[TF Focus] Will Nam Ji-hyun's Eye Work This Time... 'I Can Tremble' Embraces 'Sex Toy'

TVING's Bold New Material... Will it be the 'Second LTNS'?Nam Ji-hyun&Kim Jae-young Reunite After '100 Days My Prince'TVING's new original series 'Because I Want to Be Touched', which is drawing attention as the next project of actress Nam Ji-hyun, who has a good eye for selecting projects, will be released for the first time on the 15th. /TVING[Reporter Kim Saet-byul] Actress Nam Ji-hyun, known for her excellent taste in selecting projects, is taking on another unique challenge. Following 'LTNS', TVING's new attempt, which adopts a somewhat unconventional and fresh subject matter, is also added, and anticipation is building for the kind of entertainment 'Because I Want to Be Touched' will bring to viewers.The TVING new original series 'Because I Want to Be Touched' (written by Ahn Sae-bom, directed by Kim Ye-ji), which premieres today (15th), is a romantic comedy depicting the growth of Gong Yeon-soo (Nam Ji-hyun), a woman who only engages in relationships with love, and Dok Go-dal (Kim Jae-young), a man who is good at relationships even without love. It tells the story of two people with different views on relationships who become entangled as an advertiser and an agency.'Because I Want to Be Touched' has already garnered attention as Nam Ji-hyun's next project. Starting as a child actress, Nam Ji-hyun has built a filmography by experiencing a wide range of genres, from historical dramas to romance, thrillers, and mysteries. She has showcased a broad acting spectrum by portraying characters and genres of different natures in each work, including 'Queen Seondeok', 'Suspicious Partner', '100 Days My Prince', '365: Repeat the Year', 'Little Women', and 'High Cookie'.Her recent works alone are remarkable. Both SBS's 'Good Partner' and KBS2's 'The Bandit' achieved good results, recording favorable reviews and decent viewership ratings despite being in different genres.As such, Nam Ji-hyun has consistently chosen new characters without being confined to a specific genre or image, making 'Because I Want to Be Touched' eye-catching solely based on it being her next project. This time, she plays Gong Yeon-soo, a marketer raised in a traditional family that values tradition and etiquette. She is a character who adheres to her own conservative principles in dating and love.Gong Yeon-soo tries to stick to the standards she has set, from her attitude towards love to the way she conducts relationships. However, when she meets Dok Go-dal, who has completely opposite values, she begins to re-examine the principles she took for granted. The point to watch is how the characters will grow by redefining their own standards through their relationship, going beyond simply depicting the process of two different men and women meeting and falling in love.The romantic chemistry with Kim Jae-young is also highly anticipated. Kim Jae-young plays Dok Go-dal, the CEO of a sex toy startup, who believes that not only emotional connection but also physical connection is important in relationships. As a character who believes there is no set answer to love and relationships, the conflict that will arise when he meets Gong Yeon-soo, who has firm standards for everything, is expected to drive the drama's entertainment.The reunion of Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young is also noteworthy. The two will meet again after tvN's '100 Days My Prince', which aired in 2018. At the time, Nam Ji-hyun played Hong Shim, and Kim Jae-young played Mu-yeon. In the drama, the two were entangled as siblings, portraying a poignant and lingering relationship. In this new work, they will meet as the male and female leads and showcase a romantic chemistry filled with constant bickering.While their previous work touched viewers' emotions with their affectionate feelings for each other, this time they are expected to show a new kind of chemistry with a bickering romance stemming from opposite views on relationships. Curiosity is piqued as to how the two actors, who met as siblings in one drama, will understand each other and develop their relationship in this new one.Attention is focused on what new aspects actress Nam Ji-hyun will show in 'Because I Want to Be Touched' and how she will lead the project to success. /TVINGThe expectation for box office success cannot be overlooked either. '100 Days My Prince' was loved by many, recording a maximum viewership rating of 14.4% (based on Nielsen Korea's national paid household ratings). As the drama starring Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young at the time received a positive response from viewers, there is much interest in whether 'Because I Want to Be Touched', their reunion project, will also achieve good results. Although the broadcasting platform has changed from tvN to TVING, the key point to watch is whether the two actors can once again capture the viewers' attention.'Because I Want to Be Touched' also catches the eye in terms of its subject matter. Although it is a romantic comedy dealing with love and relationships, the male protagonist's setting as the CEO of a sex toy startup is different from commonly encountered works. While the story surrounding sex and relationships is placed at the forefront, it is characterized by its focus on romance, comedy, and character growth within the 15+ age rating.This is not the first time TVING has chosen such a relatively bold subject matter. The previously released original series 'LTNS' is a work that depicts the story of a childless couple tracking down cheating couples, portraying marital relationships and sex from a realistic and provocative perspective. As it received an R rating and its subject matter was unconventional, there were concerns before its release. However, after its release, it received critical acclaim for its artistic merit and continued to be mentioned and maintain its presence, even being nominated for international awards.'Because I Want to Be Touched' is neither the same work as 'LTNS' nor the same level of story. While there is a commonality in using subject matter related to sex and relationships, it is a romantic comedy rated 15+ that focuses on the process of change when two characters with different values meet. The success of the work is expected to depend on how convincingly the characters' relationships and growth are depicted through this, rather than the provocative setting itself.Ultimately, the key is whether the unfamiliar subject matter can be connected to familiar empathy. The confrontation between a woman who believes love must be accompanied and a man who thinks there is no set answer to love makes viewers reflect on their own standards for dating and relationships. If the process of understanding each other's differences leads to a convincing romance and growth narrative, it is expected to provide fresh entertainment.Will TVING be able to capture viewers' attention once again with a subject matter that deviates from the conventional grammar of romance, following 'LTNS'? In addition, attention is focused on the reaction that 'Because I Want to Be Touched' will receive after its release, with the added synergy of Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young, who have transformed in each of their projects.'Because I Want to Be Touched', which depicts the romance of clashing tastes between Nam Ji-hyun and Kim Jae-young, consists of a total of 10 episodes. Starting with the release of 4 episodes on the 15th, 2 episodes will be released every Thursday at 6 PM on TVING.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]sstar1204@tf.co.kr