Although it received American production and investment, it was filmed against the backdrop of Korea. ‘Butterfly’, which is also gaining attention as Kim Tae-hee's Hollywood debut, is expected to capture the hearts of Korean fans following its overseas response.
On the morning of the 21st, a press conference for the Amazon Prime Video series ‘Butterfly’ was held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. The event was attended by Daniel Dae Kim, Reina Hardesty, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Tae-hee, and Sean Richard.
‘Butterfly’ tells the story of a former CIA agent David Jung (played by Daniel Dae Kim) who is being pursued by an active agent Rebecca (played by Reina Hardesty) sent to kill him.
Daniel Dae Kim, a Korean-American actor, not only stars in the lead role but also serves as the executive producer, based on the graphic novel of the same name by Arash Amel.
Daniel Dae Kim shared his feelings about meeting Korean fans at the ‘Butterfly’ red carpet event, saying, “It was a very heartwarming experience. I lived across from the theater where we held the red carpet event, and I often went to Coex to watch movies, so it was a special experience to hold the event to celebrate the release of ‘Butterfly’ there.”
He added, “It’s meaningful to be able to come back to Korea and work. I have built my career in the U.S., but returning to Korea to do this kind of work has been a goal and a dream for me.” He also mentioned that he was a fan of Kim Tae-hee, Kim Ji-hoon, as well as Sung Dong-il, Lee Il-hwa, and Park Hae-soo, saying, “It’s a grateful experience to be able to work with such wonderful and talented actors.”
Reina Hardesty, who plays David's daughter in the series, said, “I had never been to Korea before, but after spending six months here last year, I fell deeply in love with Korean culture and people,” adding, “Meeting fans at the event filled me with excitement and energy.”
Daniel Dae Kim, who served as the executive producer, set his character's surname to ‘Jeong’, reflecting the Korean concept of ‘Jeong’. He explained, “This work is fundamentally about family and relationships. If you’re not Korean, you might not attach meaning to the surname, but for Koreans, I think there’s a significance to it. Since I participated as an executive producer, I was able to make these overall decisions.”
He continued, “I believe that ‘Jeong’ can exist in family, friendship, and even with new characters and places. Korea has this intense connectivity,” adding, “Even though I haven’t lived here for a long time, I still feel this connection.”
In ‘Butterfly’, Kim Tae-hee plays Kim Eun-joo, the wife of the former spy David, who holds the key to a dramatic turning point.
She mentioned that she took on a supporting role rather than her usual lead roles, saying, “I’ve always been drawn to genres and roles I haven’t tried before, and this project felt fresh and like a new opportunity because it’s a collaboration between Korea and the U.S. On the other hand, the role I took on is, in some ways, a very ordinary and typical Korean woman. It’s just that the man who falls in love with her has the unusual job of being a former spy.”
She added, “I hope the audience can empathize with Eun-joo as a woman. This time, I did light makeup, kept my hair natural, and chose ordinary clothes to present a look closer to my usual self, and surprisingly, I felt comfortable.”
Kim Ji-hoon, who plays the stylish yet brutal assassin Gun, shared his experience with English dialogue, saying, “I’ve shown it in ‘I Live Alone’, but I prepared a lot, and it wasn’t easy. Since he’s a taciturn killer, he doesn’t have many lines, but I practiced a lot with a native teacher.”
Kim Ji-hoon, who wants to be known as a cool and sexy actor as expressed in the script, said, “Daniel hyung gave me a lot of nicknames. He called me ‘Korea’s Johnny Depp’, and I wondered if I deserved such praise, but hearing it from executive producer Daniel hyung made me really happy,” adding, “I want to convey that to international audiences as well.”
Kim Tae-hee commented on her chemistry with Daniel Dae Kim, saying, “I had a really good first impression of him, which helped in portraying the couple’s chemistry. He was wearing glasses and smiling nicely, and I felt he was a good person.”
She continued, “While working on the project, we had to portray an international couple, and we discussed how other international couples might communicate and which parts of the dialogue should be in English or Korean, so we talked a lot and became quite close.”
She also hinted that her husband Rain was very supportive of her participation in ‘Butterfly’.
When asked about the identity of ‘Butterfly’, Daniel Dae Kim said, “It’s like me. It was produced by an American studio and funded by American investment, but the heart is Korean,” adding, “What I’m most proud of is that we assembled an international cast while the production team is 100% Korean. This is not something you often see in American productions.”
Daniel Dae Kim, who wanted to discuss the various aspects of being an Asian American, explained, “I was born in Busan but immigrated to the U.S. at a young age, and Korea has never left my heart. It’s always been an important part of my identity,” stating, “I had a strong desire to tell a story that reflects my life and experiences.”
He added, “Right now, with K-beauty, K-pop, K-drama, etc., Korean elements are very popular, and it’s a good time for such stories to be made in the U.S. market. Five to ten years ago, there wasn’t as much interest, so even if I wanted to do such a project, studios wouldn’t have taken it on, but now that the timing has come, I have the opportunity to tell a very important story.”
Daniel Dae Kim explained the core of the work, saying, “While showing energy through action, the essence of this show is a family drama and a drama about relationships,” emphasizing, “The relationships that arise from a father and daughter, a mother and son, business partners, and those who love each other despite not speaking the same language are key points,” and concluded the event by saying, “I hope you enjoy watching it.”
‘Butterfly’ was released worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on the 13th and will air on tvN every Friday and Saturday at 10:40 PM starting from the 22nd.
[Kim Mi-ji, Star Today Reporter]
