bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

sponsorType

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

copyrighted

customTimezone

liveContents

The Korea Times

By Pyo Kyung-min
For singer-turned-actress Jung Eun-ji, the recently concluded K-drama Miss Night and Day felt like a gift.
“During filming, I met colleagues who really understood me. The relationships I formed through this drama were a gift in themselves,” Jung said in an interview.
“The show’s outcome was good, sure, but this series holds a special place in my heart because I can continue my connection with the actors I worked with.”


Miss Night and Day, a fantasy romcom series, finished with an impressive viewership rating of 11.7 per cent, making it the highest for any JTBC drama aired this year.
The drama follows the story of Mi-jin, a desperate jobseeker who finds herself trapped in the body of an older woman during the day and returning to her younger self at night.
Jung plays the younger character and veteran actor Lee Jung-eun – known for her scene-stealing role in the film Parasite (2019) – plays her older self.
Jung expressed more affection for her fellow actors than for her own achievements, especially for Lee.
“I’ve always been curious about Lee since her previous work. Her ability to transform completely for each role intrigued me. I wanted to know everything about her preparation process and her on-set presence,” Jung said.
“When I heard that Lee was confirmed for the cast, I immediately decided to take on the challenge after receiving the script and offer [for this drama].”

According to Jung, Lee was a wonderful mentor and friend on set.
“Lee is not only a senior in acting but also a great sister to me. Despite being 24 years older, she treated me so warmly and casually.”
Jung, who debuted in the entertainment industry in 2011 as the main vocalist of K-pop girl group Apink, first captivated the public with her singing.
She ventured into acting a year later, taking on the lead role of Reply 1997, in which she perfectly emulated an early K-pop fan with someone going through the trials of first love.
Since then, she has steadily built her acting career with roles in various films and dramas, including school drama Cheer Up! and seasons one and two of the series Work Later, Drink Now.

Despite her considerable acting experience, Jung says she occasionally struggled to relate to her character Mi-jin, a young jobseeker in tough times.
“I value rationality over emotions, so at first I couldn’t understand Mi-jin’s life pace. Questions like ‘Why is she so hesitant?’ and ‘Why can’t she just be honest?’ kept coming to me.”
To better understand Mi-jin, Jung continuously explored her character’s motives.
“During the process, I realised that everyone has their own pace in life. Though I couldn’t relate wholly, people around me said they deeply empathised with Mi-jin’s struggles.
“From then on, I observed how these people approached life and learned that everyone’s pace deserves respect.”

Jung attributed the drama’s popularity to its central theme of time.
“I think this drama was loved by all generations because it deals with time. Older viewers reflected on their youth, and younger viewers enjoyed imagining what it would be like to suddenly age,” she said.
The actor added that she also contemplated youth and ageing while filming the drama.
“I believe I won’t change much as I age and will continue living as I do now. I think my everyday routine of cleaning the house, watching anime when I’m bored and wondering what to eat on a daily basis will remain the same,” she said.
“Though we can’t control physical ageing, I want to keep a youthful spirit. I want to stay carefree with my friends and enjoy good food whenever I want. I hope many things remain unchanged.”
Read the full story at The Korea Times.


Disney+ K-drama The Fiery Priest season 2: Kim Nam-gil beats up sinners in action comedy

K-drama casting news about Vincenzo actress Jeon Yeo-been, eyed for rom-com, and more

Disney+ K-drama Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born midseason recap – Kim Tae-ri’s musical triumph

Netflix K-drama Mr. Plankton review: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi in disjointed road trip drama

K-drama news

Apink’s Jung Eun-ji on K-drama Miss Night and Day, working with Lee Jung-eun and ageing

Jung Eun-ji in 2022. She looks back on her role in the recently concluded K-drama fantasy romcom Miss Night and Day. Photo: Getty Images

Jung says she “met colleagues who really understood me” during the filming of Miss Night and Day. Photo: IST Entertainment

