Park Seo-joon, the acclaimed star of "Itaewon Class," is returning to television drama after five years with a new romantic series that explores love across nearly two decades. The 37-year-old actor joined "Squid Game" breakout star Won Ji-an at a press conference in Seoul's Guro-gu district on Thursday to discuss their upcoming JTBC drama "Surely Tomorrow," which premieres this Saturday.
Since his career-defining role as the determined underdog Park Sae-ro-yi in "Itaewon Class," Park has focused on larger-scale productions across different platforms. His recent projects include a cameo appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film "The Marvels," Netflix's period horror series "Gyeongseong Creature," and the apocalyptic thriller "Concrete Utopia." However, the actor expressed his readiness to return to more intimate storytelling.
"I've been working steadily, just on different platforms," Park explained during the press conference. "But I think I've come back with a more mature way of expressing things." The new drama represents his first proper romantic series in five years, marking a significant shift back to the genre that helped establish his career.
"Surely Tomorrow" centers on Gyeong-do, an entertainment reporter who becomes entangled with Ji-woo, his former college girlfriend, under complicated circumstances. The story unfolds when Gyeong-do finds himself covering a cheating scandal involving Ji-woo's husband. Their relationship spans 18 years, beginning with their first romance at age 20, a second attempt at love at 26, and now this awkward third encounter in their late thirties.
The choice to feature an entertainment reporter as the protagonist drew considerable interest from the media. Director Lim Hyun-wook, who previously worked as a reporter before transitioning to variety shows and dramas, explained that the profession was essential to the story's foundation. "The whole story kicks off because Gyeong-do's job puts him in this situation," the director noted. "Without him being a reporter, none of it could have happened." Lim's recent success with the 2023 hit drama "King the Land" has raised expectations for this new project.
Park drew upon his extensive experience with the entertainment press to prepare for the role. "Early in my career, I must've hit 50 to 70 newsrooms in a single week doing interviews," he recalled. "I still remember the vibe, the different atmospheres of newsrooms. All of that came flooding back." This personal connection to the media world helped inform his portrayal of the entertainment reporter character.
Won Ji-an, 26, takes on the role of Ji-woo, a chaebol heiress whose polished exterior conceals deeper personal insecurities. The young actress gained widespread recognition last year for her powerful performance as Player 380 in "Squid Game" Season 2, where she portrayed a tough tomboy character who meets a tragic end. "Surely Tomorrow" represents her first leading role in a major network television drama, marking a significant milestone in her rising career.
The 11-year age difference between the two leads inevitably became a topic of discussion during the press conference. Park acknowledged his initial concerns about the age gap but praised his co-star's professionalism. "But once we actually met, she was incredibly mature," he said. "I don't know what she's been through, but there's this seasoned quality to her." The actor's comments reflect his respect for Won's acting abilities despite her relative youth.
Won addressed the age difference with confidence, viewing it as a learning opportunity rather than an obstacle. "I actually learned a lot from the experience," she explained. "I haven't hit my thirties yet, so whenever I needed to figure out how to play that age, I'd just watch him and follow his lead." Her approach demonstrates the collaborative spirit that developed between the two actors during production.
The drama employs a unique narrative structure that jumps between three different time periods, organized not chronologically but according to the characters' emotional states. Director Lim emphasized this creative approach, stating, "What matters isn't when something happened. It's where these two are at emotionally in any given moment." This storytelling technique aims to create a more emotionally resonant viewing experience.
Park offered his perspective on the show's genre classification, suggesting it transcends simple romantic comedy boundaries. "To me, it feels closer to melodrama," he said. "There's a lot here that people can actually relate to. These are conflicts rooted in reality." His comments suggest that viewers can expect a more mature and grounded approach to romantic storytelling.
"Surely Tomorrow" will air on JTBC every Saturday and Sunday at 10:40 p.m., with episodes also available for streaming in select international territories through Prime Video. The series promises to deliver an emotionally complex exploration of love, second chances, and the complications that arise when past and present collide.
