Dorkaholics was in attendance for a press conference celebrating the release of the Korean series Gyeongseong Creature on Netflix. Read below for more insight from writer Kang Eun-kyung.
Q. What was the starting point for Gyeongseong Creature?
Kang Eun-kyung: It’s a story about young people struggling to survive. I wanted them to be not just figures representing a painful era but real people like us living at that time in history. So I wanted to begin with the question, “What were the people living at that time like?” The time period by itself, however, would not differentiate this story from many others. That’s what I was thinking when I met up with director Chung Dong-yoon, who has so much insight into different genres. So my love of the narrative and his gift for genre work came together, and Gyeongseong Creature was born.
Q. What was the idea behind the concept of “between” in the series?
Kang Eun-kyung: The word “between” can have many meanings. It can be used to distinguish one thing from another or from one phase to another. We experience many such “between” experiences in the times we live in now. Take good and evil, for example. We ask, “Do I choose this or that?” or “How should we live as human beings? What comes first, survival or humanity?” Depending on which side you choose, discernment between good and evil takes on different meanings. Aren’t we all navigating through life in this way, constantly choosing sides? Jang Tae-sang is a prime example of someone caught between two sides. His survival necessitated him to get along with the Japanese but he must have asked how much his pride could take and how far he could be pushed. For me, the “between” concept doesn’t really mean differentiation here. It signifies a person trying to decide which side to stand on, like Jang Tae-sang.
Q. What characteristics were given to the creature and why?
Kang Eun-kyung: Conceptualizing the creature began with the idea of a mouse striking out against a cat. A parasite in a prey’s head making it fearless against its predator was an interesting concept to me. Working with the idea of a parasite, I freely imagined how powerful that parasite could be and all the possibilities that could happen.
Q. How does it feel to showcase Gyeongseong Creature worldwide to viewers in 190 countries?
Kang Eun-kyung: I almost cried thinking how many people worked so hard on this project. As someone who devoted her life to writing screenplays, I was so grateful. The two lead actors, Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee had great onscreen chemistry and delivered stellar performances. I hope viewers will find the intertwined lives of these two delightful characters and the romance that develops between them captivating.
Catch Gyeongseong Creature on Netflix starting Friday, December 22, 2023.
