'One Day Off' lead actor talks the joys of ordinary, mid-form series

Television

Published: 09 Jun. 2023, 14:43

'One Day Off' lead actor talks the joys of ordinary, mid-form series

Actor Lee Na-young plays protagonist Ha-kyung in the Wavve original series ″One Day Off,″ about a teacher who takes a day off each week to go on a trip by herself. [WAVVE]

The most ordinary and seemingly insignificant moments are what we end up treasuring, actor Lee Na-young shows in the Wavve original drama series “One Day Off.”

Revolving around a high school teacher who takes a day off each week to go on short trips across the country, “One Day Off” will speak to viewers in an ordinary but special way.

Contrary to the fist-clinching, tense original series that grab people's attention with the most extreme stories, this is definitely for the faint of heart — the tired modern minds that would like to take time off and travel, but can't due to their busy lives.

The drama series was released on Wavve on May 24, with eight 25-minute episodes, a relatively short duration for a drama series. This is actor Lee's first new work in four years, deviating slightly from her last role in the romantic comedy drama "Romance Is a Bonus Book" (2019).

Main poster for ″One Day Off″ [WAVVE]

“I tried to approach acting my character Ha-kyung with a less-is-more attitude,” said Lee, during a group interview with reporters at a cafe in Jung District, central Seoul, on June 2. “If I had received this role 10 years ago when I was in my 20s, I would have practiced the far-away look that Ha-kyung has and tried to construct my character around the idea of her being a sort of detached person. But now that I am also in my thirties and understand what this series is about in my heart, I went about portraying Ha-kyung in a more loose manner.”

In “One Day Off,” Ha-kyung takes a day off each Saturday and wanders about small towns and tourist locations in Korea without any prior planning or itinerary. Ha-kyung meets a number of odd people during her travels, having conversations with them, sometimes dancing and singing, and reading along the way, showing small and ordinary but meaningful insights.

Taking a break from our everyday life and giving ourselves a breather is something Lee also thinks is important.

Actor Lee Na-young [WAVVE]

“Ha-kyung is someone who we can all come across in our lives, and she may seem completely ordinary, but she has these small seemingly insignificant adventures that ring true with us,” said Lee. “I think my character is wise. She knows that resting and going far away from what we are used to is something that is necessary for everyone.”

Filming “One Day Off” made Lee broaden her horizon on acting and reflect on her own ways of resting and traveling. Lee debuted in 1998 and is best known for "Ruler of Your Own World" (2002), "Ireland" (2004) and "Maundy Thursday" (2006).

“Ha-kyung is a very nondescript character and there were no boundaries as to who she could become,” said Lee. “So it was hard figuring out how to deliver her through acting, and that was a new challenge for me. I also found myself comparing my methods of traveling and taking time off for myself with my character, and found that I had never just spontaneously gone on trips before I took on ‘One Day Off.’ I am beginning to change that.”

“One Day Off” is a mid-form series, which is a category of television or streaming show that is shorter than most dramas which usually consist of 14 to 16 episodes. Mid-form series usually have six to eight short episodes, with each episode around 25 minutes. Such shorter shows are more approachable for viewers and the length of “One Day Off” was also one of the factors that drew Lee to the series.

Actor Lee Na-young [WAVVE]

“The scenario and script were also appealing, but that this was a mid-form series was something that was the deal clincher for me in choosing to appear in ‘One Day Off,’’ said Lee. “I think nowadays with people being so tired of the slew of content being poured out and having less time to devote to watching things, mid-form shows can be a new way forward to literally give people a rest and provide audiences with something different.”

“There is a blank space in the story, which invites viewers into the overall atmosphere of the show and provides food for thought,” said Lee. “I think there is much room in ‘One Day Off’ for people to apply their own life and situations into the position of Ha-kyung. I hope that way, viewers will find value in the ordinary moments and be healed in a small way.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]