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Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Song Kang & Hong Seung Hee Share Heartwarming Experience from 'Navillera'

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

A stellar cast of seasoned acting greats and fresh rising stars has been assembled for Netflix upcoming webtoon based drama, 'Navillera' which is set to release on 22 March. Directed by Han Dong-hwa, the 12-episode drama talks about Deok-Chul, a retired postman who seeks to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a ballet dancer at the age of 70 and Chae-rok, a young man who has a unique talent for ballet but realizes his talent fairly late compared to his peers. Chae-rok’s life unexpectedly changes as he becomes a ballet mentor to the 70-year-old grandpa.

Earlier today, director Han Dong-hwa and the main cast Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Song Kang and Hong Seung Hee caught up with the press and talked about the highly acclaimed webtoon drama, 'Navillera'.

Q: Tell us more about the drama.

Director Han Dong-hwa: Navillera is a drama about people who go through difficulties in their lives while in search of their dreams. Shim Deok-chul, who has taken care of his family his whole life, meets ballerino Lee Chae-rok who is lost and has a lot of pain in his life. They have an intriguing bromance and great chemistry.

Q: Tell us about your characters in Navillera.

Park In-Hwan: I play the role of a man who dares to follow his dream at the age of 70. I saw the original webtoon and it was extremely entertaining and very inspiring.

Song Kang: I think my character, Chae-rok, has a pure and warm heart but people may misunderstand him because of his reserved personality. In that sense we share some similarities because I also feel like I’m like that. Meeting Deok-chul really brings out Chae-rok’s big heart and amplifies it.

Na Moon-Hee: When I first read the webtoon, I didn’t think the wife had a large role. However, after deciding to take on this role, I saw that Deok-chul is able to chase after his dreams because his wife is by his side. Hae-nam is very considerate of her husband and children. As I’m in the later years of my life, I think you have to rely on your partner a lot.

Hong Seung-hee: My character, Eun-ho, follows the strictly constructed plans of her father.

Q: How do you feel when you first heard of getting the role?

Park In-Hwan: Mini-series are usually focused on a young character or a young man. So at my age, I usually play supporting characters like someone’s father or grandfather. This time I portray the protagonist. It’s almost my first time taking on such a big role in a series. It’s an honor and a source of great happiness for me. I would like to give actors around my age courage and hope that they can do it too.

Q: How was the learning process for ballet? Was it difficult?

Song Kang: Before shooting, I learned ballet for 5-6 months. The moves were very technical and tricky, so I focused on my body’s movements and emotional expressions. It was my first time doing ballet, and I enjoyed the process of my body transforming.

Park In-Hwan: It was much more difficult than I had expected. It required a lot of effort. Before we began shooting, we met twice a week for lessons. It was especially difficult for me because I’m less flexible, and flexibility and graceful movements are important for ballet. Our goal wasn’t to become a professional ballerino but rather to show that you can take on any challenge. It’s very difficult to become a professional at this age. The leotard is very uncomfortable and tight, but you have to wear it for ballet. With each passing day, you get used to it.

Q: We knew that your father was a gymnast, so did he give any advices to you?

Song Kang: Rather than giving me advice, he gave me a lot of support and told me to do my best. Since it was my first time, I was really worried about whether I could pull it off, but I think I did well so I would like to give myself a pat on the back.

Q: Do you think you have similar trait with the character, Eun-ho?

Hong Seung-hee: The trait that I related the most to my character was her going through a phase of not really knowing what she wants. I tried really hard to find what I really wanted. Eun-ho, in the webtoon, is a cold person with a warm heart. In the series, she seems less mature and more youthful. Both versions of Eun-ho are good drivers, but I am not.

Q: What would you say about your chemistry with actress Na Moon-Hee?

Park In-Hwan: We don’t even talk about chemistry when we work together because we have worked together so many times. We don’t even need to say something to each other. We just look at each other and we just know.

