Actor Ryu Seung-ryong is set to return to the small screen with JTBC drama The Dream Life of Mr. Kimadapted from a webtoon of the same name. This series follows the journey of a middle-aged man who loses everything he once thought precious, and gradually rediscovers the true value of his life, not in status or success, but in self-acceptance.
Ryu Seung-ryong plays Kim Nak-soo, team leader in a large conglomerate where he has worked for 25 years. He has risen through the ranks by dint of perseverance, and on the surface leads an ideal life: a house in Seoul, a wife at home, a son enrolled at a renowned university. Yet behind this stability lies a man in search of meaning.
The actor explains why he chose this role What struck me most was how real the story seemed. We live in a time when everyone is just trying to cope in their own way, and this drama shows that with great sincerity. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to it."
About his character, he confides: "At first, Kim Nak-soo seemed familiar. He's the kind of person you come across everywhere. There's nothing extraordinary about him, and that's precisely what makes him so realistic. On the surface, he appears rigid and stubborn, but he's overflowing with love for his family and acts according to his own principles. He's someone you can't hate. The more you get to know him, the more attached you become."
Ryu Seung-ryong adds that he paid particular attention to the accuracy of his interpretation: "I wanted to remain faithful to the script while building the character. I believe that a character's path is already mapped out in the author's words. I read every scene carefully to understand who Nak-soo is and what he's going through emotionally. On set, I exchanged a lot with the director, the crew and the other actors to make him as authentic as possible."
The actor describes Kim Nak-soo as "a man of many riches", adding: "His greatest achievement is not honors or status, but the good people around him. When life gets too busy, we often forget to think about ourselves. I think we need to learn to live more flexibly and not judge ourselves too harshly. That's why I'd like to say to Nak-soo: 'You've worked hard, and you've done well.'"
He concludes: "The Dream Life of Mr. Kim is not just about a man named Mr. Kim, but about all the ordinary people who live in this world. I hope viewers will reflect through him on questions like: "What did I miss out on by living?", "What did I take for granted?", or "What am I still holding on to?""
The Dream Life of Mr. Kim will be broadcast from October 25 at 10:40 pm (KST) on JTBC and Netflix.
