‘Mari and the Odd Dads’, a fresh and unusual family story that is not like a KBS drama, will premiere today (13th) on home screens.
On the morning of the 13th, an online production presentation for KBS1’s ‘Mari and the Odd Dads’ was held. Director Seo Yong-soo and actors Ha Seung-ri, Hyun-woo, Park Eun-hye, Ryu Jin, Hwang Dong-joo, Gong Jeong-hwan, Jung Ae-ri, Geum Bo-ra, and Kang Shin-il attended.
‘Mari and the Odd Dads’ depicts Mari's chaotic journey to find her dad, showcasing the birth of a peculiar family that is thicker than blood and more persistent than sperm. Director Seo Yong-soo, known for his delicate directing in works like ‘Do-hyun's Confession’, ‘Ironing Family’, and ‘Goryeo-Khitan War’, teams up with writer Kim Hong-joo, who has showcased his elegant writing in ‘Even If I Hate You, I Love You’ and ‘High School Alumni’.
Director Seo Yong-soo commented on the casting of the actors, saying, “As soon as I met Hyun-woo, I felt he was a warm person who loves dogs immensely, so I cast him right away. If Kang-se is an F, then Mari is ‘sassy’. I thought Ha Seung-ri was perfect for the role. I pursued Park Eun-hye for a long time, and you will understand when you watch the broadcast. The only person who can play Geum Bo-ra's role is a senior. I really like her. Kang Shin-il is an actor I respect. His voice is so good that he will captivate the audience just with it. My personal feelings went into this.”
He continued, “Jung Ae-ri holds the first incident that drives the entire drama. She plays a villain, but there’s a backstory that she expressed delicately. I’ve been watching Gong Jeong-hwan since ‘Goryeo-Khitan War’, and he has the acting ability to express duality. I expected Hwang Dong-joo to be good, and he delivered in a unique way, creating a new character beyond my expectations. Ryu Jin has the most difficult role, but he has a cold yet warm side. I thought that matched well.”
Ha Seung-ri (as Kang Mari), Hyun-woo (as Lee Kang-se), Park Eun-hye (as Joo Si-ra), Ryu Jin (as Lee Pung-joo), Hwang Dong-joo (as Kang Min-bo), Gong Jeong-hwan (as Jin Gi-sik), Jung Ae-ri (as Eom Gi-bun), Geum Bo-ra (as Yoon Soon-ae), Kang Shin-il (as Lee Ok-soon), Park Hyun-jung (as Moon Sook-hee), Jo Hyang-ki (as Yoon Eon-gyeong), Yoon Mi-hyang (as Kim Mi-kyung), Kim Young-jae (as Pyo Do-gi), and Lee Ji-yeon (as Ahn Soo-seon) are among the cast.
Ha Seung-ri shared her thoughts on the character of Mari, who has a ‘T’ personality, saying, “I think it’s about 90% accurate. It’s been a while since I took the MBTI test, but I’m half T and half F. However, I often hear that I lean more towards T. I feel like I’m not acting big, but rather bringing something out from within me.”
She added, “Mari may seem cold on the outside, but she has a clumsy charm. That will be a cute point.”
Park Eun-hye expressed her surprise at the script, saying, “When I read the script, I wondered if it was really a KBS drama. The material is fresh, and I thought, can KBS really handle this? KBS is changing.”
She continued to describe her character, “She has a wide emotional range. She is an impulsive character who says and does what she wants. In real life, people suddenly cry and then laugh, right? So I could relate to her. She feels very human. I focus on each moment to create justification. I’m acting with the intention of putting that feeling into my performance.”
When asked about the synchronization with her character, Park Eun-hye said, “There are similarities. Since it’s a 120-episode drama, it would be tough to plan everything out. So I focused on the situation, the scene, and the lines while acting.” To this, Geum Bo-ra added, “It’s the same. 99%.”
Hyun-woo described his character, saying, “Kang-se has both pain and warmth in his heart. You will see him grow through various situations with Mari. I’m trying hard to show a good side, even though I’m lacking. I want to capture the details of Kang-se’s growth and express it delicately.”
He added about his chemistry with Ha Seung-ri, “Seung-ri does well, so the atmosphere on set is good. I feel like if I do better, she will do better too, so I’m working hard beside her.”
In response, Ha Seung-ri said, “Hyun-woo oppa is very considerate on set. Thanks to that, the atmosphere is great, and I feel like I’m getting comfortable quickly, which brings out better chemistry, making filming enjoyable.”
Ha Seung-ri also mentioned her chemistry with Park Eun-hye and Geum Bo-ra, saying, “When the three mothers come together, laughter is the only outcome. It’s hard to hold back laughter. It’s that much fun. I think we will have even better chemistry going forward.”
Meanwhile, Geum Bo-ra remarked, “There has never been a script that deals with sperm like this. KBS is a world broadcaster. It’s the only drama that airs worldwide at this time. I’m very popular when I go to Mongolia.” She added, “Kang Shin-il’s voice is really good, and he has a romantic storyline in the drama. His voice is so captivating that his appearance is overlooked. His voice is truly attractive; he’s every woman’s ideal type.”
Jung Ae-ri also commented, “It feels like the times have changed enough for KBS to tell such stories. I play the director of an obstetrics and gynecology department. The word sperm comes up a lot in the script. I think this work will make it easier to talk about these topics.”
Hwang Dong-joo said, “It’s a drama that makes you think about family,” adding, “There are many incidents and accidents in each episode, so it will be interesting.” Kang Shin-il stated, “It’s fun, cheerful, and the pace is fast,” while Ryu Jin remarked, “It’s a very interesting and delightful human drama. There’s a saying about the bond of giving birth and raising a child, and I think it’s a drama that will make you feel warmth if you watch it with your heart without trying to distinguish what is right.”
Director Seo Yong-soo expressed, “Daily dramas play a significant role in our country, so I feel a lot of pressure and responsibility. I think it would be boring if I carried that burden. So, I’m trying to express everyday episodes in a relatable way without the pressure. The directing points will be fun, touching, and enjoyable to watch the acting.”
‘Mari and the Odd Dads’ will premiere today at 8:30 PM.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
