[CELEB] Jung So-min's portrayal of youth is breath of fresh air

Television

Published: 18 Jul. 2022, 13:11 Updated: 18 Jul. 2022, 16:47

[CELEB] Jung So-min's portrayal of youth is breath of fresh air

Jung So-min portrays the character of Mu-deok, a powerful sorcerer-turned-weakling in tvN drama series "Alchemy of Souls." [TVN]

Actor Jung So-min shows that she’s a genre-bender in her portrayal of a powerful sorcerer-turned-weakling in tvN drama series “Alchemy of Souls” (2022).

The fantasy romance series revolves around young magicians and their struggles to overcome their twisted fates due to forbidden magic known as “alchemy of souls,” which allows souls to swap bodies.

The series, which airs on cable channel tvN and is also available on streaming services Netflix and Tving, appeared on the former’s Global Top 10 chart, ranking No. 5 from June 27 to July 3 and has stayed on the June 27 to July 3 chart.

“Alchemy of Souls” is set in a fantasy country called “Daeho” which is ruled by royal magicians. The story begins when a legendary magician named Nak-su, portrayed by Go Yoon-jung, uses a forbidden spell and becomes trapped inside the weak body of a servant girl named Mu-deok, portrayed by Jung.

Part of the popularity behind "Alchemy of Souls" is Jung and Lee Jae-wook's chemistry as Mu-deok and Jang Uk. [TVN]

As the narrative unravels, Mu-deok struggles to return to her own body and becomes entangled with one of the royal heirs, Jang Uk, portrayed by Lee Jae-wook. Jang Uk, whose fate is altered by the soul magic, discovers Nak-su’s soul trapped inside Mu-deok’s body and becomes a pupil of the legendary magician to learn sorcery.

Screenwriters Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran, famously known as the “Hong sisters,” are behind the series. They've also worked on hits such as “My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox” (2010) and “Master’s Sun” (2013) on SBS and “A Korean Odyssey” (2017-18) and “Hotel del Luna” (2019) on tvN,

In addition to the fantasy setting and unique storyline, the series has also been garnering interest for the chemistry between the two leads, Jung and Lee. Their characters, whose relationship transitioned from that of a servant and master to master and pupil, changes once again when they become romantically involved. There is even humor to be seen when Mu-deok faces difficulty in manipulating her power due to her feeble body, and in her rapport with her pupil, Jang Uk.

“[It is] reminiscent of the K-drama ‘Crash Landing on You’ [on tvN] in that it’s a love story with charming and very competent actors,” one review reads on film review site iMDb. “Accolades to the director who allows the actors to showcase both their individual charisma, and their chemistry with each other as they glide seemingly effortlessly through this light-hearted escape.”

“Apart from the good CGI and different story, it is unlike every other historical show because there is no rush to make the lead couple fall in love immediately,” another review reads. “They hate, they curse, they fight, there are moments between them. I like it.

“Last but not the least, the female lead — Jung So-min’s character is very strongly built and does not get faded in the course of romance. Loving it.”

Jung So-min [BLOSSOM ENTERTAINMENT]

The series, which is divided into two parts, has already aired 10 out of the 20 episodes of Part 1. The release date for Part 2 has not been set yet. During an online local press event last month, director Park Joon-hwa said he had intentionally divided the series into two parts because “we couldn’t compress all the narrative into 20 episodes.”

Last week, several local media outlets reported that Go will reprise her role of Nak-su for Part 2. Neither tvN of Go and Jung's agencies, MMA and Blossom Entertainment, have commented on the rumors.

Jung, who debuted through SBS drama series “Bad Guy,” earned popularity for her role as Choi Ae-bong in KBS2’s web drama series “The Sound of Your Heart” (2016-17), adapted from the hit Naver Webtoon with the same title by cartoonist Jo Seok. The narrative is based on Jo Seok’s own life story from his 20s and his struggles to become a cartoonist. The series earned praise for the close physical resemblance of the lead protagonists Jo Seok and Ae-bong, as well as how the original work’s sense of humor in a sitcom style was portrayed.

Jung as Ae-bong, the main protagonist Jo Seok's girlfriend in "The Sound of Your Heart" [KBS2]

Jung’s edge in acting comes in her ability to capture the essence of the youth of today and draw sympathy from viewers through her performances. Since “The Sound of Your Heart,” Jung’s characters portray contemporary youths and narratives that center on their problems.

Jung as Byun Mi-young, the second youngest sibling of the Byun family in "My Father is Strange" (2017) [KBS2]

Jung successively featured in another hit television series “My Father is Strange” (2017) on KBS2, which revolved around a family of six. Jung portrayed the role of Byun Mi-young, the second youngest of the four siblings. Jung’s character was beloved for her personal development from a shy, hesitant intern who suffers from PTSD due to school bullying to someone who speaks up for herself. Another hit element of the drama came from her chemistry with her romantic interest, Ahn Joong-hee, portrayed by Lee Joon.

Jung as Yoon Ji-ho, a 30-year-old assistant writer who falls in love with her roommate Nam Se-hee in "Because This is My First Life" (2017) [TVN]

Another youthful character that she portrayed was in “Because This is My First Life” (2017) on tvN. Jung played Yoon Ji-ho, a 30-year-old assistant writer for a television series with no savings and no achievements in her career, who decides to have a fake marriage with a 38-year-old app designer Nam Se-hee, portrayed by Lee Min-ki. Through Ji-ho, Jung portrays emotions that the viewers could sympathize with related to career, savings, relationship and marriage.

The actor has also starred in series such as “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes” (2018) on tvN and “Monthly Magazine Home” (2021) on JTBC.

“Alchemy of Souls” airs on tvN every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 p.m.

Jung So-min (Kim Yoon-ji)

Date of birth: March 16, 1989
Zodiac sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Seoul
Debut: May 2010 through SBS drama series “Bad Guy”
Agency: Blossom Entertainment

Jung So-min debuted on the small screen through SBS drama series “Bad Guy” in 2010 and has consistently featured in television series and films since then. Her breakthrough came about in 2016 through KBS2’s web drama series “The Sound of Your Heart” (2016-17) when she portrayed the main protagonist Jo Seok’s girlfriend Ae-bong. Since then, she has starred in notable works such as “My Father is Strange” (2017) on KBS2, “Because This is My First Life” (2017) and now in “Alchemy of Souls” on tvN.

This information was confirmed by Blossom Entertainment on July 15, 2022.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]