Na Moon-Hee: Park In-Hwan was actually boasting on set about being four years younger than me. About Song Kang, he has an old soul. While doing some scenes with him, I felt he is a pure and rare actor. He’s a rare and unique gem in this field. I really hope he never changes.

Q: Is there any communication issues due to generation gap while filming?

Hong Seung-hee: I wasn’t worried and I wasn’t aware of such issues because we had so much fun filming on set.

Song Kang: Although Seung-hee is younger than me, I learned a lot from her. We had great chemistry.

Q: How was it working with the young actors on set?

Park In-Hwan: Song Kang and I filmed together the most from the beginning. In the beginning, I noticed some things that he could do better in, and I noticed he immediately absorbs things and works to make improvements. I know that some younger actors don’t like hearing advice, so I usually don’t say anything to young actors I work with but Song Kang is different. He immediately absorbs it. He’s a different level of an actor compared between his first and last scenes. He really grew as an actor.

Na Moon-Hee: Young people today are extremely talented, and I only had a lot to learn from them.

Q: How many marks would you give to your on-screen chemistry with one another?

Song Kang: I would give our chemistry 100 out of 100. As I mentioned earlier, I was very worried at first but Park In-Hwan really guided me and I just had to depend on him.

Park In-Hwan: I have to give 100 points since he did. He’s very kind and warm-hearted. My first impression of him was a young and innocent boy. I could see him change and grow as an actor. As I said earlier, he absorbs everything and makes it his own so I think he will grow to become a great actor.

Navillera is set to premiere on Netflix on 22 March, so be sure to watch it!

Photo credit: Netflix

eventcoverage

[EXCLUSIVE] Kim Bora, Shim Eun-Woo & Ryu Hwa Young Talks About Romance K-Drama 'Love Scene Number#'

Saturday, February 27, 2021

Valentine's Day may be over, but love is certainly in the air this month. On March 13, Korean romance drama, Love Scene Number # starring Kim Bora, Shim Eun-Woo, Ryu Hwa-Young and Park Jin-hee is set to air a marathon of all eight-episodes on Oh!K (Astro Ch.394) on Saturday and Sunday at 6PM. The eight-episode omnibus tells four different romance stories featuring four female characters who are each at a turning point in their lives when it comes to love, dating, and their values.

Over email, we spoke to Kim Bo-Ra, Shim Eun-Woo and Ryu Hwa-Young about the drama and their turning point in life. Here's what they said...

How would you describe your character in the drama?

Kim Bo-Ra: Doo Ah is a character with a lot of charm. She’s someone who was able to date three men at the same time and have option to choose who she wants to date. She’s a very bold young woman who’s juggling between dating a younger man who helps boosts her ego, someone older who teaches her many things, as well as someone who’s her age who is sexually attractive to her.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Ban Ya was once a well-received director, but she is now a forgotten 35-year-old. There is a part in the drama where she says “Being 35 is an age where you can’t do anything if you haven’t done anything to gain wealth or status – like the Maginot Line, with nowhere to go”. I think Ban Ya responded really well with this line. She is one who overcomes her harsh reality but hasn’t forgotten her innocence.

Shim Eun-Woo: Lee Ha Ram is someone who’s lived 29 years of her live without much drama. However, she slowly becomes rebellious when faced with various confusing situations as she prepares for her wedding.

What is the one thing you like most about your character?

Shim Eun-Woo: I like that although she realizes that she was a little late in coming to terms with who she, she still makes a conscious decision that the time is now.

What Attracts you to accept the role?

Kim Bo-Ra: In the drama, Doo Ah fills up the various voids and lives happier by dating three separate men. However, her childhood friend Han Yool finds out about her relationships. In the process, she gets to understand deeper about friendship and love, while remaining true to her bold self. I found that very attractive.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Ban Ya appears to be like someone you can’t break. She appears bold and a very intelligent. But if you get to know her better, she is one who easily gets hurt and has an innocent side to her, and that’s what got me attracted to this role.

Shim Eun-Woo: I could go back to the time when I was 29. It felt like I was reliving life as my friend or even as myself.

