The drama encompasses middle-aged and youthful romance, as well as family-centered stories, but it particularly focuses on the relationship between a mother and daughter. The actors performing in it have expressed deep empathy for their characters and the work, hinting at the birth of a ‘national mother-daughter’ duo.
On the afternoon of the 30th, an online production presentation for tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama ‘First, For the Sake of Love’ took place. Attending the event were director Yoo Je-won, along with actors Yeom Jung-ah, Park Hae-joon, Choi Yoon-ji, and Kim Min-kyu.
‘First, For the Sake of Love’ tells the story of a single mother and her medical student daughter who unexpectedly enter the second act of their lives, deciding to live for today’s happiness rather than tomorrow, and encountering a story of first love rather than an ending.
Director Yoo Je-won described the work as “a story of two mothers and daughters who constantly fight when they just look at each other,” adding, “They settle in a rural village called Cheongha due to certain circumstances, and while living there, they meet Jeong-seok and Bo-hyun. Many events and happenings occur as they blend in with the villagers, showcasing growth in relationships, romance, and personal development, making it a work with a lot to offer.”
Having directed healing dramas like ‘Crash Course in Romance’ and ‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’, director Yoo Je-won noted, “If I were to point out the differences from the dramas I’ve done before, while this drama also deals with love between family, neighbors, friends, and romance between men and women, the mother-daughter relationship is given significant weight,” explaining, “The question of ‘What is the relationship between a mother and daughter?’ is explored more deeply.”
Yeom Jung-ah, who plays the role of Lee Ji-an, a single mother and a tough construction site manager, shared her reasons for choosing the project, saying, “First of all, the script was really interesting, and I had a strong desire to work with director Yoo Je-won,” adding, “All the actors around me envy those who get to work with the director.”
Regarding her ‘single mother’ character, she mentioned, “(In the drama) my daughter Lee Hyo-ri listened well until she entered college, but she hit her rebellious phase late and now rebels every day, which resonates with me as a parent and is upsetting.”
Park Hae-joon plays Ryu Jeong-seok, a prickly architectural designer and Lee Ji-an’s first love. He expressed great satisfaction with working with director Yoo Je-won, stating, “I chose this project because I wanted to cleanse my heart and work on a warm piece.”
Regarding the differences from his previous character Yang Kwan-sik in ‘You’re Beautiful’, he said, “While they are fundamentally characters overflowing with love, Ryu Jeong-seok in ‘First, For the Sake of Love’ is a closed-off character,” hinting, “There will be excitement in the process of opening his heart.”
Choi Yoon-ji, who plays Lee Hyo-ri, a rebellious youth and daughter of Lee Ji-an, described her character as “a straight-laced medical student who studies well and loves her mother, but also causes her a lot of trouble,” adding, “Senior Yeom Jung-ah treats me so well that just looking at her makes me emotional, like a real mother.”
Choi Yoon-ji mentioned that she sought help from her real mother by asking, “How am I?” to aid her performance, hinting that she would portray a ‘realistic mother-daughter’ dynamic with Yeom Jung-ah.
Kim Min-kyu plays Ryu Bo-hyun, the beautiful young farmer and son of Ryu Jeong-seok. He expressed his eagerness to be part of this project, stating that he was quite nervous during the audition.
However, director Yoo Je-won remarked, “I didn’t feel that at all,” expressing satisfaction with the casting, “I tried not to be overwhelmed by Kim Min-kyu’s handsome appearance. Usually, when someone is good-looking, there’s a thought that their acting might be lacking, but (Kim Min-kyu) has great acting skills.”
So how was the chemistry between Park Hae-joon and Yeom Jung-ah in their middle-aged romance? Park Hae-joon humorously said, “I’ve heard so many good things about senior Yeom Jung-ah that I thought I’d try to find her flaws while working on this project,” adding, “But I’ve been watching her and still haven’t found any.”
Yeom Jung-ah shared, “In reality, I’m older than him, but in the drama, Park Hae-joon is ‘Jeong-seok oppa’. I was worried if it would be okay, but it was really good. He feels like Jeong-seok oppa,” expressing her delight in their unexpected chemistry.
Finally, Yeom Jung-ah concluded, “This is a drama that can provide great emotional comfort,” urging viewers, “I believe it will bring you great happiness while watching, so please tune in.”
‘First, For the Sake of Love’ will premiere on August 4 at 8:50 PM on tvN.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
