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| From left, actor Go Kyung-pyo, director Nam Sung-woo, actors Park Min-young and Kim Jae-young pose during an online press conference of tvN's new series, "Love in Contract," Monday. Courtesy of tvN |
New tvN series to show love triangle between contract marriage master, clients
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actress Park Min-young is set to present her second romantic comedy series this year since "Forecasting Love and Weather" in February, taking the lead in tvN's new series, "Love in Contract."
"My previous series, 'Forecasting Love and Weather,' was a workplace genre so I had very long lines and was under stress. That's when I came across this series' script and felt, 'I want to have fun and just enjoy filming.' I'm happy to be back on the set with such an environment," the actress said during an online press conference for the series, Monday.
"The concept (of the series) was really unique and I kept thinking about (the character) even when I was reviewing other projects. So I took it, feeling, 'I need to do this. It's mine,'" she said.
Led by director Nam Sung-woo, whose previous work includes "My Roommate Is a Gumiho (nine-tailed fox)," the new rom-com series, set to premiere Wednesday, follows the story of a helper, Choi Sang-eun (Park), who provides a rather unfamiliar service: a contract marriage.
She has both looks and brains and uses her talent to help her clients keep their perfect single life through services like accompanying them to events where they need a "plus one." She has been working with Jung Ji-ho (Go Kyung-pyo), whose private life remains a mystery, for five years on a long-term exclusive contract for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
One day, she gets a new client, Kang Hae-jin (Kim Jae-young), who is a global star and a rich heir, to fill in for the rest of the week. And as Ji-ho's contract nears the end, Sang-eun finds herself in a love triangle with her two clients.
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| A scene from the series, "Love in Contract" / Courtesy of tvN |
"This lovely and attractive Choi Sang-eun is a contract marriage master … and as she carries out the service with two clients, the story develops as the three people get entangled in the relationship," the director said. "It's funny and cute, but it also has an emotional story underneath. It's easy to watch, but it will also make you think."
Park shared that although she would not personally use the service herself, she felt that some parts of the series' concept could really happen in real life.
"I did think there could be a contract marriage master in the near future. I feel that we're now living in an age where each individual is different in their own way and respect each other. So while I played this role, I felt that some of the things could really happen," she said.
As an all-around character, she had to play different types of instruments and sports, as well as speak five languages.
"There was a lot I had to do … I thought I could nail all of it, but it was harder than I thought, so I'm getting a lot of help from the director," she said. "(With styling,) I'm going all out with it, like, 'I get to try whatever I want.' There are a lot of images that come to mind when I think of Sang-eun. So we styled her up with my ideas and those of the stylist team."
Park has earned good responses and high viewership ratings in the rom-com genre after tvN's popular series, "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim," became a hit in 2018, earning her the nickname, "rom-com goddess." When she asked if she feels pressured by such attention, she said that she actually appreciates it.
"I feel more thankful than pressure for the nickname. As an actor, it's an honor to have a title. So instead of pressure, I tried to put more focus on how I can portray a character with my age and show it growing in the story in the rom-com genre," she said.
"Love in Contract" airs on tvN Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 p.m.
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