A promotional image for Miss Night and Day. Photo: JTBC

To better understand Mi-jin, Jung continuously explored her character’s motives. Photo: IST Entertainment

Mission: Cross movie review – Hwang Jung-min, Yum Jung-ah play couple in Netflix spy caper

Hwang Jung-min (left) and Yum Jung-ah in a still from Mission: Cross. Photo: Netflix

Yum Jung-ah (left) as a detective and Hwang Jung-min as her husband and former special forces operative in a still from Mission: Cross, directed by  Lee Myung-hoon. Photo: Netflix

Yum Jung-ah as detective Mi-seon (left) and Hwang Jung-min as her husband and former special forces operative Kang-mu in a still from Mission: Cross. Photo: Netflix

Midseason recap of Netflix K-drama Miss Night and Day, enjoyable but overstuffed fantasy

Jung Eun-ji in a still from Miss Night and Day.

Choi Jin-hyuk (left) and Jung Eun-ji in a still from Netflix series Miss Night and Day. Lee Jung-eun co-stars.

Choi Jin-hyuk as prosecutor Gye Ji-ung in a still from Miss Night and Day.

Lee Jung-eun as Lim Sun in a still from Miss Night and Day.

Choi Jin-hyuk (left) and Baek Seo-hoo as Ko Won in a still from Miss Night and Day.

Jung Eun-ji as Lee Mi-jin in a still from Miss Night and Day.

Disney+ K-drama Red Swan review: romantic thriller starring Rain fails to convince

Rain as Seo Do-yoon in a still from Red Swan.

Korean actor-singer Rain as Seo Do-yoon carries Oh Wan-soo (played by Kim Ha-neul) in a still from K-drama Red Swan.

Kim Ha-neul as Oh Wan-soo in a still from Red Swan.

Jung Gyu-woon as Kim Young-gook in a still from Red Swan.

Yoon Je-moon as family lawyer Han Sang-il (left) and Seo Yi-sook as Hwain Group chairwoman Park Mi-ran in a still from Red Swan.

K-pop singer and actress Lee Hye-ri on why her new film role, in Victory, was ‘intense’

Lee Hye-ri at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival. Photo: Chris Kammerud

Lee Hye-ri at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival, where Victory, in which she has the lead role, had its world premiere and the actress won the Asia rising star award. Photo: Raymond Tisch

Lee (front) in a still from Victory. Photo: Mindmark & Annapurna Films

Lee in a still from reality series Agents of Mystery, currently on Netflix. Photo: Boram Park/Netflix

Lee after receiving the rising star Asia award at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival. Photo: Rom Choi

Lee in a still from the 2021 K-drama My Roommate Is a Gumiho.

Lee in a still from the 2022 K-drama May I Help You.

A still from Victory. Photo: Mindmark & Annapurna Films

Lee (second from right), Park Se-wan (right) and Park Beom-su (second from left) at the 2024 New York Asian Film Festival. Photo: Chris Kammerud

14 of the best new K-dramas to watch in August 2024, including Disney+’s The Tyrant

Kim Seon-ho in a still from The Tyrant. Photo: Disney+

Kim Seon-ho in a still from The Tyrant on Disney+, one of 14 Korean drama series dropping in August. They include season two of Pachinko, romantic comedy Love Next Door starring Jung So-min and Jung Hae-in, and Jeon Jong-soo in period drama Queen Woo. Photo: Disney+

A promotional poster for Black Out.

Lifestyle

K-Pop

K-drama

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

Jung Eun-ji reflects on the recently ended show, why Parasite’s Lee Jung-eun was ‘a great sister’ and struggling to understand her character


Jung Eun-ji, a member of K-pop girl group Apink and an actress, reflects on fantasy romcom Miss Night and Day, in which she co-starred with Parasite’s Lee Jung-eun. She calls Lee ‘a great sister’.


What's hot in Korea

South Korean celebrities

Korea Times