"I hope viewers reassess the true meaning of family": Kim on the Message of "Romance in the House"

Actress Kim Jee Soo shares her thoughts on playing the lead role of Geum Ae Yeon in JTBC's new weekend drama Romance in the House.

Romance in the House is a melodrama where the father, who was cut off by his family 11 years ago due to his multiple business venture failures, returns as the owner of their building. He tries to win back his family, who still harbor resentment towards him. 

The actress commented, "The script was pleasant to read. I liked that it was a family story that anyone can empathize with. Especially, I liked the triangular relationship between the mother, father, and daughter." "I was waiting for a script with a warm and funny story, and I found that in Romance in the House," she said. 

Playing a mom who raised two children alone, Geum Ae Yeon was also a character Kim Jee Soo had long awaited. "I have mainly played refined and restrained characters, who seem perfect, so far. That's why I desired to play a friendly character," she explained. "Geum Ae Yeon became a mother at the early age of twenty and, after divorcing her husband Moo Jin (Ji Jin Hee), she toughened up navigating the harsh realities of life. However, as Ae Yeon herself, not as a mother, she is an incredibly cute and lovable character." She added, "Cute, lovable, strong yet tender, and sometimes silly — Ae Yeon, with her diverse traits, was perfect for quenching my thirst." 

Kim Jee Soo also poured immense effort into her character. "Usually, I read the script once or twice before going to the set, but for Romance in the House, I practiced more before going into shooting," she said. "I mostly acted with an elegant tone in my previous works. However, for this drama, I put a lot of effort into speaking in a tone that suited Ae Yeon. I also acted out my past self from the age of twenty and did a lot of research on how people in their 20s spoke." 

She also boasted about her perfect chemistry with Ji Jin Hee, Son Na Eun, and Yoon San Ha. "I previously worked together with actor Ji Jin Hee." "Since we already had the experience of co-starring [in a drama], it was easy to act together."

Regarding Son Na Eun and Yoon San Ha, who play her daughter and son respectively, she said, "Son Na Eun had to portray a different image from what she had shown in her previous dramas, and she did a great job portraying Mi Rae. Yoon San Ha was cute and charming, as expected of the youngest, and he also has a lot of passion for acting," unhesitatingly boasting about her on-screen children.

Concluding, Kim Jee Soo said, "I think family is the most intimate, affectionate, poignant, and sometimes the most annoying entity [in a person's life]. Romance in the House depicts how a broken family heal each other's wounds, overcome anger, and recover together. After watching this drama, I hope every viewer grows as an individual beyond their role as a mother, father, or child and reassesses the true meaning of family ."

Romance in the House will premiere on August 10. The K-drama will be available to stream on Netflix. 

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