A boy born under a bad omen and an MZ shaman girl fall in love. Actors Chu Young-woo and Jo Yi-hyun present an unrestrained youthful romance at the age of eighteen. A unique charm is anticipated, with the addition of an antagonist not found in the original material. This character disrupts and torments the protagonists' first love, injecting a sweet yet bloody tension into their smoothly unfolding romance.
On the 17th, the production team of tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' (written by Yang Ji-hoon, directed by Kim Yong-wan) held an online press conference featuring Chu Young-woo, Jo Yi-hyun, Cha Gang-yoon, Chu Ja-hyun, and director Kim Yong-wan.
'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' is a first love rescue romance that depicts the story of Gyeon-woo (played by Chu Young-woo), a boy destined to die, and MZ shaman Seong-ah (played by Jo Yi-hyun), who tries to prevent it. The drama is based on a webtoon of the same name.
It differs from other dramas that deal with first love themes. Director Kim Yong-wan stated, “Usually, first love is portrayed as something beautiful and busy with love,” but added, “In this work, Seong-ah struggles to chase away Gyeon-woo's misfortune. There will be enjoyment in watching that process.”
Chu Young-woo plays 'Baek Gyeon-woo'. Gyeon-woo was born with a fatal destiny and drags a lot of misfortune with him. He causes trouble for those around him. Ultimately, he chooses a hedgehog life, raising his quills to protect others. Although he appears cold on the outside, he has a warm heart that wishes for no one to be hurt.
Director Kim expressed satisfaction with casting Chu Young-woo, saying, “Gyeon-woo is someone Seong-ah must fall in love with at first sight. Every aspect of Chu Young-woo, from his physicality to his voice, was perfect. He had the vibe of a ‘man from a comic book’,” he explained.
Jo Yi-hyun takes on the role of 'Park Seong-ah'. During the day, Seong-ah lives as a high school student, and at night, she works as a shaman. She suddenly falls in love with Gyeon-woo, who is destined to die, at first sight. To protect Gyeon-woo from misfortune, she considers herself a 'human talisman' and dedicates her body and mind to exorcising various spirits.
Jo Yi-hyun mentioned, “I have always had a keen interest in shamanism. Moreover, I am a fatalist,” adding, “When I received the script, I thought it was destiny.” She further remarked, “I felt that by playing a dual life, I could grow more as an actor,” noting that she studied the ritual order and shamanistic speech diligently for three months.
Chu Young-woo and Jo Yi-hyun had previously collaborated in the 2021 drama 'School 2021'. Jo Yi-hyun stated, “We knew each other's tendencies well. Thanks to that, we filmed comfortably within a stable atmosphere.”
Moreover, Ji-ho (played by Cha Gang-yoon) and Yeom-hwa (played by Chu Ja-hyun) add comic relief. 'Ji-ho' is Seong-ah's close friend who disapproves of her struggles to protect Gyeon-woo. 'Yeom-hwa' is a character not found in the original work but was newly introduced to increase the tension in the story, preventing Gyeon-woo and Seong-ah's first love from flourishing.
Various shaman characters, such as Dongcheon General (played by Kim Mi-kyung) and Flower Youth (played by Yoon Byeong-hee), also inject vitality into the work. Director Kim praised, “The chemistry among the actors was so perfect it cannot be described in words.”
Numerous spirits that connect Gyeon-woo and Seong-ah appear in the drama. Water spirits, fire spirits, baby spirits, and dog spirits all torment Gyeon-woo. Seong-ah defeats them in various ways.
The spirits are portrayed in alignment with the drama's atmosphere, designed to be non-scary. Kim emphasized, “Through controlling the level of intensity, I expressed (the spirits) in the most enjoyable way possible. Viewers can enjoy a cute chill and a fresh excitement simultaneously.”
He added, “This work encapsulates the thrill of first love, the conflict with spirits, and the growth of youth. You will also feel a deep sense of humanism.” Jo Yi-hyun implored viewers to watch, stating, “The drama contains various forms of love. Not only between Gyeon-woo and Seong-ah but also the love and animosity among other characters are also love. It’s a work full of love.”
Meanwhile, 'The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl' is set to premiere on the 23rd at 8:50 PM.
<Photo provided by tvN>
