A press conference for Genie TV’s original series “Dear Hyeri” (written by Han Ga-ram, directed by Jung Ji-hyun and Heo Seok-won) was held at the Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, Seoul on Sunday. Actors Shin Hye-sun, Lee Jin-wook, Kang Hoon, and Cho Hye-joo attended the event, along with director Jung Ji-hyun.
“Dear Hyeri” is a healing romance that explores the hidden wounds of announcer Eun-ho (Shin Hye-sun) and her ex-boyfriend Hyun-oh (Lee Jin-wook), who now has a new personality.
In this series, Shin Hye-sun takes on a dual role as Joo Eun-ho, a relatively unknown announcer of 14 years, and Joo Hye-ri, her alter ego who works at a parking lot management center.
Meanwhile, Lee Jin-wook plays Jung Hyun-oh, the most popular announcer. In addition, Kang Hoon portrays leading announcer Kang Joo-yeon who’s a single parent, while Jo Hye-ju brings to life Baek Hye-yeon, a Gen Z announcer vying for the lead role.
Director Jung Ji-hyun described “Dear Hyeri” as “a story about Joo Eun-ho, who has dissociative identity disorder, finding happiness.” He added, “Not only Joo Eun-ho, but also Hyun-oh, Joo-yeon, and Hye-yeon are all healing their wounds through happiness and comfort. I think it’s a drama that will comfort viewers as well.”
Regarding her decision to join the cast, Shin Hye-sun said, “The script was fresh and novel compared to what I’ve experienced before. The character was so attractive that I decided to take the role within an hour of receiving the script.”
The actress also shared her thoughts on playing two roles, stating, “I actually already played dual roles in ‘Mr. Queen,’ so I didn’t feel particularly pressured this time.”
On the other hand, Lee Jin-wook explained his reasons for joining the project, sharing, “I wanted to work with both the director and actress Shin Hye-sun. When I read the script, I found it special and knew I had to do it.”
Addressing his “Master of Melodrama” nickname, Lee Jin-wook humbly said, “I’m not sure what appeals to people about my performances. I think the genre suits me, and I’ve decided to embrace the title while filming this drama. I’ll officially accept being called a master of melodrama through this project.”
Director Jung Ji-hyun emphasized the drama’s main themes, saying, “The most common words in our drama are happiness and love. That’s the message we want to convey through ‘Dear Hyeri.’”
The combination of Lee Jin-wook, the melodrama expert, and Shin Hye-sun, confident in her dual role, has raised expectations for the series.
“Dear Hyeri” will premiere at 10 p.m. on Genie TV, Genie TV Mobile, and ENA.