By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
The producers of the 2007 hit drama "Thank You" have teamed up together for another drama for the family, "
Who Are You - Drama"
This drama employs "spiritual possession", a popular idea which was also used in the 2006 drama "
Come Back, Soon Ae" and the Japanese movie "Secret" (1999), in which spirits take control of a human body.
Director of the drama
Sin Hyeon-chang explained the drama as human, fantastic, romantic and comical. "This is a family drama about recovering relationships", said Sin.
In a Korean tradition mixing Buddhism and Confucianism, the soul of a dead person is left on earth for 49 days before going to the afterlife. The drama is a story about those 49 days for a father who loves his daughter so much he possesses a stranger's body to care for her.
A cold-hearted corporate raider Cha Seung-hyo, played by ex-G.O.D. member and actor
Yoon Kye-sang, is a stickler for cleanliness and a perfectionist. However, after a traffic accident, weird things start to happen around him and he finds out that a deliveryman spiritually possesses him for three hours a day. When he is possessed by Son Il-geon, he becomes a very funny guy.
At the preview, Yoon successfully portrayed the two sides of his character and drew laughter from the audience.
"It is rather easy for me to play In-geon since I am a cheerful person. The most difficult thing is that I have to play two totally different characters in the drama. Sometimes, it's confusing", said Yoon at a press conference last week.
Son, the overanxious father who takes care of his daughter even as a ghost, is played by middle-aged actor
Kang Nam-gil. Besides being a devoted father, Son has a secret. When he was young, he was a nameless painter, but one of his paintings was sold for a high price in New York. Now, a gallery owner comes after him, offering him a solo exhibition.
"Yoon has to play my unique character and I was worried at first. However, he's doing very well and I am satisfied", said Kang. Yoon added that Kang helps him a lot by teaching his habits and ways of talking.
"However, I personally do not believe in spiritual possession", said Kang.
Ara, or
Ko Ah-ra, plays Son Yeong-in, the wanna-be cartoonist who lost her father in an accident.
The star from the teen drama "Banolim" ("Sharp"), Ara has starred in the movies "The Blue Wolf: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea" (2007) and "Subaru" (2008). Both movies were joint productions ― one Korean and Japanese, and the other with a Hong Kong company.
With the looks of a Barbie doll, she depicts a strong-spirited girl who has just graduated from high school.
"I am a freshman just like Yeong-in in the soap. She gave up school due to financial difficulties and works part-time instead. For myself, I hope to enjoy my college life just like any other freshmen", Ara said.
A musical actor turned TV star,
Jin I-han plays Shin Jae-ha, the owner and director of Nuri Art Gallery who looks for the late Son's paintings. In order to find the work after his death, he tries to buy off Yeong-in with honeyed words.
"Sin is not a greedy guy; he is very passionate. He just uses the whole bag of tricks to achieve what he wants", said Jin.
The drama will start airing at 9:55 p.m., Wednesday, March 5 on MBC.
