The collaboration between Director Kim Seok Yoon and Writer Lee Nam Kyu has breathed new life into the Korean drama scene. The duo has showcased their excellent chemistry through dramas like Heavenly Ever After, Awl, The Light in Your Eyes, and Behind Your Touch.
In Heavenly Ever After, they are presenting humanity at its finest with their exceptional romance drama. The series stars an 80-year-old Hae Sook (played by Kim Hye Ja) arriving in heaven and her rejuvenated husband Nak Jun (Son Suk Ku). The creators comedically reveal characters and situations that could exist in real life, all while maintaining a heartwarming perspective on humanity and delivering social messages. The strength of Kim Seok Yoon and Lee Nam Kyu’s collaboration lies in their genre experimentation, multidimensional characters, and the balance they achieve between popularity and artistic merit. They have constructed a unique worldview that transcends reality and fantasy, comedy and humanity.
Awl (2015), which is based on the Awl webtoon by Choi Gyu Seok, illustrates the struggles of ordinary employees at a large supermarket as they form a labor union to fight against unfair firings. The protagonist, Manager Lee Su In (Ji Hyun Woo), strives to protect the supermarket’s sales staff and opposes the company’s unfair termination orders. He begins the labor union process by visiting a union representative, Koo Go Shin (Ahn Nae Sang). The narrative realistically depicts the harsh realities of the labor scene, including the company’s relentless attempts at coercion, efforts to destroy the union, and the economic and psychological tolls and fatigue resulting from strikes.
Director Kim Seok Yoon captures the tension of the labor environment. He shows the characters’ struggles and resolutions through unbelievable circumstances and does it calmly and rationally. Writer Lee Nam Kyu infuses the drama’s weighty atmosphere with incisive dialogue and humor throughout. The drama has garnered a dedicated fanbase and enthusiastic support from critics.
The Light in Your Eyes (2019) follows Hye Ja (Han Ji Min and Kim Hye Ja), a 25-year-old aspiring announcer who has the ability to turn back time through a mysterious watch. She becomes an elderly woman overnight because she constantly alters time to help her family. Lee Jun Ha (Nam Joo Hyuk) is a young man who is tired of being young and wishes to grow old quickly.
The Light in Your Eyes places a spotlight on family, aging, and the meaning of life. The stories of Hye Ja’s family, friends, and acquaintances add depth, and it reminds viewers that our ordinary daily lives are priceless. Director Kim Seok Yoon’s careful direction, combined with writer Lee Nam Kyu’s humanity-filled dialogue, leaves viewers emotionally impacted.
Behind Your Touch (2023) is a comedic detective drama set in the rural village of Mujin. The story follows veterinarian Bong Ye Bin (Han Ji Min), who has the psychic ability to see the past of animals and people by touching their butts. She partners with Seoul-based detective Moon Jang Yeol (Lee Min Ki) to investigate a series of murders.
Behind Your Touch mixes comedy, thriller, and fantasy genres effortlessly. The controversial premise that superpowers can only be activated by touching someone’s buttocks did spark debate. Nonetheless, many praised Han Ji Min’s charming performance and the comedic direction. The series blurs the boundary between the mundane and the extraordinary and beautifully illustrates the experimental spirit of the Kim Seok Yoon and Lee Nam Kyu duo, where they blend humanity with comedy.
>> ‘Heavenly Ever After’ Review: Son Suk Ku Proves Romance Never Dies In Must-See Love Story
Localized for English Readers by Kristy Moody
Localized for English Readers by Kristy Moody: I’m a longtime editor and writer who has a passion for traveling. Dedicated ZAPZEE contributor since 2024.
