'Recharge Me' is a romantic comedy that tells the story of a man with a depleted artificial heart battery and a woman with electric powers who pretends to recharge him. Directed by Park Soo-won and written by Song Yoo-chae, the series is based on a web novel and follows their previous collaborations on 'Drinking City Women 2' and 'Postpartum Care Center.'
The response has been swift since its release. According to Netflix's TOP 10 website, 'Recharge Me' reached 3 million views within three days of its debut on October 9, ranking third among non-English shows in the global TOP 10. It also made the TOP 10 lists in 44 countries, including South Korea, Brazil, Singapore, India, Turkey, Chile, and the Philippines.
"It hasn't been long since it came out, but many people seem to enjoy it, and they’ve been compiling sweet moments into shorts. That made me feel good. My sister watched it right away and binge-watched it overnight. A director friend also texted me saying, 'It's sweet and nice,' which made me happy," said Kim Young-kwang.
"I wasn't feeling it as much as I was monitoring the reactions, but I was a bit worried that my character, Bo-bae, might come off as too clumsy. Thankfully, people found those aspects endearing, which I’m really grateful for," added Chae Soo-bin.
The series does not twist the familiar romantic comedy formula. Instead of avoiding clichés, the production team decided to embrace the 'known flavor.'
"Typically, creators want to present something different, even if it means twisting existing concepts. I initially thought that way too. But the director and production team said they wanted to showcase the familiar flavor better, so I agreed and started from there. While there were awkward moments during filming, I think it turned out well in the end," Kim Young-kwang explained.
"Before we started, I wasn't sure if the familiar clichés would work. But as we aimed to create something enjoyable while acknowledging the clichés, I realized there's a reason why people have loved these stories for so long. I hope to see more works like this," Chae Soo-bin said.
Despite the familiar setup, the characters were crafted to resonate with contemporary sensibilities. The story features a chaebol heir and an ordinary woman, but the characters were designed to provide a 'fresh fun.'
"I think our drama conveys that message. 'I know the chaebol heir trope is cliché, but so what? It's entertaining,'" Chae Soo-bin noted. "While the setup is cliché, Bo-bae is portrayed as someone who can solve problems on her own, making her a more relatable character rather than just a weak one. I believe that’s why viewers have responded positively."
For the male lead, Baek Ho-rang, there was a different standard. Even in comedy, maintaining the character's 'coolness' was essential.
"Kim Young-kwang was clear that even in comedic moments, the male character should remain cool. He wanted to explore various aspects, while the director emphasized not losing that cool factor, which made their interactions enjoyable," Chae Soo-bin shared.
To enhance Baek Ho-rang's image, significant attention was paid to his appearance.
"We designed the costumes to look very chaebol-like. Since my character enjoys yoga, we made the yoga outfits feel luxurious, and I made sure my hair stayed neat. We focused on settings that matched the genre to maintain the chaebol heir's image," Kim Young-kwang explained.
The background and setting were also crucial for the two actors. Chae Soo-bin noted that a lot of effort went into the art, props, filming, and lighting to capture the unique visual appeal of a romantic comedy.
"It's important for the visuals of the two actors, but the scenery and space also play a significant role in how the full shots look. The props and art teams paid great attention to these aspects. We transformed a messy alley into a beautiful space with flowers. I received a lot of help from cinematographer Kim Cheon-seok and lighting director Park Hwan. The director really cared for Bo-bae, and I think there's a big difference between being treated with love and not, which made it easier for me to perform," Chae Soo-bin said.
Many scenes were created on-site to fit the location. The script had relatively short descriptions, so upon arriving at the filming location, the director and actors collaborated on the movements and situations.
"Our script had very brief descriptions. So when we arrived at the location, the director and actors would discuss how to arrange the movements and what would make sense in the situation. This collaborative approach led to many natural moments on screen," Kim Young-kwang noted.
Chae Soo-bin recalled scenes that captured genuine reactions from the set.
"I remember the haunted house and amusement park scenes. Kim Young-kwang was genuinely scared, which added to the authenticity of those moments. In scenes with other actors, ad-libs naturally came in, adding more color to the performances," she said.
The chemistry between Baek Ho-rang and Na Bo-bae was also enhanced by their time spent together off-camera. During regional shoots, they would hang out and play games, quickly becoming friends.
"Chae Soo-bin is so cute. Her acting is adorable, which makes it easy to see her that way. During regional shoots, she would reach out first to suggest fun activities, and we played games together. We became friends quickly, and I tend to joke around a lot when I get close to someone, and she was great at responding, which I think translated into the chemistry between Baek Ho-rang and Na Bo-bae," Kim Young-kwang said.
Chae Soo-bin encouraged viewers who haven't seen the series yet to give it a try without hesitation.
"It's a work that you can watch comfortably without any major worries or concerns. For those who don't usually seek out romance, there might be a barrier to starting, but those who do watch it seem to enjoy it. I have a friend who is very critical and won't watch my work if it's not good, but she initially wasn't interested. After watching the first couple of episodes, she binge-watched the rest. Once you start, I think you'll find it enjoyable without much difficulty," Chae Soo-bin concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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