At the press conference for the Disney+ original series <Low Life> held at the Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 8th, Ryu Seung-ryong, who plays the lead role of Oh Kwan-seok, summarised the series by saying, "Most of the characters here are those who believe that everything can be done for money, and they deceive each other for money. This drama expresses the emptiness and endless desire that still cannot reach satisfaction."
This series is based on the webtoon of the same name by writer Yoon Tae-ho, known for works such as 「Misaeng」. The story unfolds as a treasure ship filled with expensive antiques is discovered off the coast of Sinan, Jeollanam-do in the 1970s, attracting con artists, gangsters, and swindlers from all over the country, leading to a drama of conflict and desire.
Director Kang Yoon-sung explained, "While my previous work <Big Bet> was something I wrote based on my research, <Low Life> was created by filling in the gaps without damaging the original work." He added, "Ultimately, the adaptation process took a year and a half."
<Low Life> features numerous characters with different charms centered around Ryu Seung-ryong.
Im Soo-jung attempts a new acting transformation as Yang Jeong-sook, the lady of Heungbaek Industries who funds the treasure salvage operation. Kim Eui-sung plays Professor Kim, an antique con artist from Busan, Kim Jong-soo plays Mr. Song, an antique appraiser, and Lee Dong-hwi plays Hong Gi-ro, a local police officer from Mokpo.
In addition to these, various actors such as Yang Se-jong, Kim Sung-oh, Jung Yun-ho, Kim Min, and Lee Sang-jin appear as unique characters. Notably, Jung Yun-ho, a member of the group TVXQ, takes on the role of a gangster named Beolgu from Mokpo, showcasing his thick dialect acting.
Due to the ensemble nature of the cast, the script was also modified on-site to match each character's speech and personality. Director Kang stated, "It was fun to create each character while working with the actors," and added, "We proceeded by adjusting the lines during filming to fully match the actors' styles."
Given the nature of the work based on a treasure ship, there were many scenes shot on the sea and underwater special effects. Kim Eui-sung recalled the difficulties during filming, saying, "We filmed off the coast of Sinan last summer when it was the hottest. In the very beginning, we had to ride a small boat, and going out to sea was genuinely scary. There was no shade, so it was also a battle against the heat. I thought it would be more comfortable in the water tank set, but at that time, the temperature was 39 degrees, and there was no wind, making it even hotter. It’s a work that I remember a lot because of the hardships we faced."
The set design, costumes, and props vividly recreate the 1970s, capturing attention. In the series, Im Soo-jung appears dressed in a custom-made, brightly coloured suit from a tailor shop as Yang Jeong-sook.
Im Soo-jung stated, "I acted with the most glamorous costumes, hair, makeup, and jewelry that women of that era could wear," and added, "I put effort into embodying the appearance that expresses the era."
The production team put great effort into recreating the appearance of 50 years ago, from old cars and narrow tea house alleys to the interior of the tailor shop and antique shops filled with white porcelain and blue porcelain.
Director Kang revealed his intention for the production, saying, "I wanted to share with the viewers how our parents lived fiercely in the 1970s and what kind of emotions they had."
<Low Life> is set to be released every Wednesday starting from the 16th.
