Director Im Hyun-wook Unveils 'Waiting for Kyeong-do' Production Process: 'Read the Script with Tears in My Eyes'

Director Im Hyun-wook is amplifying curiosity by revealing the production process of the JTBC new Friday-Saturday drama 'Waiting for Kyeong-do'.

Set to premiere on December 6th (Saturday) at 10:40 PM, 'Waiting for Kyeong-do' tells the story of Lee Kyeong-do (Park Seo-joon) and Seo Ji-woo (Won Ji-an), who dated and broke up twice, reuniting as a journalist who reported on their affair and the wife of the scandal's main figure, portraying a poignant and deeply resonant romance.

Director Im Hyun-wook, known for his beautiful cinematography and sophisticated direction in dramas like 'Reflection of You' and 'King the Land,' is garnering significant attention for his new romance project. Regarding his first impression of 'Waiting for Kyeong-do,' Director Im recalled, "My lips were smiling as I read the script, but my eyes were crying. It was a rare romance that simultaneously delivered humor, excitement, and a lingering sadness. That's why I thought, 'I must bring this emotion to the screen.'"

He further shared, "I believe the essential element of romance is creating appropriate excitement that matches the work's unique color. In that sense, this project was not just a simple romance for me, but an opportunity to revisit the emotional lines built throughout my directing career."

Consequently, Director Im stated, "The biggest concern was how to translate the flow of emotions between the characters onto the screen." He elaborated, "If you accurately count the time Lee Kyeong-do and Seo Ji-woo spent by each other's side over nearly 20 years, it's less than a year. However, because that short period was such a special connection that shook their destinies, I wanted their story to be 'strung together' by a single emotional thread rather than being 'divided' into three different periods."

He also explained, "When depicting each period, I created a visual contrast between Kyeong-do and Ji-woo's characters." He continued, "To reveal Kyeong-do's consistent nature, I made only detailed changes to his appearance, both past and present, to seem largely unchanged. In contrast, Ji-woo's style was set to be distinctly different in each period, making her age apparent just by her fashion." Through this, he aimed to show that "if Kyeong-do is the unchanging axis, Ji-woo is like a flowing emotion."

Furthermore, "We considered the seasons as characters in our drama, so we captured spring, summer, fall, and winter within the frames." He confessed behind-the-scenes details, stating, "We filmed according to seasons different from the actual ones to allow the characters' emotional changes to meet the emotions of the seasons." This hints at the dedication poured into the drama.

Finally, Director Im conveyed, "Hearing that many people have been waiting for 'Waiting for Kyeong-do,' I too have been counting down the days until I could present this work. The thought of finally being able to show the story of Kyeong-do and Ji-woo to the viewers fills me with excitement and anticipation. I hope our drama lingers in your hearts long after the final scene has passed."

JTBC's new Friday-Saturday drama 'Waiting for Kyeong-do,' meticulously crafted with Director Im Hyun-wook's deep affection and consideration, will premiere on December 6th (Saturday) at 10:40 PM.

Netizens reacted positively to Director Im's sincere behind-the-scenes account, with comments like "I trust Director Im's directing," "Looking forward to the Park Seo-joon and Won Ji-an pairing," and "A poignant romance? My tear ducts are already ready."