The drama 'Recharge Me' features a thrilling contract romance between a perfectionist heir with a malfunctioning artificial heart and a woman with electric powers. It marks a welcome return of traditional K-romantic comedy to the small screen.
The show's strong appeal is closely tied to the performance of lead actor Kim Young-kwang. Known for his roles in 'Nine Boy', 'Love at First Sight', and the film 'Your Wedding', he has expanded his range into various genres but has now returned to his 'main specialty'. His mastery of romantic comedy shines through as he effortlessly navigates the familiar tropes of the genre.
"It hasn't been long since it was released, but many people are enjoying it and sharing sweet moments as shorts. It made me happy. My sister watched it right away and binge-watched it overnight. A director friend also texted me saying, 'It's sweet and nice,' which felt great," Kim said.
'Recharge Me' embraces the familiar formula of romantic comedy rather than twisting it. Initially, Kim considered adding variations to the well-known setup, but the production team had a clear vision.
"Typically, there's a desire to present something different, even if it means twisting existing elements. I had that thought at first. However, the director and production team expressed that they wanted to showcase the familiar flavors more effectively, so I agreed and started. While there were awkward moments during filming, I think the final product turned out well," he explained.
Kim believes that consciously acting out clichés can lead to unnatural performances. His approach was to fully trust the character Baek Ho-rang and the world of 'Recharge Me'.
"If you try to express clichés in a planned way, it can come off as insincere. So, I thought it was essential to fully embrace the character Baek Ho-rang and believe in the world of 'Recharge Me'. I needed to firmly believe that I am Baek Ho-rang in this world for the clichés to come across naturally," he said.
His acting style leaned towards being responsive to the situations and reactions of his co-stars rather than pre-planning everything. With the camera and set design already creating the romantic comedy atmosphere, he trusted that flow.
"I aimed to avoid over-planning and instead react to whatever happened on set. The cinematographer and art team beautifully crafted the scenes, so I trusted that aspect as well," he noted.
However, he admitted that he wasn't entirely comfortable at the beginning of filming. Having spent a long time in genre pieces, he found himself questioning the tone of the romantic comedy.
"At the very start, I wondered, 'Why do I have to do it this way?' When I asked the director, he kept reassuring me, 'Why? It's fine. You're doing well.' I didn't believe it at first, but as he continued to say it was okay, I gradually became more confident," he shared.
Compared to the past, Kim feels he can now recognize his state more quickly. Through various genres and characters, he has developed the ability to assess where he stands.
"In the beginning, I think I had some doubts about trusting myself. I discovered that I was stuck in certain ways. However, after working on various projects, I feel I can check my state better. I tried to stop that and shift to an attitude suitable for romantic comedy, and my surroundings helped a lot," he explained.
His focus on genre pieces instead of romance stemmed from a desire to explore different facets of himself. He wanted to shake things up and discover aspects he hadn't recognized before.
"Having done romance for a while, I felt there might be other sides of me that I hadn't discovered. Watching other works made me think, 'I want to try that too.' I was in a strong adventurous mindset, wanting to turn myself upside down. But after continuing with genre pieces, I felt the urge to return to romantic comedy," he said.
The shift in genre has also impacted his personal emotions. Spending time in darker genres made him feel a sense of emotional closure, but working in romantic comedy has allowed him to regain a brighter outlook.
"When doing genre pieces, I didn't realize it at the time, but focusing and immersing myself in that atmosphere seemed to create a wall in my heart. Doing romantic comedy breaks down that wall, revealing a brighter world and making my heart feel more beautiful," he said.
The person who helped facilitate this change was his co-star Chae Soo-bin. The two developed a natural friendship during filming, and the playful dynamic they created off-screen translated into their on-screen chemistry as Baek Ho-rang and Na Bo-bae.
"Soo-bin is so cute. Her acting is adorable, which makes it easy to see her that way. During location shoots, she would reach out first to suggest fun activities, and we played games together. We quickly became close, and I tend to joke around a lot when I get close to someone, and Soo-bin was great at responding, which I think brought our chemistry to life as Baek Ho-rang and Na Bo-bae," he said.
As Kim grew closer to Chae Soo-bin and immersed himself in their characters' relationship, his own mood gradually brightened. The tension and distance left by genre pieces eased as filming progressed.
"It wasn't an immediate change. Working with Soo-bin for the first time, we gradually became closer and joked around, which I think reflected well in the drama. As our chemistry developed and I naturally immersed myself in the role, my heart felt lighter and brighter over time," he said.
The familiar conventions of traditional K-romantic comedy may present a fresh appeal to international audiences. Scenes that are seen as clichés domestically could feel like a unique fantasy in different cultural contexts.
"While introducing new settings is important, I personally feel that foreign dramas often lean towards more realistic and somewhat darker stories. K-romantic comedies bring to life scenarios that one might only imagine in a cartoon. What we call clichés might actually appear refreshing to foreign viewers," he said.
In romantic comedies, the visual impression is crucial, so Kim paid attention to his appearance. After reviewing his look early in filming, he adjusted his weight to achieve the right on-screen condition.
"When I first saw myself on screen, I noticed I had gained a bit of weight. So, I lost some, and it looked better. I gained a little back in the middle, but by the end, I lost it again, and I realized that such adjustments look good on screen," he said.
While the character Baek Ho-rang constantly needs recharging, Kim Young-kwang feels he is in a state of not easily running out of energy. He mentioned that the positive vibes from returning to romantic comedy have continued even after filming.
"Perhaps because I’m doing romantic comedy, I find myself having more beautiful thoughts lately. If we think of it in terms of charging, I feel like I'm in a state where I don't easily run out of energy. Physically, I get tired after a full day of work, but thinking about 'Recharge Me' makes me smile and brings back memories," he said.
Kim believes the greatest strength of 'Recharge Me' lies in its uplifting nature. He describes it as a show that can be watched and enjoyed without any special reservations.
"I want to say it's a drama without any harmful elements. It's a beautiful show that doesn't cause any harm. I believe viewers will find themselves smiling without even realizing it," he said.
Having returned to romantic comedy and showcased his familiar strengths, Kim Young-kwang is now looking towards new challenges. He hopes to discover new aspects of himself in areas he has yet to explore.
"After doing romantic comedy again, I’m not sure what the future holds, but I do feel a desire to peel away another layer of myself. Unlike before, I don't plan to abruptly cut off and say, 'I won't do this anymore.' Instead, I want to gradually explore something new. I think my curiosity about experiences I haven't had yet and the adventures that come with them are driving these thoughts. I’m not sure what my future self will look like. Sometimes I feel like I might not be able to do romance again after some time. The path ahead remains uncertain," he concluded.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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