On the afternoon of the 5th, JTBC held a production presentation for “Shining” (written by Lee, directed by Kim) at The Link Hotel Seoul in the Guro district of Seoul. Kim and cast members Park and Kim attended and described the tone of the project.
“Shining” follows young people who once shared a world of their own as they become each other’s faith and a light that guides their lives. Park and Kim co-star alongside Shin Jae-ha and Park Se-hyun.
Kim said it is “a drama that doesn’t drive the story with some huge event.” He said that when he read the script, he felt the characters Tae-seo and Eun-a were portrayed in ordinary, recognizable moments, with a narrative that builds as the seasons pass.
Asked how it differs from his previous work, Kim said, “If the last project felt like spring into early summer, I think ‘Shining’ may be a work that contains all four seasons.”
Park plays Yeon Tae-seo, a subway train driver who looks at the world with precision. Living by the goal of simply getting through each day safely, the character is shaken in quiet ways when he reunites with his first love, Mo Eun-a, from when he was 19.
Park said he found the through line from the character’s teens to his 30s in “consistency.” He called Tae-seo an ordinary person and said it was difficult to portray, adding that the writer told him she wanted Tae-seo to remain consistent in his teens, 20s and 30s.
Park said he looked back on his own life and felt he had not changed dramatically, though his ways of coping with hardship differed over time. He said he tried to reflect that by playing Tae-seo with small shifts, keeping the performance restrained so viewers might think, “Someone like this really exists.”
He also joked about wearing a school uniform again, crediting the lighting and cinematography teams for helping him pull it off. He said playing Tae-seo let him revisit his teens and 20s, and that his 30s now feel like the best time of his life.
Asked about pressure after his previous work “Unknown Seoul,” Park said it would be a lie to say he felt none. He said he was grateful for the love but needed to approach the next project coolly, adding that “Shining,” unlike the previous work, is primarily a male-female romance.
Kim plays Mo Eun-a, a manager of an old-house stay in Seoul with a background in hotel work. The character is energetic and charming but, after cycles of small rewards and major failures, meets her first love again.
Kim said it was her first time playing a character across her teens, 20s and 30s. She said she had many concerns but enjoyed building the role in a more three-dimensional way. She said portraying a 30-something version of the character was especially challenging, so she talked extensively with the director and asked people around her for input. She said outward changes have limits, so she focused on how the character’s attitude and values might have shifted.
Both actors emphasized their on-screen chemistry. Park called it “perfect,” saying the director scheduled extensive readings in advance — including one that lasted 10 hours — and that it would have been their fault if they had not become close.
Kim said the readings helped her start filming in a comfortable state and called the time valuable. She said the set was fun and relaxed, crediting the director and Park.
Park and Kim said they would work to make the “first love” story relatable, saying they wanted to show it “as if through a magnifying glass.”
Park said the drama contains a story that anyone who has been in love will relate to, adding that while love is a common theme, “Shining” enlarges and highlights it like a magnifying glass.
Kim said it is a story “everyone can relate to,” and added that the visuals are beautiful and may feel healing to watch. Park agreed, saying he knew South Korea was pretty but did not realize “how beautiful it is,” adding that the production filmed around the country and found it “truly beautiful.”
JTBC’s Friday series slot was newly programmed last year, but earlier dramas including “The Good Man,” “My Youth” and “Love Me” stayed in the 1% to 3% ratings range, failing to establish a strong presence. That track record has fueled both anticipation and concern for “Shining.”
Kim said any project comes with pressure, but noted the time slot’s format, with Episodes 1 and 2 airing back-to-back. He said viewers who follow how Tae-seo and Eun-a begin, move through time and return to each other may feel they want to keep watching for the full two hours.
Episodes 1 and 2 air back-to-back at 8:50 p.m. on Friday the 6th.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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