Payback ushers the new batch of Friday-Saturday drama for SBS this season.
Launched earlier, the lead stars and director speak about their new work and creative preparations. Payback is Lee Sun Kyun’s drama return on SBS after 15 years. Notably, film director Lee Won Tae also raises attention to his first drama steering.
Slated to premiere next year on January 6, SBS’ new Friday-Saturday drama, Payback, is a thriller-mystery business drama directed by Lee Won Tae and written by Kim Won Seok. It stars Lee Sun Kyun (Diary Of A Prosecutor, My Mister), Moon Chae Won (Flower Of Evil), Kang Yoo Seok (Growing Season), Park Hoon (Remarriage and Desires) and Kim Hong Pa (The Fiery Priest).
The drama depicts a thrilling tale of vengeance, following those who will risk everything to take down a cartel of wealthy criminals who have conspired with the government.
“Payback” Goals Favorable Response With Its Movie-Like And Spectacular Visuals
Director’s Insights On Payback
Revealing how he took the challenge of his first drama helming, Director Lee elaborated on the deep message of the series.
“As the OTT world changed, a lot of drama proposals came in. I was thinking of doing a drama in the sense of expanding my field, but a proposal to direct Payback came in. The themes I usually take as a director are social issues I am interested in such as disease and defeat, absurdity, and human desire. Payback is a story in which various human groups fight each other over money and power. Justice makes the conclusion that you can win when confronted with setbacks, so I started with the conviction that it would be a good drama.”
On Continuing The Friday-Saturday SBS Drama Reputation
Lee Sun Kyun takes on the role of Eun-yong, a recluse money dealer who makes astronomical profits as a faceless hedge fund manager in Payback. He was a legendary figure among players, not only for his brilliant brain but also for his ability to predict events several moves ahead and his excellent salesmanship. He sets foot on his homeland after 10 years, swearing desperate revenge for ‘the one person he was grateful for’.
Landing a new work on the famed Friday-Saturday slot of SBS, the actor expresses his thoughts:
“I am so grateful and happy to greet you through an SBS drama after a long time. I hope our dramas can continue the reputation of the Friday-Saturday drama by showing another original and well-made series.”
Lee also shares his worry about his latest project along with his preparations.
“I was a bit hesitant after receiving the script for Payback. It wasn’t a genre drama I’ve done so far, and I was scared because I thought that such a charismatic and fashion-forward role didn’t suit me. The script itself was powerful with a fast-paced tempo, and boldness, so I wanted to try it. It was also director Lee Won-tae’s directing that pushed my decision to appear.”
Returning the loyalty and praise of his actor, director Lee also lauded Lee Sun Kyun’s acting. He even communicated with the drama’s cinematographer how Lee Sun Kyun breathed life to Eun-yong to perfection.
“The character Eun-yong is a fantasy character who behaves in his own way outside the system and not following the rules. Such a character varies greatly depending on which actor is playing it. There was an Eun-yong that I have formed in my mind. But when I first filmed in Mongolia, that feeling was broken. It was far better than I imagined. He is an actor with so much experience and is good at acting. So, our drama may have a heavy subject, but he lifted it up, put it down, pushed and pulled it, and adjusted the pace well. It was so nice to do it.”
Moon Chae Won’s New Acting Perspective
Meanwhile, Moon Chae Won portrays Park Joon-kyung, a former prosecutor who became a top-ranking judicial officer. In Payback, she is an upright and righteous prosecutor than anyone else, but when her mother became the victim of her cartel, she risked everything she had and became desperate to start revenge.
Regarding her character preparations, the actress revealed wanting to work with Lee Sun Kyun and how the directors enamored her working together.
“I tried to wear as little makeup as possible. With the belief that (the production crew) would draw it nicely, I put down my desire to look pretty. I thought it would be nice if Junkyung had that feeling. It was not easy to come up with a character that could be used as a model. So, I started naturally from myself. It would be satisfactory if I could hear that I received a little bit of a new impression from viewers. Like a mature vibe that would feel like I’m growing well.”
Kang Yoo Seok’s Impressive Character To Look Forward To
Kang Yoo Seok plays Eun-yong’s nephew and prosecutor Jang Tae-chun, who is in his third year at the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office. In the drama, he is a person with a grand dream of overcoming the weakness of being a graduate of a local law school and rising to the special investigation department (special department), where only the elite of the prosecution are gathered.
Kang Yoo Seok is expected to create a noteworthy character who has achieved a clear acting transformation through the role of Jang Tae-chun, a prosecutor who is passionate about everything and has a strong desire to succeed.
Feeling accomplished for a new career blessing, Kang relayed thoughts about his experience and character.
“I was deeply moved by the thought of working with seniors whom I respect and have seen since I was young.
Tae-chun is a character with a lot of energy, and those figures seemed to represent the youth who are living hard now. As a person who is growing up hard, I sympathized with Tae-chun a lot. I think I was able to immerse into his thoughts deeply.”
Commending the actor who matched well with his perception of Tae-chun, Director Lee confessed that he had a strong feeling from the first meeting.
“Yoo-seok came into the office, and it felt like Jang Tae-chun came in. He has a good-looking face, but he also seems playful, and there was a sense of confidence when he talks. I was going to match him with the work, but at some point, even the staff noticed that he did it effortlessly on his own. I felt that way too.”
Park Hoon’s Villain Role Preparations
Park Hoon took on the role of Hwang Ki-seok, the chief prosecutor of the special department of the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office is called the core brain of the special department. It is a villain role that stands at the opposite point of Eun-yong, Joon-kyung, and Tae-chun.
Describing his character, Park Hoon hints at a memorable villain. He also conveys appreciation for working with a pleasant team.
“Hwang Ki-seok is a person who has no choice but to live like that with great legitimacy. I thought it was right to draw like a realist. I drew like that in my own way, but I think people who see it might see it as a villain. It was so much fun to act with these people.”
Payback premieres on January 6 on SBS!
Source: SBS efun
Photos: SBS Drama
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