Our Story - Binjin

Chapter 54: Lining up the Book of Works

Story 1: First meeting with Script Writer Park Ji Eun

Hyun Bin and Dong Wan were already seated in the meeting room when Ye-Jin arrived. She gave them a bright smile and took the seat across from Hyun Bin. Hyun Bin quietly pushed a cup of coffee across the table to her. Ye-Jin's smile widened when she saw it was her favorite brand. Dong Wan rolled his eyes and Manager Kim cleared his throat.

Just then, Park Ji Eun and her team entered the room. They exchanged handshakes and Park Ji Eun smiled warmly at them. "Thank you all for coming down today. I saw the movie you filmed together and was very impressed with the chemistry the two of you displayed. I was really glad to hear you're interested in my script."

"Not at all, Park Ji Eun nim, we're fans of your scripts and we're thankful you would consider us for the roles." Hyun Bin politely responded. "As I've explained to you before, I worked very well with Ye-Jin shi on The Negotiations and we were both keen to cooperate on a script which would give us a platform to further showcase our chemistry."

"Yes, I recall that. Let me share more about the scenario," Writer Park said. "I'm still working on the script and it probably still need about a month's work. But at a high level, the story revolves around a South Korean heiress Se-ri and a North Korean elite soldier Jeong-hyeok. Se-ri lands in North Korea after a freak paragliding accident and meets Jeong-hyeok."

Writer Park paused to observe their reaction. North Korea was a sensitive topic and she wanted to gauge their appetite for a potentially controversial topic.

Both Hyun Bin and Ye-Jin nodded slowly. Ye-Jin was intrigued by why Writer Park would choose a controversial setting. "Park Ji Eun nim, is there a reason why you have selected North Korea?"

Writer Park smiled, "This script is inspired by a true story. Actress Jung Yang was once on a leisure boat and they accidentally drifted into North Korean waters. They had to be rescued by the military. It made me think, we are all Koreans but none of us has ever step foot in North Korea. In fact, it's inconceivable that we would ever be able to visit the North. The incident made be think it's possible to accidentally cross the border. I want to showcase our similarities despite our political differences. I wondered what will happen if a South Korean heiress - and I intentionally picked the most extreme representation of South Korean society - were to land in the North. Wouldn't it be interesting to see how she would adapt to a way of life which was the polar opposite of her world. And through her adaptation, we would see we're fundamentally the same."

Ye-Jin nodded slowly again, the concept was interesting.

Writer Park continued, "The other theme in the script is fate and serendipity. This will be a sort of a reality infused fantasy script. Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok may be elites in their respective societies but they have both gone through painful personal experiences. It was theoretically impossible for them to ever meet but fate would have it otherwise. The most impossible couple met under impossible circumstances and fell in love. The political divide will be the main hindrance for them."

Hyun Bin asked, "What will happen to Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok then? We can't change the North-South situation in the show."

Writer Park smiled, "Switzerland, the representative of countries who practice armed neutrality. Jeong-hyeok and Se-ri's destiny will start and end in Switzerland. Of course, the drama is not just about them, there will be family love, friendship, betrayal and loyalty all embedded in the plot."

Ye-Jin asked, "What kind of actors do you think will bring out the best of the script?"

Writer Park nodded her head. This is a very sharp question, Ye-Jin is clearly an intelligent actress. "The fact that its a reality infused fantasy script gives us the flexibility to introduce plots which are impossible in a realistic setting. However, at the same time, if the plot is too unrealistic, it becomes hard to engage the audience. The chemistry between the two leads are hence very important. They are key to balancing the fantasy and reality. In other words, the two leads need to make it look realistic. I need actors who give life to the characters and I believe the two of you have that, skills as well as chemistry. What do you think?"