Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee to reprise roles in ‘Gyeongseong Creature 2’

Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee during the press conference of “Gyeongseong Creature 2.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix Korea

For Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee, engaging in hand-to-hand combat scenes was one of the factors that developed their working relationship during the filming of “Gyeongseong Creature 2,” which continued its storyline 79 years after season one.

The second installment of the period-fantasy drama continues the threat of najin, a terrifying bioweapon that transforms humans into monsters. It was first explained in “Gyeongseong Creature” season 1 in the fictional Ongseong Hospital during the height of World War 2, where Yoon Chae-ok’s (Han So-hee) mother was one of its victims.

While Yoon desperately looks for her mother, she crosses paths with charming pawnbroker Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon), developing a romantic relationship and strong partnership against Japanese forces.

But their romance was ill-fated. Yoon swallows the najin and becomes a supernatural being, and the series jumps into present-day Seoul through the perspective of the now-reincarnated Ho-jae (Park).

“I was very much drawn to my character because she has a lot of different charms. And I think a period drama has that power that really intrigues [viewers],” Han told INQUIRER.net in a roundtable interview with select reporters, when asked why she wanted to reprise her character in “Gyeongseong Creature 2.”

“I was also drawn to the creatures which made me want to give it a try. It was really a no-brainer to come back to this character,” she continued with a smile.

Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee during the press conference of “Gyeongseong Creature 2.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix Korea

Despite the “restrained romance” in its first installment, Han and Park said the lengthy production between season one and two gave them time to get closer, especially when filming fight scenes.

“Because we have so many action scenes where we did hand-to-hand combat, I think it’s why we became closer. We [were able] to have fierce hand-to-hand combat because of our chemistry,” Park recalled.

Han, for her part, said the “challenging” filming process contributed to their closeness as well. “It took us one year to get really close to each other. In season two, we could really rely on each other because we got much closer and we could rely on each other.”

“Season two was as challenging as season one,” she continued. “So I think it was going from season one to season two and we just helped each other out.”

79 years later

While the Romeo and Juliet-like romance of Ho-jae and Yoon continues in season two, the lead stars pointed out that exploring how the past affected the present is an important part of the series as well. Both sleuths with supernatural abilities, their characters are forced to confront the present and their eventual reunion in a snowy hillside street.

“Because it’s modern-day Seoul, I think Koreans would understand this faster. The way and tone of speech are different [at the time] compared to 1945. That was one big approach to my character,” Park said.

The actor also noted that the series explores the difference in beliefs 79 years into the present. “I think the people would have different ways of thinking in the past, compared [to the present]. I guess a lot of things were different, including how you would approach other people,” he continued.

Han, on the other hand, said her character retained her traumatic memories. But dealing with them in the present is one of the highlights of the series. “So much time has passed, we have new gadgets and everything has become more convenient,” she said of her character’s story.

“She’s working like a modern-day sleuth locating more people, but she’s using more modern means to find people,” she further added.

Han So-hee during the press conference of “Gyeongseong Creature 2.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix Korea

The culmination of their characters’ romance goes open-ended on a crowded street. Despite the many interpretations of their love story, Park hoped that viewers would remember the importance of not forgetting the atrocities of the past.

“The show is not just about the good and evil. It talks about what we should not forget and keep in mind,” said Park. “This is not just something that uniquely happens to Korean people. It’s something that people from across the world can relate to. I think the big theme is the things we should not forget, and there are a lot of themes in store.”

Park Seo-joon during the press conference of “Gyeongseong Creature 2.” Image: Courtesy of Netflix Korea

The actress also noted that apart from the show’s historical and fantasy roots, the action scenes will also draw viewers in.

“If the viewers focused on the action part this time around, they would have a lot of fun,” she said.

The Chung Dong-yoon and Jo Yeong-min-helmed season two also stars Claudia Kim, Lee Moo-saeng, and Bae Hyun-sung.