Ha Seok-jin lets first love simmer in Love Is Coming
Ha Seok-jin stars as chef Kim Mu-jin opposite Hani in KBS 2TV weekend drama Love Is Coming, premiering July 25 at 8 PM.
Immaturity Hidden Behind Perfection: The Two Faces of Chef Kim Mu-jin
Actor Ha Seok-jin will meet viewers through the new KBS 2TV weekend drama 'Love Is Coming', which is set to premiere on July 25. Ha Seok-jin plays Kim Mu-jin, an Italian restaurant owner-chef who appears perfect on the surface but lives with inner deficiencies.
While Kim Mu-jin seems like an elite who possesses every qualification, he is a man who left for Italy to devote himself to cooking following a sudden breakup with his first love, Han Gyu-rim (played by Hani). Analyzing the character, Ha Seok-jin expressed his determination not to portray him as merely a perfect individual. "He looks relaxed, but he is immature when facing certain emotions; he looks perfect, but he is actually not. That gap is Mu-jin's charm," he said, highlighting the character's multi-dimensional nature.
In particular, the drama is expected to delicately unravel the complex emotions of living with an unresolved first love for a long period of eight years. Ha Seok-jin foreshadowed the emotional core of the series, explaining, "To Mu-jin, Han Gyu-rim is not simply a nostalgic first love, but rather an existence that cannot be cleanly settled even after a long time has passed."
Reunion with Hani After 8 Years, and 20-Year Friendship Chemistry with Min Jin-woong
The chemistry with co-star Hani is also drawing attention. In the drama, the two reunite after eight years. Ha Seok-jin shared that he walked mountain paths with Hani before filming to break the ice. As they play characters reuniting after a long time, both actors are making meticulous efforts to synchronize their acting tempo.
The cheerful energy on set is also notable. Ha Seok-jin is filming based on his real-life friendship with actor Min Jin-woong, who plays his friend of 20 years, Park Jung-woo. "The rhythm of tossing lines back and forth comes naturally, so we are having fun filming," Ha Seok-jin said regarding his chemistry with Min Jin-woong.
Written by Lee Kyung-hee and directed by Hong Seok-gu, 'Love Is Coming' will premiere on Saturday, July 25 at 8 PM. Ha Seok-jin remarked, "It feels like it has been a long time since I've encountered a warm narrative that spans all generations, which is characteristic of weekend dramas. Since this is a drama where old hearts move again, I hope viewers can find points that resonate with their own hearts."