Hwa-Young, you played the 35-year-old Ban Ya. In your opinion, do you find a huge difference in relationships between those in their 20s and 30s? Why do you say so?

Ryu Hwa-Young: You look at love with innocence in your 20s, but in your 30s you realize that you carry a lot more value with you through social interactions and experiences.

Bo-ra, do you find it difficult to portray the character as Doo Ah as she is involved in secret relationship with three different men?

Kim Bo-Ra: There were parts where it was difficult. However, it helped that all three men didn’t share a single similar characteristic, and my co-actors expressed their own characters so clearly. The director also slowly brought me through the reasons as to why Doo Ah were dating all three men at the same time and it helped me relate a lot more to the character.

How was the atmosphere on set? Share some interesting episodes that viewers wouldn’t know of.

Kim Bo-Ra: The atmosphere was really good for me, and I hope the rest feels the same too. Even though it was a really short time, I got to finish the project with no obstacles. There were scenes that could have been potentially embarrassing but it all went well as they made it a very comfortable environment to film those scenes. In fact, we got so close that the director was still holding me back even after my last scene. It’s sad because you only got to spend such a short time with them, and you do want to spend more time with these group of people but the project had to come to an end.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Our experience on set is very good. There are a lot of fun moments so it’ll be tough to pick one.

Shim Eun-Woo: It was really good. I enjoyed my experience acting with with Yoon Yu Seon who acted as Sun Hwa, as well as Han Joon Woo who acted as Jeong Suk as we had very good chemistry.

What would you like the audience to take away from the drama?

Kim Bo-Ra: Doo Ah has this part in the drama where she says “It doesn’t matter if you’re lovers or just friends, you have to be honest if you don’t want to lose them”. It was one of the lines that I could really relate to. I don’t know if anyone else who’s watching the drama can relate, but I wish can be more honest with the people I love, whatever the type of relationship is, so as not to lose those I love.

Ryu Hwa-Young: There are times when things don’t go your way, but don’t give up during those moments. Find the small contentment in life and you will slowly find happiness at the end of that journey.

Shim Eun-Woo: Continuously ask yourselves questions. I’d want for viewers to know that we are living our happiest when we make decisions for ourselves.

The drama tells story of four different women at their turning points in life, so how about yours? What’s your turning point in life?

Shim Eum-Woo: I think I had my turning point in life when I turned 29. I was able to appear in Running Man because of ‘The World of Marriage’, and was then cast as Ha Ram as the director for Love Scene Number# was watching that Running Man episode.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Instead of a turning point, I feel like all my choices and paths have brought me to become who I am today. I’ve grown to become the person I am today with all the little and big things that have come along my path.

Any message to fans and viewers in Malaysia and Singapore?

Kim Bo-Ra: Hello this is Kim Bo-ra who plays #23 Nam Doo Ah. Thank you for showing your love towards our drama by reading this article. I will work hard to become an actress who you will be able to relate to via my various roles. See you again in the next production.

Ryu Hwa-Young: Thank you to my fans in Malaysia and Singapore. Please show us some love and support Love Scene Number#!

Shim Eun-Woo: Thank you for watching Love Scene Number# from so far away. It’s amazing to know that we can all connect through a drama.

Catch the stories of a university student who is secretly involved in polyamorous relationship with three men; an elementary school teacher who runs away from her own wedding after undergoing a sudden change of heart; an adjunct instructor at a university; a furniture designer who discovers that her husband of 20 years is having a spiritual extramarital affair. New episodes of Love Scene Number# premieres on every Tuesday, 7.40PM on Oh!K (Astro Ch.394), while full marathon series will air on 13 March, 6PM.

photo credit: Oh!K, MBC

(G)I-DLE

All-rounded artists (G)I-DLE will make you go 'HWAA' with comeback

Monday, January 11, 2021

(G)I-DLE returns with ‘HWAA’ after five months since their 'DUMDi DUMDi' comeback. Composed by leader Soyeon, ‘HWAA’ is a song of parting with oriental instrumental sounds blended with winter-like cool vibes. The group’s 4^th Mini Album [I burn] contains songs that will allow you feel the emotions in the process of getting back happiness after parting.

