk being silly, realistic dialogue, and unpredictable developments received positive reviews. Meanwhile, the setting that superpowers can only be activated by touching behinds sparked controversy, but many praised Han Ji-min's charming performance and the comedic direction for offsetting the discomfort. This work, blending the boundaries of the ordinary and extraordinary, humanity and humour, well demonstrates the experimental spirit of the Kim Seok-yoon X Lee Nam-kyu duo.
