2PM’s Junho talked about his upcoming drama “The Red Sleeve Cuff” and his work with his co-stars!
“The Red Sleeve Cuff” is a new traditional historical drama from MBC about the imperial court romance between a court lady who wanted to protect the life she had chosen and an emperor who put the nation first before love. Junho stars as Yi San, the direct descendant and eldest grandson of King Yeongjo (Lee Deok Hwa), who will later become King Jeongjo. Lee Se Young stars as Seong Deok Im, a court lady who wants to make her own decisions about life instead of being one of the king’s many women.
This is Junho’s first drama since his discharge from mandatory military service. Asked why he chose the project, he said, “The script was really interesting. It felt really comfortable and smooth to read.”
King Jeongjo is one of the most popular kings in the Joseon dynasty, which spanned 500 years. Junho said, “It’s true that I felt a sense of pressure about playing this character. He was someone who was always warm to the peasants but extremely strict to the people in the palace. I wanted to keep that immaculate inner side of him intact, but did my best to portray my own kind of Yi San as well. I’m also grateful that the costumes help bring the character to life. I hope that viewers will like the sight of me in royal robes.”
Junho also talked about how his character differed from the book that the drama is based on. “When I read the original book, Yi San is always seen from the perspective of Seong Deok Im,” he said. “So it’s hard to get a grasp on his feelings or his humane side. I think that the drama will show Yi San from more angles and you can learn more about his inner character.”
About the chemistry between him and his co-stars, he said, “Thanks to Lee Se Young, I’m able to film very comfortably. For a variety of reasons, she’s an actress that I match well with.” He added, “Lee Deok Hwa is an actor who is a good role model for his juniors. He’s always cheerful and makes the atmosphere on set brighter with his laughter. When our eyes meet while filming, it feels like we’ve slipped naturally into our roles as King Yeongjo and Jeongjo.” About Kang Hoon, with whom his character has a bromance, he said, “We have great chemistry. He’s an actor who is always thinking hard about the kind of acting he wants to show. I also think viewers should watch out for the chemistry between me and Oh Dae Hwan, who plays Kang Tae Ho.”
Junho concluded, “I’m looking forward to Yi San and Seong Deok Im’s scenes in the library. The library is a meaningful place for both Yi San and Seong Deok Im, and the two make some special memories there. I think that the drama’s tagline, ‘The king loved the court lady. Did the court lady love the king?’, is the point that viewers should start at when watching the show.”
“The Red Sleeve Cuff” premieres on November 5 and will be available on Dramacool.
Source: Soompi