The online media showcase was hosted by announcer Oh Jung-yeon, who will be familiar to viewers of ‘I am a Survivor!’, where fellow member Yuqi also participated in.

The girls of (G)I-DLE entered the stage with their red, white and gold stage outfits, giving off royal vibes. As expected from the Queens!

(G)I-DLE started of the showcase by wishing everyone a happy new year. When asked about how the girls spent their new year, Minnie replied that they were practicing for their comeback and they attended MBC’s Gayo Daejejeon on New Year’s Eve. “We had an enjoyable new year together!”

All-rounded artistes! Miyeon talked about her acting debut during the online showcase. The main vocal mentioned that it was a good opportunity to take part in the webdrama, 'Replay' and asked fans to look forward to it!

When asked about Soojin’s cover video, the main dancer shared that if she had the chance she will definitely release another cover video!

The title song, ‘HWAA’, co-produced by Soyeon, is an impressive song with an addictive melody and dramatic changes in emotions.

The three visual concepts that fully complement the emotional concept of a scar from parting to the full blooming again proved that (G)I-DLE are indeed the Queens of Concepts!

The girls also participated in the writing and composing all the songs in the album, including the title song, and established themselves as self-produced artistes with their unique musicality and conceptual ability.

Yuqi also expressed that it was her first time having short hair in her life. She mentioned that she finally decided to challenge herself by having a short hair and the members absolutely loved how well she suited the new style! “The members even suddenly started having more interest in me,” joked the bubbly Yuqi.

“It is also the first time in my life having red hair,” said Minnie, who also explained that her red hair symbolised the Fire element in their album. She revealed that idea of her red hair was suggested by Soyeon as the leader felt that Minnie suited the colour well. Soyeon, on the other hand, had her hair dyed silver, to represent the winter and cold element in the album.

Q: If you could meet your fans again in 2021, what is the first thing you will do? What are your future plans for your local and international fans?

Shuhua: I want to hear Neverlands’ cheering! Just like how Neverland misses us, we wish to meet them too! When it is possible, we hope to hold a concert.

Q: What is the concept of the album and message that you wish to emphasise?

Soyeon: Instead of the message, we wish to convey the emotions of the songs to listeners.

Q: What is the secret behind the success of your online concert which was held in the middle of COVID-19?

Miyeon: We wanted to meet all our fans and we held the online concert. As we cannot physically meet one another currently, we hope to be able to do so after COVID-19.

Q: What are some results and ‘related-phrases’ that you wish to achieve in this comeback?

Soyeon: We wish to get 1^st place if it is possible.

Q: For this comeback, Minnie and Yuqi have released their own self-composed track. How do you feel about it? As a foreign member, it is not easy to write Korean lyrics, how did you work on that?

Minnie: I was excited about it and happy that Neverlands who have waited for this time can hear my song.

Yuqi: I wrote it on my own. Soyeon and Minnie are good but I am a ‘new-composer’. I hope to show more songs to Neverlands in the future.

Minnie: This is our first comeback of 2021, we prepared a lot to show you. Please look forward to us in this comeback as well!

Shuhua: Please look forward to our promotions. Also, the concept of our album actually suits the weather right now!

Yuqi: It’s a new year and we have made our comeback. The weather is rather cold now but when you listen to our album, we hope that you will feel warmer from the ‘fire’. We hope to promote this comeback while being healthy and have fun! Wishing everyone an enjoyable 2021!

Soojin: This is an album with a lot of precious songs that the members have participated in writing and composing. Please be careful of the cold and be healthy.

Check out (G)I-DLE's 'HWAA' M/V here:

We would like to extend our gratitude to Cube Entertainment for the media invitation.

Follow our social media platforms for the latest K-wave news.

