The drama “Mask Girl“, which boasts a cast lineup trusted and watched from Go Hyun Jung to Ahn Jae Hong and Nana, is coming.
Ahead of the highly anticipated premiere, the press conference for the new Netflix original series ‘Mask Girl’ was held. Director Kim Yong Hoon, as well as Go Hyun Jung, Ahn Jae Hong, Nana and newcomer Lee Han Byul, attended the event to discuss the show.
“Mask Girl” is a series that depicts the chaotic story of an ordinary office worker named Kim Mo-mi, who has appearance insecurities, transforming into an internet broadcast BJ by covering her face with a mask every night and getting involved in unforeseen incidents.
The drama garnered early attention with its daring casting challenge of having three actors play one character.
Director Kim Yong Hoon mentioned the process of turning the webtoon into a drama, saying, “When I first read the original webtoon, it was captivating. The story contained various social issues that were interesting, and most of all, the characters were fascinating. The characters are peculiar and uncomfortable, yet I felt a lot of affection for them. I thought about how these characters came this far and why they made such choices, so I decided to work on the project with these thoughts.”
He also shared the challenges of taking on the 3-in-1 role concept. Director Kim Yong Hoon said, “It was a difficult choice,” and “Most people expressed concerns because this concept is not common and universal due to the special makeup. I didn’t skip the testing phase, but when we applied special makeup, it felt uncomfortable and generated resistance. There were awkward and uneasy points, so I decided to go with the 3-in-1 role because there were three actors who were confident and capable. It was a good decision made during the production.”
Lee Han Byul appears as a character who wanted to become a singer when she was young but ends up as a plain office worker, Kim Mo-mi, due to appearance insecurities. At night, she wears a mask, dances provocatively, and becomes active as an internet broadcast BJ named “Mask Girl”.
Lee Han Byul was selected as a newcomer through a highly competitive audition. He expressed, “I’m honored to be a part of the work ‘Mask Girl'”, and after greeting, he revealed, “I felt some pressure as I was chosen after auditions and had to do well. But the director believed that I could do well, so I prepared with gratitude.”
She also shared an anecdote about a touching moment with Go Hyun Jung. She said, “She embraced me, and seeing her smile brightly gave me a sense that all three actors loved the character Kim Mo-mi that we created together. It brought me relief. I wasn’t particularly skilled, but I’m thankful that the memory remains warm and pleasant.”
Nana transforms into a showgirl named Areum. Areum is a character who, after undergoing extensive plastic surgery to achieve the beautiful appearance she had always wished for, works as a showgirl at a bar while hiding her true identity. However, she becomes unable to escape from the persistent pursuit of Gyeongja (played by Yeom Hye Ran).
Nana mentioned that her reason for taking the role was her interest in the script and the director’s previous work. She said, “Although it’s a weighty story, the fantasy elements felt fresh. Above all, it was an honor to be able to work with senior actress Go Hyun Jung in a project. Even if we don’t meet on screen, it was meaningful.” She added, “Since my character is a showgirl in the drama, I also perform dances. I practiced dancing separately. I incorporated the dancing I did during my singer activities, and surprisingly, I can dance, so I managed to do well.”
Go Hyun Jung appears as Kim Mo-mi, the perpetrator of the “Mask Girl Murder Case”, which created a stir in South Korea. She enters the prison under the prisoner number 1047. Despite the harsh life in prison, she is called the “Prison King.” However, she decides to escape after receiving a letter.
Go Hyun Jung explained her reason for taking the role, saying, “The idea of having one character played by three actors intrigued me. When I think about my 20s, 30s, and 40s, they are very different. It might seem obvious for one person to play one character, but I thought that by dividing the roles, the audience might be able to focus more on that period. As far as I know, it was a unique attempt,” and “I was grateful for the offer to participate in this project, and I had high expectations.”
Ahn Jae Hong takes on the role of Oh Nam, who finds solace in watching internet broadcasts after work. He explained his reason for joining the project, saying, “When I read the script, it was quite radical. The plot was so crazy that it was incredibly captivating to the point where it felt insane. The unconventional storytelling format was appealing, and I wanted to participate. The character was also a challenge I wanted to take on as an actor, and I was thankful for the opportunity to showcase a new side of myself. I thought of it as a chance, so I joined.”
Yeom Hye Ran appears as Kim Gyeong-ja, a mother who persistently pursues the murderer of her son, who returns as a corpse one day. She expressed, “I found the script really enjoyable, but I was concerned at the same time. I might look like a small and delicate woman, but this genre is striking and shocking to me. I had worries and concerns about whether I could choose such a strong work.”
“Mask Girl” will premiere on Netflix with the first 7 episodes later today.
Source: (A)
