The tvN Saturday-Sunday drama <Unknown Seoul> is already generating significant buzz even before its premiere, as it will feature actress Park Bo-young taking on her first-ever dual role, playing twin sisters and leading the narrative. More than anything, the mere news of Park Bo-young's casting—an actress renowned for her reliable performances—is undoubtedly enough to capture viewers' immediate attention. Park Bo-young is well-regarded as an actress who consistently and diligently pursues her acting career, more so than many of her contemporaries. Considering that top-tier actors like Park Bo-young often find it difficult to appear in even one project a year due to careful Hselection, her prolific work rate is even more remarkable. This is likely a testament to her passion for continuously showing new sides of herself through good projects and valuing communication with the public.
While every actor has different criteria for selecting projects, top-tier actors, in particular, tend to become more discerning. The success of one project can lead to heightened expectations for the next, acting as significant pressure. However, even amidst such pressure, Park Bo-young has consistently built beloved characters based on her firm character interpretation skills and acting philosophy. While primarily showcasing her bright and lovely charm, she has steadily broadened her acting spectrum by creating three-dimensional characters through subtle emotional shifts and delicate variations in her performances. Her effort to breathe life into characters, rather than simply consuming an image, leaves a deep impression in every work.
Often, when one thinks of Park Bo-young, her unique lovely and cute image comes to mind first, but the breadth and depth of her acting Park Bo-young is wider than one might think. Looking back at her previous works, where she made audiences laugh and cry with sometimes strong-willed demeanors and at other times with eyes holding deep sorrow, one can see the versatile acting skills hidden behind her "Ppo-vely" nickname. In that sense, this drama <Unknown Seoul> is anticipated to be an optimal work for Park Bo-young to fully display another facet of her charm and her matured acting skills. In particular, playing twin sisters leading different lives and personalities in a dual role will serve as an opportunity to expand her acting spectrum without limits.
In the drama, the twin sisters portrayed by Park Bo-young are identical in appearance but possess personalities so starkly different they could be called polar opposites, creating a distinct contrast. The older sister, 'Mirae,' is calm and introverted, a model child who boasted excellent academic records since her school days and never caused her parents much worry. On the other hand, the younger sister, 'Miji,' is bright, energetic, and full of life, but she's somewhat distant from academics and has a tomboyish, mischievous streak. Then, Miji coincidentally discovers a special hidden talent. It's her exceptional running speed; her figure dashing across the schoolyard faster than anyone else during break times soon leads to her potential as a short-distance track athlete.
Since childhood, the two sisters had forged an extraordinary bond, complementing each other's shortcomings. They maintained a secret symbiotic relationship, sometimes swapping exam papers or taking on each other's roles to overcome crises, leading satisfying days. However, this secret didn't last long and was discovered by their parents, forcing the sisters to return to their individual lives. Afterwards, unlike her past where she had never received anyone's attention, Miji shone under the spotlight as a short-distance runner, sweeping awards at various competitions. Unfortunately, during a crucial final competition with a university scholarship on the line, she suffers a severe injury, forcing her to give up her dream as an athlete and face early retirement.
About 10 years later, the drama's main story begins to unfold. Unlike Miji, who ended her athletic career and lives in her hometown doing odd jobs without a particular goal, her older sister Mirae has established herself as a stable civil servant in Seoul, each living their own life. Then, two men appear in these sisters' lives, signaling a new phase in the story and foreshadowing a complex and subtle relational narrative. Their appearance raises curiosity about what kind of impact they will have on the sisters' calm daily lives and what unpredictable events will ensue.
The first man is 'Lee Ho-soo,' played by Park Jin-young, a member of the group GOT7 and an actor. Ho-soo was a transfer student in Mirae and Miji's high school class, boasting handsome looks and a brilliant mind. However, contrary to his appearance, he harbors a secret of ill health due to a past traffic accident. Miji, initially unaware of this, becomes a steadfast supporter who actively stands by his side after learning about his pain. That being said, their relationship isn't particularly warm or intimate; they maintain a somewhat awkward distance, unable to express their true feelings to each other, creating a subtle tension.
Another man is 'Han Se-jin,' portrayed by Ryu Kyung-soo, an actor noted for his unique performances. Se-jin was on a successful path, an Ivy League graduate and a thriving fund manager. However, after his beloved grandfather, who raised him, suddenly passes away, he leaves everything behind and chooses to return to farming to honor his grandfather's wishes. He experiences difficult times due to the unfamiliar rural life and unseen local resistance, but he overcomes these challenges with his inherently positive personality and strong resilience. His appearance is drawing attention as to what variable he will be in the relationship between the Miji-Mirae sisters and Ho-soo.
An unexpected crisis befalls the older sister, Mirae, who was always thought to be sharp, competent, and capable of forging her own path flawlessly. After witnessing an injustice at her workplace and becoming a whistleblower, she ironically finds herself in a difficult situation. Miji, who visits Mirae in Seoul at her mother's request, learns the secret that Mirae has been struggling in isolation for the past year. Recalling how they used to help each other in the past, Miji makes a bold decision for her despairing sister: a 'life change' that only twins could pull off, by swapping their lives entirely.
Presumably, the decision stems from the judgment that the outgoing Miji, who isn't easily intimidated in any situation and possesses a bold charm, would be better suited to navigate her sister's crisis than the introverted and tender-hearted Mirae. From now on, the drama is expected to excitingly portray how Miji overcomes the unfamiliar environment of Seoul and problems within the workplace while living as her sister Mirae. Penned by writer Lee Kang, who was recognized for her delicate and emotional writing through the drama <Youth of May>, it is expected to be a heartwarming healing drama where wounded characters embrace and heal each other. Anticipating the deep empathy and warm healing moments that Park Bo-young will deliver through the twin sisters in the 12-episode series <Unknown Seoul>, we eagerly await its premiere.
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