SEOUL, Netflix’s original Korean TV series can’t get enough of monstrous creatures. Hot on the heels of the monster apocalypse “Sweet Home 2,” which premiered less than three weeks ago, another highly anticipated monster thriller, “Gyeongseong Creature,” awaits its global release.
Director Jeong Dong-yun of the latter title said there is a stark difference between the creatures in “Sweet Home” and the upcoming series in that the overriding sentiment of the monstrous being in “Geyongseong Creature” is sadness.
“The series’ main mood is sadness,” Jeong said during a press event on Tuesday ahead of the global release later this week. “Its creature is neither powerful nor cool.”
“I emphasized this point throughout production and tried to make sure a sense of sadness permeates the creature’s behavior and expressions.”
The producer added he and the writer meticulously crafted a backstory for the original creature, tracing its roots back to parasites.
“The audience will be able to get a glimpse of the origin from the intro of the series,” he said.
Cast members of Netflix’s upcoming series “Gyeongseong Creature” pose for photos during a media event in Seoul on Dec. 19, 2023.
One of Netflix’s most-anticipated Korean language originals of the year, “Gyeongseong Creature” follows two young protagonists, Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon) and Yun Chae-ok (Han So-hee), who team up to investigate the mysterious surroundings of missing people cases and fight against what they uncover.
The rich, greedy and well-connected owner of the Golden Treasure Pawnshop in Gyeongeong, the Japanese-era name for Seoul, Jang increasingly finds himself reevaluating his values, after getting involved with Yun, a bounty hunter who makes a living by tracking down missing people, including her own mother.
While investigating the cases, the pair is put in a situation where they have to fight for their survival and solve a mystery at the deadly Ongseong Hospital with dark secrets lurking in its basement.
A poster for “Gyeongseong Creature” is shown in this image provided by Netflix.
Set in 1945, the series is a mix of different genres, ranging from a period piece and monsters to romance and action, said actor Park, who has starred in films that include “The Marvel” and “Concrete Utopia,” as well as TV series like “Itaewon Class” and “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?”
“Jang went through a lot while growing up to eventually become the owner of the pawnshop. One day he becomes embroiled in a certain case, and the story begins to unfold,” Park said.
The actor said he put a lot of effort into fleshing out his character in a way that shows his life through his looks, attire and attitude.
“I loved the outcome. I am sure the series will offer the audience a lot to enjoy,” the actor said, adding that all the action sequences and special effects were constructed as intended.
Han said she was attracted to the series mostly because of its historical setting and background.
“Honestly, I was worried a lot in the beginning, as I am quite different from the character, Chae-ok. She is much more relaxed than I am,” she said, laughing. “Chae-ok has a clear mission, which is to find her mother. I played the character, focusing on the goal.”
Netflix will unveil the first seven episodes of the 10-part series Friday. The rest will be available Jan. 5.
Source: Yonhap News Agency