Two of South Korea's most beloved romantic comedy stars are making their highly anticipated return to screens together after a 10-year hiatus. Uhm Jeong-hwa and Song Seung-heon are reuniting in the upcoming drama series "My Troublesome Star," produced by the same network that brought viewers the global phenomenon "Extraordinary Attorney Woo." The new series promises to deliver a compelling blend of romance, comedy, and second chances that fans have been eagerly waiting for.
"My Troublesome Star" tells the story of Cheong-ja, portrayed by Uhm Jeong-hwa, a former A-list celebrity who is desperately fighting to reclaim her past glory and return to the spotlight. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she receives help from Go-chul, a dedicated police officer played by Song Seung-heon. The series has been generating significant buzz in the entertainment industry, primarily because it marks the first time the two actors have worked together since their successful collaboration in the 2015 fantasy romantic comedy film "Wonderful Nightmare."
During a press conference held in Seoul's Guro-gu district, Uhm Jeong-hwa revealed the extraordinary lengths she went to in order to authentically portray a washed-up celebrity. "I wanted to give the impression that she had been living hiding behind big, teased hair that covered much of her face, and that she had neglected her skin so that dark spots were left untreated," she explained. "To look heavier, I wore layers of clothing and ate without restrictions during filming." The actress added with a laugh, "Usually, during filming, you check your appearance a lot to make sure nothing is off, but this time I checked my appearance to make sure I looked ruined."
Reflecting on their long-awaited reunion, Uhm shared a touching moment from their recent photoshoot. "When we were taking a couple photo, Song said, 'It's been 10 years,'" she recalled. "I was so happy to meet him again through this drama. It was truly fun, and the way I tried to completely ruin my appearance felt very lovely and enjoyable." The chemistry between the two actors appears to have remained intact despite the decade-long gap between their collaborations.
Song Seung-heon echoed his co-star's enthusiasm about their reunion and the project itself. "It feels like we filmed 'Wonderful Nightmare' just the other day, but 10 years have already passed," he reflected. "Back then, the film was two hours long, so there was only one story arc, but this time it's a 12-episode series with lots of incidents, accidents and twists. I really had as much fun as I could filming with Uhm." The actor expressed high confidence in the series' potential success, boldly stating, "I think the series is going to garner even more success than 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo.'"
This new role represents another chapter in Uhm Jeong-hwa's recent focus on characters dealing with resilience and reinvention. Following her acclaimed performance in JTBC's "Doctor Cha" in 2023, where she portrayed a middle-aged woman rediscovering her dreams, Uhm is once again taking on a character who refuses to give up on her aspirations. "I did think that the story of finding one's dream and taking on a challenge might feel similar to 'Doctor Cha,' but Cheong-ja's journey, starting from small, supporting acting roles, was very moving," she explained. "Just as Jeong-suk (in 'Doctor Cha') showed that age or anything else doesn't matter, I thought Cheong-ja could also tell a story of chasing one's dreams, but in a completely different way."
Fans won't have to wait much longer to see this highly anticipated reunion come to life. "My Troublesome Star" is set to premiere its first episode on Monday on the ENA network. With the combined star power of Uhm Jeong-hwa and Song Seung-heon, along with the proven track record of the production team behind "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," the series is positioned to become another major hit in the competitive world of Korean drama.
