New promos have been released for JTBC’s upcoming Monthly Magazine Home (formerly Monthly House), including characters posters and a new video teaser.
Described as a romance between a woman who likes to live in homes and a man who likes to buy homes, the drama explores the complexity of what “home” means for different people and how its definition is further complicated by the social and economic challenges that surround home ownership.
In the lead role, Jung So-min (Soul Repairer) plays everyday woman Na Young-won. As a magazine editor, she’s been in corporate employment for 10 years and counting. Home is her oasis and the place where she can truly be herself. The love and care put into her home décor is evident in everything from her wallpaper to her duvet covers. The style reflects her warm personality and quaint charm. This attitude towards her home is also displayed in the tagline on her character poster, “I don’t own my home, but I like being at home.”
In contrast, Kim Ji-suk (My Unfamiliar Family)’s character magazine CEO Yoo Ja-sung has a more practical perspective. He admits on his poster that, “I like homes because homes become money.” A self-made man of wealth, he worked himself to the grind to get to where he is now and always felt that investing in properties was the best way to succeed. As such, he had devoted himself to school during the day and worked multiple part-time jobs to save money: serving tables in the evenings, working as a driver at night, and doing construction work on weekends.
Jung Geon-joo (Oh My Baby) takes on a third view, though, in the role of photographer Shin Kyum. His poster reveals that, “I have the money, but I won’t buy a home.” This decision comes from his life philosophy, which is to do what he wants and to enjoy his life. As a YOLO advocate, home is simply where he is residing today and his current setup at his studio is cluttered with equipment for his hobbies and interests such as camping.
Continuing with the theme of homes, the newly released teaser gives a closer look at Jung So-min and Kim Ji-suk, as well as where and how their characters live. In a sequence of shots, it starts with Jung decorating her roof-top home and enjoying her time there. The accompanying captions are read by her in voice-over, “Why does it matter if it’s a rented property? Even if it’s not a home that I bought, it is still a place that I can fill completely with my own memories. I present to you the home that I want to live in.”
Cut to Kim Ji-suk, who we see in next sequence featuring his home. Similarly, he narrates the text that appears on the screen, “Your salary cannot keep up with the rising costs of renting a home. The correct solution is to buy a home. You have to develop an eye for recognizing a good home. I present to you the home that you have to buy.”
The teaser comes to a close with Jung So-min sitting with Kim Ji-suk on a couch. They introduce the drama together, “The woman who lives at home and the man who buys homes in a romance about having my own home. Monthly Magazine Home premieres its first episode on Wednesday, June 16 at 9pm.”
Written by Myung Soo-hyun (You Who Forgot Poetry, Drinking Solo) and directed by Lee Chang-min (Woohoo Waikiki 1, 2), JTBC’s next Wednesday-Thursday drama Monthly Magazine Home premieres next month on June 16.
