[TF Interview] 'New Recruit 4' Production Team "Season 5? We'll continue if the viewers want it"
'Shinbyeong 4' Director Min Jin-ki&Writer Yoon Ki-young's Finale Commemorative Interview"Happy to become a 'National Series'... Still have many stories to tell"Writer Yoon Ki-young (left) and Director Min Jin-ki met with
for a finale commemorative interview for the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage'. /KT Studio Genie[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] Min Jin-ki and Yoon Ki-young's 'Shinbyeong' has been captivating viewers with its increasing quality with each season. It's solidifying the 'Shinbyeong' genre with episodes that evoke not just laughter and fun, but also emotion, going beyond ordinary military stories. 'Shinbyeong' promises an endless stream of stories to come.Director Min Jin-ki and Writer Yoon Ki-young recently met with at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, for a finale commemorative interview for the ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' (written by Yoon Ki-young&Kim Dan, directed by Min Jin-ki&Jo Jae-wook, hereinafter referred to as 'Shinbyeong 4'). The two, who were in charge of directing and writing respectively, shared various stories related to the series that has continued for four seasons.'Shinbyeong 4' is a hyper-realistic military comedy that depicts the story of Sergeant Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho), whose rank and worries have increased, facing an unpredictable military life once again with the appearance of new characters. It is the fourth season of the 'Shinbyeong' series, which was first released in 2022.Season 4, consisting of a total of 12 episodes, started with a series-high opening viewership rating of 2.8% and reached 3.6% by episode 4, achieving the highest viewership rating across all seasons. The series continued its upward trend in viewership, reaching a peak of 5.2% in its final episode aired on the 29th of last month. (Based on Nielsen Korea's national paid household ratings)Recently, Directors Min and Yoon have been realizing the popularity of the series, with viewership ratings significantly higher than previous seasons. The newly achieved record-breaking ratings have excited them. They are savoring the feeling of being rewarded with numbers for the time they struggled to meet viewers' expectations."I started every season with a sense of anxiety. Especially when I saw Season 4 starting with higher ratings than the previous season, I knew the viewers' expectations were high. So, this season, the writer and I worked even harder to ensure there would be no decline in viewership. I'm happy that 'Shinbyeong' has become a 'National Series'." (Director Min Jin-ki)ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' concluded with the highest viewership ratings in the series' history. /KT Studio GenieDirector Min has been the director for all seasons of 'Shinbyeong', from Season 1 to Season 4. While directing Season 4, he focused on the reasons why viewers should watch 'Shinbyeong'. He aimed to provide more enjoyment to a wider audience by moving beyond repetitive military stories and incorporating various forms of entertainment.The special appearances, strategically placed, served the same purpose. This season of 'Shinbyeong 4' featured YouTuber Kwak Tube and actors Kim Young-ok, Lee Han-wi, Song Young-jae, and Kim Joon-bae, enhancing the drama's entertainment value. Notably, actress Han Ga-in, who appeared as the sister of Jeon Se-gwang (played by Kim Dong-jun) in Season 3, made a real-life appearance, generating significant buzz."We planned with Kim Dong-jun for a long time to make Han Ga-in's appearance happen. (laughs) After Kim Dong-jun appeared on Han Ga-in's YouTube channel, their sibling-like chemistry became a 'meme' online, and I was curious about how it would translate to the drama." (Director Min Jin-ki)Directors Min and Yoon made Season 4 a turning point for the protagonist, Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho). They wanted to highlight that being the son of the division commander isn't always an advantage from a different perspective. This was a necessary step in expanding the worldview with successive seasons."In Season 4, we absolutely had to address Park Min-seok's background as the division commander's son. Otherwise, the character of Park Min-seok wouldn't have been able to grow. Due to the emotional aspect of being the son of someone in power, he had a strong image of a 'low-class soldier,' and we needed to shake