‘Salon de Holmes’ has thrown down the gauntlet as a new seasonal drama following ‘New Recruit’.
On the 16th, the press conference for ENA's Monday-Tuesday drama ‘Salon de Holmes’ was held at Stanford Hotel Korea in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Attendees included Lee Si-young, Jeong Young-joo, Kim Da-som, Nam Gi-ae, and director Min Jin-ki.
‘Salon de Holmes’, which will premiere at 10 PM today, is a comedic romance action drama set in the Gwangseonju Apartment, featuring a top-notch former ace detective, an insurance king, and the queen of part-time jobs, who team up to take down the apartment villains.
Director Min Jin-ki, who received great love for the ‘New Recruit’ series, has teamed up with writer Kim Yeon-sin of ‘My Man's Secret’.
Director Min Jin-ki explained, “A regular housewife buys an apartment with great determination. The drama revolves around solving everyday incidents that arise in that apartment with the housewives. The original work is a novel by the writer Jeong Bora. It’s a solid bestseller, and there are about 11.2 million households living in apartments among the total population. This means that 60-70% of the population lives in apartments. It’s a story featuring housewives in that space, and the thrill of solving incidents is attractive.”
Director Min Jin-ki has been well-loved through the previous ‘New Recruit’ series. Unlike the previous work, this one features a large number of female-centric heroines. He added, “There have been many works like ‘Quiet Sales’, but this drama is attractive because female actors are active. Unlike other genres, it tackles relatable villains from everyday life. It’s a story that anyone can empathize with, infused with the tales of neighbors.”
He also mentioned the previous ‘New Recruit’ series, stating, “While ‘New Recruit’ is set in the military, this one is set in an apartment. The structure of setting a space and having various characters play within it is similar.”
He continued, “While ‘New Recruit’ tells the stories of soldiers and youth in their 20s, this one features housewives in their 30s and 40s. There are definitely commonalities.” However, he noted, “’New Recruit’ is based on hyper-realism with many relatable developments, and it incorporates drama fantasy. This drama contains suspense, thrill, and catharsis that comes from resolution. It’s a mixed genre.”
Many actors from ‘New Recruit’ will also make cameo appearances in this work. Director Min mentioned, “After filming ‘New Recruit’, we started filming ‘Salon de Holmes’. Everyone was struggling to make a living, so I suggested they do a part-time job (special appearance). They responded that they were ready to appear, not just as part-timers. They helped a lot, and we ended up with some fun scenes.”
Lee Si-young plays the role of ‘Detective Holmes’ Gong Mi-ri in the Gwangseonju Apartment. She is a tenacious character who withstands until her opponent is exhausted and gives up, with a high level of investigative skills that do not miss even the smallest details as she sets out to catch the serial killer ‘Ribbon Man’.
Lee Si-young revealed her divorce in March. This work marks her first return after the divorce and her first TV drama in six years. Although she has met viewers through OTT works like ‘Grid’ and the ‘Sweet Home’ series, her return to the home theater is her first in six years since KBS2’s ‘Why is Mr. Pung-sang’ in 2019.
Lee Si-young said, “I had personal matters. Naturally, there were concerns because of that. There were also passive aspects. Fortunately, my personal matters did not interfere with my work. I am grateful that my colleagues and the director supported me and said it was okay.”
She added, “I’m glad this drama is bright. We filmed it before that incident. The promotion is going well, and I hope viewers will love it as much as they expect.”
Regarding her character, Lee Si-young said, “I often take on active roles because I like sports, so I have played many characters limited to action, like prosecutors or detectives. However, I really enjoy comedic acting, and I am happiest when I encounter such works.”
She continued, “I was grateful to receive this project proposal, and I was excited to participate in a fun drama after a long time. I am happy to greet viewers with a new look, and I hope for a lot of expectations as I have prepared hard.”
Finally, she said, “It’s a character I haven’t played in a long time, so just being on set made me happy. I think we share similar positive aspects. I have a somewhat timid and passive side. As I get older, I tend to be protective. Mi-ri is the opposite. She is curious, broad-minded, and charges ahead. I feel catharsis while doing it and there are parts I want to emulate. It was nice to have differences.”
The role of Choo Kyung-ja, the female version of Ma Dong-seok in Gwangseonju, is played by Jeong Young-joo. Choo Kyung-ja is a retired former ace detective who married her junior, Noh Gang-sik.
Jeong Young-joo explained, “She is a former detective. After spending dull days as a full-time housewife, she fully expresses her sense of justice. Although she has the heart, she can’t always act on it, and she takes on that ‘thrill’.”
The title of ‘Female Ma Dong-seok’ can attract attention, but it also brings a certain pressure.
Regarding this, Jeong Young-joo said, “I liked the name and title of my character. The director seemed to like my ‘back strength’ and thigh circumference, which is why he cast me in that role.” She joked, “I once said I wanted to be the ‘Female Ma Dong-seok’ of Korea. Many thought it was a joke, but when they see my physique, they realize it’s not a joke.”
She added, “When it comes to female action, it usually goes for elegant lines and beautiful actions, but because of my image, they seem to be cautious about showing brute strength. The Korean drama genre is in such a time. If I take on a role with exceptional power, it might become a hope for many actors.”
Director Min Jin-ki noted, “There are talks that the drama market is tough these days. The production costs are rising, and there are only a few male actors with commercial viability, so we try to secure them. As a result, the number of dramas is decreasing. There are issues like that. In this process, there are bound to be many twists and turns for dramas featuring female protagonists to come out into the world.”
He continued, “We filmed last year, and it’s coming out now. For the woman-centric genre to become active, there need to be many works that viewers can enjoy. I believe this work is a very suitable drama. It has a solid original work, and the actors perfectly match the characters. There’s also comic relief,” he urged expectations.
He also hinted at the next season, saying, “If we look at the four of them, if they participate in Season 2, it might be possible. Honestly, I’m confident. I have everything planned for the latter half. Just like ‘New Recruit’, it could become a breakthrough in the tough industry as a new IP.”
Jeong Young-joo also pointed out, “Viewers are unconsciously being biased. (Industry insiders) are putting their heart and soul into discovering various materials, but works with strong masculinity are being shown to viewers.” She added, “(This work) is small in expression as a woman-centric story. Broadly speaking, it’s a story about families and people. It’s a warm, touching work that carries a warm lesson. I felt a sense of pride throughout the filming. I hope everyone enjoys it.”
‘Salon de Holmes’ will premiere today (16th) at 10 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
