Actress Choi Soo-young shared her thoughts on the ending of "Please Take Care of My Alcohol."
The tvN Monday-Tuesday drama "Please Take Care of My Alcohol" (written by Myung Soo-hyun, Jeon Ji-hyun / directed by Jang Yu-jung / planned by Studio Dragon / produced by How Pictures) concluded with a tightly closed happy ending on the 17th.
Choi Soo-young, who played the role of the heavy drinker "Han Geum-joo," led the story with a wide range of emotional performances, from a sweet romance with her best friend Ui-jun (played by Gong Myung) to touching family love. Portraying Geum-joo's narrative from high school to college and into her 30s, Choi Soo-young showcased the character's growth, proving once again that she is a reliable actress who can make viewers laugh and cry.
In this regard, Choi Soo-young expressed, "Since it was a work that I filmed for a long time, I put a lot of care and heart into it, and I am really happy that my sincerity seems to have been well conveyed to many people. I hope it becomes a precious work that remains in memory for a long time for both me and those who loved this work."
When asked about her chemistry with fellow actors, she said, "Meeting seniors Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sang-ho, and Jo Yoon-hee as family was a great fortune and something I am grateful for. If given the chance, I would definitely want to meet them again; they were a very precious family to me."
Regarding her romantic partner Gong Myung, she said, "He was an actor I had wanted to work with for a long time. Since the long narrative of Geum-joo and Ui-jun going from high school friends to lovers was expressed relatively concisely in the drama, I was concerned about whether the process of them falling in love and the salvation narrative would come across convincingly. Nevertheless, I believe the emotional line was convincing because Gong Myung played the character Ui-jun. He was a partner I could rely on a lot in terms of acting."
Choi Soo-young chose the ending scene of episode 4 as the most memorable moment. She explained, "In the scene where Ui-jun gives Geum-joo an umbrella, who feels lonely because she thinks there is no one to cover her in life, that moment leads Geum-joo to face her problems for the first time and resolve to quit drinking. I heard that for those suffering from alcohol dependence, recognizing their problem and deciding to solve it is the hardest part. So, I think the scene where Geum-joo creates that turning point herself is a very meaningful moment in the entire drama and a significant point of change in Geum-joo's life."
She continued, "This scene connects with the ending of episode 10 and enhances the structural completeness of the drama. If Ui-jun gave Geum-joo an umbrella in episode 4, in episode 10, Geum-joo gives an umbrella to Ui-jun, who is lonely. These two scenes, which show each other becoming a salvation for one another, symbolize Geum-joo's growth and the depth of their relationship, making them the most impressive and meaningful moments."
Finally, Choi Soo-young expressed, "I would like to thank everyone who watched 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol.' During the airing of the drama, the words 'Geum-joo, I'm watching you well!' were more appreciated and made me happier than any other greeting. I hope that as much comfort as I received, you also received warm comfort and healing through 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol.'
[Below is the full Q&A with actress Choi Soo-young]
Q. Thoughts on the ending of 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol'
Since it was a work that I filmed for a long time, I put a lot of care and heart into it, and I am really happy that my sincerity seems to have been well conveyed to many people. I hope it becomes a precious work that remains in memory for a long time for both me and those who loved this work.
Q. Were there any difficulties in playing 'Han Geum-joo'?
Since she is a character that leads the entire drama, there was certainly some pressure. This work has comedy, family love, a romance with Ui-jun, and it also had to express the passage of time from high school to college and into her 30s, so I had to show a variety of emotions and appearances. Therefore, I had a strong desire to do well, and the most challenging part was how to control the emotional pacing and the overall balance.
Q. What is the synchronization rate between 'Choi Soo-young' and 'Han Geum-joo'?
I think I resemble Geum-joo about 70%. I feel that Geum-joo's efforts to create a comfortable atmosphere when she is with people and her tendency to quietly resolve her difficult emotions and sadness alone are very similar to me. However, Geum-joo is a character who relies heavily on alcohol, and that dependent aspect is different from me.
Q. How was the atmosphere on set and the chemistry with fellow actors?
Meeting seniors Kim Sung-ryung, Kim Sang-ho, and Jo Yoon-hee as family was a great fortune and something I am grateful for. Every time we met on set, we spent time comfortably and joyfully like a real family, and the atmosphere on set was always cheerful, so by the time of the last shoot, I felt a strong bond and was sad to part ways. They were a very precious family to me, and I would definitely want to meet them again if given the chance.
Also, Gong Myung was an actor I had wanted to work with for a long time. Since the long narrative of Geum-joo and Ui-jun going from high school friends to lovers was expressed relatively concisely in the drama, I was concerned about whether the process of them falling in love and the salvation narrative would come across convincingly.
Nevertheless, I believe the emotional line was convincing because Gong Myung played the character Ui-jun. His detailed emotional expressions, showing Ui-jun's pure, considerate, and mature side when he falls in love and reveals his hidden pain to the woman he loves, allowed Geum-joo to build her emotions much more naturally, and he was a partner I could rely on a lot in terms of acting.
Q. Is there a scene or line that stands out the most?
Personally, the most memorable scene is the ending of episode 4. In the scene where Ui-jun gives Geum-joo an umbrella, who feels lonely because she thinks there is no one to cover her in life, that moment leads Geum-joo to face her problems for the first time and resolve to quit drinking. I heard that for those suffering from alcohol dependence, recognizing their problem and deciding to solve it is the hardest part. So, I think the scene where Geum-joo creates that turning point herself is a very meaningful moment in the entire drama and a significant point of change in Geum-joo's life.
This scene connects with the ending of episode 10 and enhances the structural completeness of the drama. If Ui-jun gave Geum-joo an umbrella in episode 4, in episode 10, Geum-joo gives an umbrella to Ui-jun, who is lonely. These two scenes, which show each other becoming a salvation for one another, symbolize Geum-joo's growth and the depth of their relationship, making them the most impressive and meaningful moments.
Q. What kind of drama would you like 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol' to remain as for viewers?
Through Geum-joo's story in the drama, I felt once again that at some point, we have naturally accepted alcohol as a part of life, whether in difficult or joyful times, and that we live in a society that takes that culture for granted and even encourages it. In that context, I hope our drama, which shouted 'Geum-joo,' has given someone a small courage to look back at their life. If this work can give someone the courage to live strongly, it would be very meaningful.
Q. Is there a final message you would like to convey to those who watched 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol'?
I would like to thank everyone who watched 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol' until the end. During the airing of the drama, the words 'Geum-joo, I'm watching you well!' were more appreciated and made me happier than any other greeting. I hope that as much comfort as I received, you also received warm comfort and healing through 'Please Take Care of My Alcohol.'