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10CM

[Exclusive] The Hidden Gem sogumm Releases New Single 'Encourage' Featuring 10CM + Message to Malaysian Fans

Monday, December 21, 2020

Rising Korean singer-songwriter Sogumm has captured listeners' hearts with her unique vocal tone and relatable lyrics since her debut as an independent artist in 2015. Recently the singer released her new single titled 'Encourage' featuring 10CM which the track tells about love and how people can be a source of encouragement for one another.

In conjunction with her new release, GOKPOP caught up with sogumm and talked about her collaboration with various artists and her thoughts after crowning as the winner for AOMG's survival program 'SignHere' and winning the 'Rookie of the Year' at 17th Korean Music Awards.

Q: Tell us more about your music style. Introduce to those who have yet to know about sogumm and your music.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by nobodycanequalme (@sogumm)

sogumm: This is a difficult question to answer. It’s hard for me to define my style in one sentence. I still don’t know what kind of person I am. I think I am still in the process of getting to know myself. After trying more things and got to know me better, I should be able to define my style in one word.

Q: You have collaborated with various artists such as ZICO, OHHYUK, DJ Wegun, Jay Park and more since debut, how did the collaboration come about?

sogumm: Thankfully, even when my name wasn’t well known, many artists supported and asked me to work together because they saw the potential in me. So, many musicians supported me when I started to work on my own album. Everyone who helped me did it as a favor that all of the collaborations so far flowed smoothly.

Q: What encourages you to join AOMG’s audition program 'SignHere'?

sogumm: I heard about the audition program ‘SignHere’ while I was working on multiple projects simultaneously. I had this feeling that joining the audition would challenge me to reach a new breakthrough as an artist. As I joined, I wondered “Maybe this could be an opportunity for me to challenge myself to live my life to the fullest.”

Q: How do you feel crowning as the winner of AOMG’s audition program and signed under the label?

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A post shared by nobodycanequalme (@sogumm)

sogumm: At first, I was so happy that I had won, but I felt a lot of pressure. Maybe it’s because I didn’t expect to win but, I was at a limbo. On one hand, I just couldn’t believe it and on the other hand, the mental burden of it was consuming me from the inside out. After getting through those moments, I feel a lot less pressured by it now.

Q: How do you feel winning the ‘Rookie of the Year’ in 17th Korean Music Awards?

sogumm: I also can’t believe this happened and I’m still at awe about it. When I look at the trophy, I still think “Did I really win this?”. It’s such a prestigious award and I don’t think that I won because of me being great. I want to take this chance to thank the producers and everyone who helped me with the album process because it was all from their great efforts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by nobodycanequalme (@sogumm)

Q: What’s your upcoming plan in 2021?

sogumm: 2020 was a year of adjusting to life at AOMG and thinking about what to do from now on. I think 2021 is going to be the year that I put those thoughts into action. I want to release an album and show you guys a lot more of myself.

Q: Any message to fans in Malaysia?

sogumm: Hello everyone! I know that COVID-19 has taken the best of our lives this year, but I hope that you guys were able to feel a little encouraged through my new single ‘Encourage’. I will be looking forward to the day that I get to meet you guys on stage after the pandemic. Thank you.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by nobodycanequalme (@sogumm)

Her vocal tone may not be mainstream but there's no doubt that this uniqueness made her shine as one of the most recognised rookies in the R&B scene. Be sure to check out sogumm's latest release 'Encourage' and you definitely love it:

photos credit to AOMG, sogumm

Thank you Maxperience for the interview opportunity.

Park In-Hwan, Na Moon-Hee, Song Kang & Hong Seung Hee Share Heartwarming Experience from 'Navillera'

[EXCLUSIVE] Kim Bora, Shim Eun-Woo & Ryu Hwa Young Talks About Romance K-Drama 'Love Scene Number#'

All-rounded artists (G)I-DLE will make you go 'HWAA' with comeback

[Exclusive] The Hidden Gem sogumm Releases New Single 'Encourage' Featuring 10CM + Message to Malaysian Fans

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