Monster madness

In a display of historical intrigue and supernatural prowess, the second part of South Korean series Gyeongseong Creature is set to premiere three remaining episodes on Netflix on Friday. The show, featuring a stellar cast led by Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee, is a star-powered spectacle that unlocks the mysteries of 1945 Seoul and has captivated audiences worldwide.

Scripted by Kang Eun-kyung and directed by Jung Dong-yoon, known for award-winning Hot Stove League, the series has captured imaginations by fusing historical events such as the Japanese colonisation of Korea and supernatural elements. Besides Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee, the ensemble cast in Gyeongseong Creature includes Claudia Kim (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes Of Grindelwald, Avengers: Age Of Ultron), Kim Hae-sook, Cho Han-cheul and Wi Ha-jun (Squid Game), which makes the show the most anticipated Korean series to welcome 2024.

The narrative unfolds in the spring of 1945 at Ongseong Hospital in Gyeongseong, the former name of Seoul. Entrepreneur Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-jun), the owner of the House of Golden Treasure pawn shop, and the tenacious sleuth Yoon Chae-ok (Han So-hee) join forces to unravel a mystery of human greed and supernatural creatures.

Jung Dong-yoon, the director of the series, shed light on the delicate balance between historical authenticity and creative storytelling in a roundtable interview session. "Because this series is a creative work, I tried to place more priority and focus on making sure that we tell an entertaining story, a story that will really grip you and have our audience immersed."

Director Jung Dong-yoon.

The series is a captivating blend of action, thriller, historical drama and sci-fi. Jung emphasises the unique aspect that sets Gyeongseong Creature apart in the realm of monster-themed content stating: "I would say that what differentiates us and sets our show apart is the fact that we have Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee together. "Also, I think different and better creature shows will come out every year."

As the series introduces a wide emotional spectrum, from excitement and thrills to the light-hearted and comedic acting of the characters, the filmmaker reflects on the characters. "Because the characters themselves are written in a way that is so vivid and alive, we try to be as loyal to the script as possible and create what's written in the script to the best of our abilities."

The two stars Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee also shed light on preparing for the emotional and action-packed sequences. Park describes the action scenes as choreography, emphasising the importance of infusing emotional expressions into the physical movements.

Cho Han-cheul and Han So-hee play father and daughter.

"While there is the action element of it, what's more important is the emotions of the characters that you can see through those action scenes. Physical actions can easily be made after multiple cuts. But when it comes to emotions, it has to be delivered at that particular moment. I think that the emotional element that is put onto the action is even greater," he said.

"Being able to cooperate and work well together is extremely important," Park added.

Han is renowned for portraying strong female characters and she also shared insights into her preparation for the role and the challenges of stepping into the "creature" genre. "To prepare for this role, performing wasn't the main problem, I found myself spending a lot of time learning, understanding and accepting my character. And also because this is my first 'creature' script, there were definitely certain elements that I had to get used to."

Han also expressed a desire to spend a day at the Moonlight Bar from the series while director Jung injected a playful note. "I think I'd like to go back to 1945, become a certain type of creature, and take care of those that I don't really like. You know, give them a little punishment."

Veteran actress Kim Hae-sook.

The Q&A session took a twist when the cast contemplated facing the fearsome creature from the show. Han humorously said: "Well, I'm pretty sure I would be eaten." In contrast, Park suggested a clever strategy. "I might try tricking the creatures into playing rock paper scissors with me."

As the series is global, the cast also reflected on the high expectations of K-series fans. Park expressed his excitement. "It's always filled with excitement. Because as an actor, you see the result of something that you poured your heart and soul into for a very long period of time." Han, who finds the show's release surreal, invites viewers to enjoy the drama. "I really hope that many people will watch and have conversations about it. And I don't want to come off as being too cocky but I am confident that you all will enjoy the show."

With a powerhouse cast, a compelling storyline and a perfect blend of genres, Gyeongseong Creature is an intriguing journey filled with history and the supernatural of 1945 Seoul. It is one of the highlights of Korean drama this year.