"Catch Your Luck" showcased the perfect chemistry among the cast ahead of its premiere.
The press conference for KBS 1TV's new daily drama "Catch Your Luck" was held online on the morning of the 14th, attended by director Park Man-young and actors Son Chang-min, Sunwoo Jae-duk, Park Sang-myeon, Lee Ah-hyun, Oh Young-sil, and Ahn Yeon-hong.
"Catch Your Luck" (written by Son Ji-hye, directed by Park Man-young and Lee Hae-woo) is a drama depicting the turbulent growth of three friends, one rich, one poor, and one aspiring to be rich, along with their families. It will premiere today (14th) at 8:30 p.m.
On that day, director Park Man-young greeted, saying, "I’m Park Man-young, the director. I will work hard to make an interesting drama," officially opening the press conference. Son Chang-min said, "I play the role of Han Moo-cheol, the rich guy," while Sunwoo Jae-duk noted, "I play the role of Kim Dae-sik, the poor guy." Park Sang-myeon expressed some frustration, stating, "I am the youngest among the three friends, but I play the role of a friend. I am Park Sang-myeon, playing Choi Gyu-tae."
Regarding the directing points, director Park said, "First of all, I thought I have to make a fun drama. When I read the writer’s script, I found interesting parts where many people around me seem to worry about money. I sometimes buy lottery tickets and try various methods, but when reading the script, I thought, "This is fun; there’s no one who wouldn’t be interested." It’s a drama that shows dreams like winning the lottery and owning buildings. I’m working hard to deliver laughter that doesn’t rest even for a moment."
Son Chang-min plays the character Han Moo-cheol, a building owner who does not appreciate his loving wife or beautiful children and who once worked as a day laborer, consistently earning money but becomes a victim of fraud while trying to get more. He explained why he decided to take on the role, saying, "The character offers a wide spectrum for acting. It’s a character I wanted to challenge myself with. At the beginning, he lost his parents and was raised by his grandmother; he has walked the path of success focused solely on that. Everything is about economics and money. There’s another twist hidden behind that. Now, I’m contemplating how to express that as an actor. That remains a task for me."
In response to the question of whether it was difficult to embody a miserly building owner, he said, "He is my Lord. Although Moo-cheol is a building owner, he is also a miser. I see many like him around me. Our older generations, my seniors, and parents have lived hard lives. They’ve achieved a lot but can never spend it. Therefore, I thought it was unfortunate from an objective viewpoint that I was cast in this role. Seeing unfortunate people, I wondered, ‘Why do they live like that?’ and I think that perspective will help me express it better."
Meanwhile, Sunwoo Jae-duk mentioned that he has worked on many projects to the extent that he could be considered a civil servant in the KBS drama department. He stated, "I have been working on dramas for quite a long time, but I wondered if there could be this kind of drama. I thought it was wonderful, compassionate, and warm. In a desolate society, I believe this drama could bring laughter and hope." He continued, "I have always played the role of a chairman in suits and ties. I love this down-to-earth role. Even if the wind blows, there’s nothing to fix about my hair, and it doesn’t matter if I wear the same clothes for days; I am shooting with only one pair of shoes up to episode 25." Oh Young-sil, who appears as Sunwoo Jae-duk's wife, chimed in, saying, "They say there’s no sofa at home."
Park Sang-myeon expressed that his character has a 100% sync rate or even above, saying, "There are foods I can’t eat, and my character even shares that trait. It feels like the writer did background research on me; it’s so accurate. It fits me so well, as I love comedy, which often has underlying sadness. I end up crying a lot." However, he expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "If there’s something frustrating about my drama experience, it’s that I am the youngest. The age difference is significant. It’s upsetting that I play a friend." To this, Sunwoo Jae-duk retorted, "Compare us. How big of a difference is there?" Park Sang-myeon lamented, "I deliberately grew out my facial hair. The moment I shave it, I’ll be called ‘uncle.’"
While the introduction of the three friends was being organized, the host, anchor Lim Ji-woong, asked the two wives, "Which would you prefer: a rich but miserly husband or a poor but handsome and caring husband?" Lee Ah-hyun responded, "I’m living half with each. Half with that person and half with the other," indicating she could not give up either. In contrast, Oh Young-sil said, "A rich miser is better. Money can be taken away. I have that ability. My husband was also a miser, but after turning 60, he is handing everything over to me. You can’t pull money from someone who has none."
However, Oh Young-sil preferred the latter choice between "a child with economic ability but a distant relationship vs. a child with no money but a close relationship," saying, "A child with no money but a close relationship is better. The crooked tree observes the parent; children with money do not care for their parents. It is possible because I have the ability."
What sets "Catch Your Luck" apart? Ahn Yeon-hong described it as "a family drama that features distinctly different characters that could realistically exist—warm, familiar, and heart-touching." Park Sang-myeon added, "I collaborated with actress Ahn Yeon-hong 25 years ago in ‘Three Friends.’ It’s very comfortable, and I normally do not take on such roles. I’m shy about comedy. When acting, I completely become a different person, which makes me nervous inside. In reality, I am very kind, and the chemistry among us can be felt just by making eye contact."
These days, dramas featuring middle-aged actors as leads are rare. Director Park Man-young commented on the casting, saying, "Personally, this generation is much more familiar to me. The pain I feel includes raising children, buying a house, and sneaking peeks into lottery shops; I have many worries about my future and myself." He added, "It’s not so much a choice as it is a reflection of the current era and people’s stories—perhaps the most realistic stories. It feels less like fabricated plot devices and more like a drama that embodies life. I’m eliminating forced laughter from the show. I have a strong feeling that the joy experienced in life can resonate with viewers."
Additionally, when director Park was asked about the message he wanted to convey through the drama, he stated, "I don’t have a specific message to share, but there’s a common joke that says, 'You can watch daily dramas while doing the dishes or half-heartedly.' Our drama portrays life stories filled with laughter and tears, and I want people to focus and realize how beautiful their lives are, feeling happiness as they laugh and cry while watching the drama."
Finally, Son Chang-min reflected on the allure of daily dramas, saying, "It’s a long haul. As we welcome three months with this project, the chemistry among actors is important. As director Park mentioned, it’s about extracting the small joys one can feel in daily life. While singers follow the melody, actors follow the title. It's great to have a title like ours. I believe that many viewers watching our drama will surely be able to catch their own luck."
Meanwhile, KBS 1TV's daily drama "Catch Your Luck" will premiere at 8:30 p.m. on the 14th.
[Photo] Provided by KBS
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