Na In Woo And Lee Se Young Discuss Their "Motel California" Roles, Living Life As An Actor, And More
by R Suhaila · SoompiNa In Woo and Lee Se Young sat down with ELLE Korea to discuss their upcoming drama “Motel California”!
Based on Shim Yoon Seo’s 2019 novel “Home, Bitter Home,” “Motel California” is a romance drama about a woman named Ji Kang Hee (Lee Se Young), who was born and raised in a rural motel called Motel California. After escaping her hometown, she returns home after 12 years and winds up reconnecting with her first love and childhood friend Cheon Yeon Soo (Na In Woo).
When asked about her first impression of her character Ji Kang Hee, Lee Se Young said, “In most dramas, the protagonist is a person who lives an ordinary life before facing an unexpected event and grows as they overcome it. But Ji Kang Hee is biracial, and her home is a motel. She faces challenges before she’s had a chance to establish her own identity. I was curious to see how she would overcome those challenges.”
Reflecting on her career, Lee Se Young shared, “I feel blessed to live life as an actress. I love my colleagues, and I truly enjoy the set where we work together. It makes me so happy when a former junior staff member becomes the highest-ranking person or debuts as the main [director or producer].”
Na In Woo described his character, Cheon Yeon Soo, as “the most harmless character in the world.” He explained, “I don’t think the idea of loving just one person for a lifetime is fantasy. Of course it’s tough to wait for one person, but I think it’s something people can do. I focused on expressing subtle emotions to make the character feel real. I imagined what someone who has endured such a long wait might look like as they age.”
As for his natural temperament, the actor shared, “I’ve never given up. I’m not good at letting go. It might be seen as stubbornness, but I believe that not giving up is an important quality in today’s world. I try to view it in a positive light.”
Na In Woo and Lee Se Young’s full pictorial and interview can be found in the January issue of ELLE Korea. “Motel California” is set to premiere on January 10 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
In the meantime, watch Lee Se Young in “What Comes After Love” below:
And watch Na In Woo in “Longing for You” below:
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