that up. This was the right time. We wanted to show organizational satire." (Director Min Jin-ki)ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Shinbyeong 4: Sabotage' heightened viewer interest with a unique cast combination of original members Kim Min-ho, Nam Tae-woo, and Lee Sang-jin, along with new member Lee Won-jung. /KT Studio GenieHe also expressed strong affection for the original members who have been with the series up to Season 4, including Kim Min-ho, Nam Tae-woo, and Lee Sang-jin. Directors Min and Yoon stated, "Our slogan is 'Don't lose your original intention'," and "Our goal is to not forget our rookie days in Season 1 and to continue working together for the next season.""'Shinbyeong' has maintained its original members well. (laughs) Not a single actor had an easy journey to get here. That's why they are all diligent actors who know how to protect themselves. However, we welcome them not being able to appear in the next season if they become more successful. I truly hope they do better. We can let them go with joy."Their teamwork often surprises many on set. Director Min said, "The actors can predict what direction I'm going to give," and "I can also tell their condition just by looking at their eyes." He explained that with their perfect synergy, the filming speed has noticeably increased, making it easy to shoot in any location.He also mentioned actor Lee Won-jung, who plays Kim Hyun-wook, a new addition to the 'Shinbyeong' universe this season. Kim Hyun-wook is an original character created for the drama, not present in the original work, who harbors animosity towards Park Min-seok early in the story due to a misunderstanding.The production team cited 'young energy' and 'proven acting skills' as reasons for casting Lee Won-jung. They explained that they needed a young actor who matched the age of the 'Shinbyeong' characters to expand the viewer base. After searching for an actor with solid acting skills who wouldn't disrupt the flow of the drama, they discovered Lee Won-jung.Directors Min and Yoon did not spare praise for Lee Won-jung. They described him as an actor who "crosses between good and evil," stating that he "expresses both his ace-like qualities and the hidden ambiguity within." They added, "He is so diligent that he exercised for over two months for the bathhouse scene."Writer Yoon Ki-young (left) and Director Min Jin-ki revealed their strong affection for the drama 'Shinbyeong' and their commitment to new seasons. /KT Studio GenieAs the story of 'Shinbyeong 4' approached its end, fans expressed their desire for a Season 5. Regarding this, Director Min said, "The next season is up to the viewers," and "We have more than enough stories. We will continue as long as the viewers want it." Writer Yoon also stated, "There are still many stories to tell. I will continue as long as Director Min contacts me."In fact, the production team announced the confirmation of Season 5 just one day after the finale of 'Shinbyeong 4'. While the specific broadcast period has not been determined, the production team plans to begin work on Season 5 after the spin-off movie 'Shinbyeong the Movie: Ghosts Live in the Military Hospital' (hereinafter referred to as 'Shinbyeong the Movie') and the drama 'Sunning Baseball Team'.They also requested anticipation for 'Shinbyeong the Movie', which is scheduled to be released before the new season. 'Shinbyeong the Movie' is a film set in a military hospital and features Kim Min-ho, the protagonist of the 'Shinbyeong' series, along with actors Ryu Kyung-soo and group TWICE JEONGYEON. Ryu Kyung-soo makes his first appearance in the 'Shinbyeong' universe as Yoo Jae-hoon, a mysterious soldier admitted to the military hospital. Jeong Yeon, who is making her acting debut in this work, plays the role of nurse officer Yoo Jeong-yeon.Director Min expressed confidence, saying, "It's a 'Shinbyeong' story worth seeing in theaters," and "We are expanding the space and introducing new actors accordingly. It's a completely different story from the existing 'Shinbyeong'. Viewers won't feel it's just an extension of the drama 'Shinbyeong'.""It's a story that takes place in a different space from the drama 'Shinbyeong'. Even if you haven't watched the drama, you can enjoy it purely for entertainment. In particular, we were able to freely express levels of content that were impossible on TV due to censorship. 'Shinbyeong' is evolving into various genres beyond just a drama." (Director Min Jin-ki)mcy21@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]
