'More like a trip with friends': Cast of K-drama Love, Take Two recall bonding in the countryside during filming, Entertainment News

AsiaOne

a day ago

Filming for their new drama almost turned into a retreat for actors Yum Jung-ah, Choi Yoon-ji and Kim Min-kyu.
AsiaOne recently spoke to the cast of new K-drama Love, Take Two about their experiences portraying their characters, as well as filming in the countryside.
The comedy-drama follows the story of construction site manager Lee Ji-an (Jung-ah) and her medical student daughter Lee Hyo-ri (Yoon-ji), who move to Cheonghae Village in the countryside to start a new chapter in their lives. There, Ji-an bumps into her first love Ryu Jeong-seok (Park Hae-joon) and Hyo-ri crosses paths with his son Bo-hyun (Kim Min-kyu), a bright young farmer.
The cast spoke to AsiaOne about the memorable times when they bonded on and off set.
Min-kyu, 30, regaled: "One memory that comes to mind is the three-day shoot we had in Gangneung with our Cheonghae Village friends. We went to arcades, worked out together and enjoyed great food.
"It honestly felt more like a trip with friends than work. We all got a lot closer during that period so it really stands out in my memory."
Actors Kim Mi-kyung, Kang Ae-shim, Jung Young-joo and Park Soo-young played residents of the village.
He added: "While filming, we visited so many beautiful places across South Korea. Each time, we'd have meals together and share stories together and those little moments became such a source of healing for me."
We asked the actors if they would consider living in the countryside, now that they've had a taste of the fresh air and wide-open spaces.
Min-kyu told us he would still pick living in the city. "It's mostly because I love food so much - I need delivery options even late at night. But rather than a big, bustling city, I prefer somewhere quieter. A city where I can enjoy time alone."
Jung-ah, 53, said: "It's hard to choose between the convenience of city life and the comfort of the countryside but because we filmed most of this drama outside the city, the cast became closer than ever.
"We even made fun little videos together like Shorts and Reels while watching funny clips. I hope viewers will enjoy these behind-the-scenes moments as much as we did."
For Yoon-ji, it was through the drama that she found herself thinking: "Life in the quiet countryside might be wonderfully peaceful too."
The 28-year-old added: "At times, the landscape even speaks for the characters' emotions. I think viewers will naturally find themselves immersed in that atmosphere. The calm, seasonal music woven throughout adds to a sense of peace, making the entire watching experience comforting." Living vicariously through their characters
Despite having portrayed mother-daughter relationships in past shows, Jung-ah said it was different this time. "This was the first time the story felt so personal - like a reflection of my own life. That made it easier to fully immerse myself. As a mother myself who shares both tender and tough moments with her daughter, I naturally found myself blending into my character."
In their likeness, she relates to her no-nonsense character Ji-an in more ways than just being mothers.
The veteran actress shared: "No matter what role I take on, it's impossible to completely separate myself from the character. Ji-an's independence and boldness are qualities that really resemble who I am in real life. And like her, my children always come before work."
"But honestly, she has more lovable sides than I do. In portraying these qualities, I found myself living vicariously through her at times."
While Yoon-ji was never a rebel in her youth, she resonated with her character in other ways.
"From the moment I first read the script, I felt that Hyo-ri's personality had a lot in common with mine and I really wanted to play her. She's a multi-dimensional character who lived a simple life but begins to grow through a major turning point and experiences a wide range of emotions. As an actor, I was drawn to that challenge.
"However, because she doesn't openly express her feelings, I felt it was even more important to convey her inner world through silence and glances - nonverbal, subtle expressions rather than lines.
"I don't see Hyo-ri as defensive. I think she's a girl who knows more than she lets on. Even in her cold tone, I felt there was a quiet desperation hiding beneath and I tried to reflect that in my performance."
Love, Take Two is now available for streaming on Viu.
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