'Honey Jobs,' Poverty Scarier Than Ghosts... Bizarre 'Labor Ghost Stories' Born (Comprehensive)

A Suspicious Manpower Agency Offering 50 Times the Hourly Wage... Combining Reality and HorrorLee Jae-wook sends greetings via video... All 8 episodes to be released on the 30thActors Kim Min-ha and Director Kim Da-min, Chief Planner Han Jun-hee, and Actor Lee Hee-joon (from left) pose at the production presentation of Netflix's new original series 'Honey Job' held at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido, Seoul on the 28th. / Reporter [LEE SAEROM][THE FACT|Reporter Kim Saet-byul] The message of the work is consistent. Starting with the phrase 'Poverty is scarier than ghosts,' the story combines the lives of young people who jump into dangerous workplaces to make a living with bizarre ghost stories, creating a new livelihood horror. It's 'Honey Job,' which unravels the familiar reality of labor with horror and humor.The production presentation for Netflix's new original series 'Honey Job' (written by Kyung Min-sun&Lee Shin-ji, directed by Kim Da-min) was held on the morning of the 28th at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Da-min, Chief Planner Han Jun-hee, and actors Kim Min-ha and Lee Hee-joon attended the event and shared various stories about the work. Lead actor Lee Jae-wook sent his greetings via video message as he is currently serving in the military.'Honey Job' is set in a suspicious manpower agency that only introduces high-paying part-time jobs starting at 50 times the hourly wage. It tells the story of a young man, Byun Hyuk-joon (played by Lee Jae-wook), who is chased by debt, being deployed to a nightmarish workplace. While new workplaces and characters appear in each episode, the series unravels realistic issues of money, labor, and human relationships within a worldview of mystery and ghost stories.The starting point of the work is the question, 'Is there anything scarier than making a living?' Chief Planner Han Jun-hee explained, "When I first received the script, it was unfamiliar yet captivating. It was scary and funny, lighthearted yet not superficial." He added, "I thought that making a living is a story that resonates with everyone. I wanted to create a complex work by following the character of Hyuk-joon without portraying it solely in a dark light."He continued, "I always think, 'What story can only we tell?'" and "It's a story that would have been difficult to make without Netflix. I hoped it would be an irreplaceable work for the directors and actors as well."Director Kim Da-min also cited the unique setting that combines reality and ghost stories as a differentiating factor. He said, "The nightmarish workplaces change with each episode, and new characters get involved with Hyuk-joon," adding, "You will be able to feel catharsis from the protagonist struggling in chaos."In particular, the work unfolds new stories each episode by utilizing Korean ghost stories and urban legends, including Neapolitan ghost stories. Director Kim said, "I've heard many say it's unfamiliar. It would be more fun to watch if connected with ghost stories," but emphasized, "It's not a work that simply relies on ghost stories. It's special that new material appears in each episode yet is connected by a single worldview."Actors Kim Min-ha (left) and Lee Hee-joon revealed that they decided to appear in the work due to its fresh script. / Reporter [LEE SAEROM]The actors also chose to participate in the project due to the freshness of the script. Kim Min-ha said, "It was a genre I had never seen before. The script had many stage directions, and the fact that I had to portray the character relying on imagination for over 80% was appealing." She added, "I deeply empathized with the line 'Poverty is scarier than ghosts' while filming."Lee Hee-joon also commented, "It was fresh to be able to freely exercise my imagination with a subject matter like the difficulty of making a living and part-time jobs being as tough as death." He added, "I also had trust in Director Kim, with whom I worked on 'A Killer Paradox'."In the drama, Kim Min-ha plays Byun Ji-yoon, Hyuk-joon's younger sister. Ji-yoon is a realistic and action-oriented character. Kim Min-ha explained, "Although she may seem simple, her immediate action is filled with love. She is a friend who bravely saves her family." She added, "I empathized with the line in the drama, 'Poverty is scarier than ghosts'."She continued, "It was fun to experience confronting something invisible for the first time. I think I can show a bursting side that I haven't shown before."Lee Hee-joon plays the president of Spider Manpower, who arranges suspicious part-time jobs. He said, "As it's a high-paying part-time job, there are dangerous consequences. I thought I had to give people who come to me a sense of trust so they could readily start the job." He also mentioned, "I focused on fulfilling the role of a mediator balancing this world and the other world."Director Kim praised Lee Hee-joon's passion, saying, "Lee Hee-joon provided ideas for various objects, such as the Othello board where the president of Spider Manpower sits. Thanks to him, the character became richer."Netflix's original series 'Honey Job,' featuring actors Kim Min-ha (left) and Lee Hee-joon, as well as actors Lee Jae-wook and Go Min-si, who could not attend for their own reasons, will be released in its entirety on the 30th. / Reporter [LEE SAEROM]Director Han also asked for expectations for lead actor Lee Jae-wook's performance. Regarding Lee Jae-wook, he said, "He is an actor who possesses both solid nuance and fluency." He added, "I thought he could express both the submissive yet stubborn, and the fleeing yet confrontational dualities. You will be able to see hundreds of faces of Lee Jae-wook."The action sequences experienced by Hyuk-joon and Ji-yoon are also a point of interest. Director Kim explained, "Hyuk-joon is an ordinary person, but when danger strikes, he struggles to survive." He added, "Both characters pondered movements that appear desperate rather than perfectly choreographed action." Kim Min-ha humorously responded, "I tried to do it coolly, but it looked quite pathetic. When I said I wanted to do cool-looking action, the director told me that's exactly how Ji-yoon should be," eliciting laughter.The special guest appearances in each episode are another source of fun in the series. Choi Hyun-wook, Yoon Kyung-ho, Yoon Byung-hee, and Jo Hyun-chul appear in different episodes. Chief Planner Han Jun-hee explained, "Although they appear for a short time, I considered them main cast members of the work." He added, "I thought about who would be the best fit for each role, and actors with whom I had previously worked also joined us."'Honey Job,' an 8-episode series, screened 5 episodes through a press screening prior to its release. However, there are many parts that are not yet explained in the first 5 episodes. Director Kim foreshadowed that many parts would be explained in the latter half.He said, "Many things are explained later. The president of Spider Manpower's range of action also expands, and there will be fun derived from that." Chief Planner Han also hinted, "The latter half will reveal why it's a story about labor, showing the essence of labor more closely and deeply."The possibility of expanding the series has also been left open. Director Kim expressed his idea of remaking it with part-time jobs from various countries as material. Chief Planner Han also added, "If there is a next season, there are various expansion possibilities, such as catching monster sharks in the Atlantic or cleaning windows with our lives at stake in the Empire State Building." He honestly added, "I guess there will be a next season if you watch it with enjoyment."'Honey Job,' consisting of a total of 8 episodes, will be released worldwide in its entirety on the 30th.[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]sstar1204@tf.co.kr