(CJ E&M)

Leading stars of upcoming tvN drama “Second 20s” spoke about their roles at a press conference held Tuesday at Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo-gu Times Square.

“Winter Sonata” actress Choi Ji-woo will play the 38-year-old college freshman Ha No-ra, who belatedly enters university alongside her son as part of the class of 2019.

“My character will show a woman who spent over 19 years as a mother and as a wife, who finally decides to take the reins of her life,” Choi said.

Ha No-ra had never entered university due to her bearing the child of her now-husband Kim Woo-chul.

(CJ E&M)

She has depended on her husband, who, with a lofty background and higher education, has an acclaimed career as a professor of psychology.

It was the husband’s request for divorce with the reason that “it’s impossible to hold a decent conversation with her” that propelled Ha No-ra to apply for her overdue tertiary education, in hopes of restoring their relationship.

Once at the university, Ha encounters a multitude of troubles to be expected for a middle-aged woman among her younger, hot-blooded peers. She tackles the problems in her own positive ways.

“I always wanted to act a bright role. I worked with the director and the writer before, and I thought Sang-yoon and I would make a good combo. Most of all, the script was very funny,” said Choi, listing the reasons she decided to take part in this particular drama.

In one of her classes, Ha runs into high school alumni Cha Hyun-suk (Lee Sang-yoon), who had harbored an unrequited love for Ha in their youth. Her marriage with Kim Woo-chul had shaken Cha so much so that he remained a bachelor.

Choi Ji-woo (center) with Lee Sang-yoon (left) and Choi Young-won (CJ E&M)

His reunion with Ha soon returns the spark.

“For the first few episodes I mostly make No-ra’s university life hard. I’m hoping for more diverse scenes to come out and act together,” Lee Sang-yoon said.

Rapper Kim Min-jae from “Show Me the Money” will act as Ha No-ra’s son Kim Min-soo, who is focused on building up his resume throughout his academic years, while girl group Apink’s Son Na-eun will play his girlfriend Oh Hye-mi, whose prime interest after university is in getting married.

Director Kim Hyung-sik described the TV drama as “one that every age group will empathize with.” He assured the work will be “comic and moving.”

“Second 20s” will air every Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on cable channel tvN.

(CJ E&M)

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)