Look out for chemistry between rom-com master and rom-com newbie

TvN’s new drama series “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” turns the relationship between a boss and a secretary upside down, depicting a sweet romance tale that stars Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young.

The two actors play the lead couple in the upcoming romantic-comedy production. Park Seo-joon plays the role of a narcissistic boss, while Park Min-young takes on the secretary character.

Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young pose for photos at a press event Wednesday at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. (tvN)

The new Wednesday-Thursday series is an adaptation of popular web comics of the same name. As the talented secretary reveals her desire to resign, the arrogant boss struggles to persuade her not to quit.

“Putting everything else behind, the original story is great,” director Park Joon-hwa said at a media briefing Wednesday in western Seoul. “Usually we think that bosses are above secretaries at work. But as the two characters become romantically involved, the relationship changes.”

The new series has been garnering attention thanks to Park Seo-joon, who is nicknamed “rom-com master,” as he has been featured in romantic-comedy series “Fight My Way,” “She Was Pretty” and “Kill Me, Heal Me.”

“I choose works by looking at the stories and the characters,” Park Seo-joon said, responding to worries that he may be pigeonholed in the genre.

“A lot of my previous works have been rom-com series, but the characters are all very different. They are completely different works.”

As a fan of the original comics, he playfully acknowledged criticism that he may not be handsome enough to play the “inexplicably good-looking character.”

“I think my face isn’t adequate enough,” he joked. “But I am sure that I can build up my own character. I am paying extra attention to the clothes. As I owned just one suit, (my team) has been tailoring almost every kind of suit that exists.”

A poster for “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” (tvN)

Before the shooting started, the actor was looking forward to working with Park Min-young as he had enjoyed watching the sitcom “Unstoppable High Kick” while he was serving his military service. The actress starred as a main character in the hit series.

“What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” marks the actress’ first time starring in a romantic-comedy series. She said the original story is funny enough that all she has to do is just follow the script.

“Being on the set of a romantic-comedy series is really fun,” she said. “There aren’t any villains in the series. I first wondered how a plot could go on without villains. But all the characters are so lively with stories, making the series interesting.”
The 16-part series will air its first episode on June 6 at 9:30 p.m.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)