Epic Scale... Will 'Moomoo' Uphold KBS's Pride as a Historical Drama Powerhouse (Comprehensive)

The production presentation for the drama was held at 2 PM on the 12th."There are many AI scenes... you can look forward to it."Actors Choi Ye-bin, Kim Do-hyun, Jang Hyuk, and Lee Ho CP, and actors Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Kang-woo, Jung Woong-in, and Baek Sung-hyun (from left) attended the production presentation for KBS2's new epic drama 'Moomoo' held at The Link Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul at 2 PM on the 12th, and shared various stories related to the work. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeol[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] KBS, known for its historical dramas, is presenting a new epic drama approximately three years after 'Goryeo–Khitan War'. This time, it's 'Moomoo', which depicts the process of the Three Kingdoms' unification in Silla. With a large cast of actors boasting solid acting skills, including Lee Hyun-wook, Jang Hyuk, and Kim Kang-woo, the drama is expected to send shivers through viewers' living rooms.The production presentation for KBS2's new epic drama 'Moomoo' (written by Kim Ri-heon&Hong Jin-yi, directed by Kim Young-jo&Gu Seong-jun) was held at 2 PM on the 12th at The Link Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul. Lee Ho CP, and actors Lee Hyun-wook, Jang Hyuk, Kim Kang-woo, Jung Woong-in, Kim Do-hyun, Baek Sung-hyun, and Choi Ye-bin attended the event and shared various stories related to the drama. Park Sung-woong was unable to attend due to filming schedules in Japan.'Moomoo' is a work that depicts the desperate and solitary epic of leaders who risked everything for a single victory amidst 600 years of war and internal turmoil within the Three Kingdoms. It is highly anticipated as an epic drama that KBS is presenting approximately three years after 'Goryeo–Khitan War', which concluded in March 2024.Lee Ho CP said, "The unification of the Three Kingdoms is a history that many people are familiar with, but there are also many parts that are not well known," adding, "While the history of victory is familiar, many people are not well aware of how Silla defeated the Tang Dynasty. Through these stories, I believe we can deliver fun and emotion to the viewers. You will be able to feel pride in our history."Lee Hyun-wook plays King Munmu of Silla, the 30th monarch, Kim Beop-min, who achieved the unification of the Three Kingdoms with his outstanding strategy and excellent combat skills. He stated, "I had to show the process of a person who hated war and fighting making a decision for some reason, going to the battlefield, and deciding to protect the country," and added, "I prepared while thinking a lot about how to express that part."Jang Hyuk plays Yeon Gaesomun, a valiant general of Goguryeo who fights to the end against the great army of the Tang Dynasty. As Yeon Gaesomun is a historical figure who has been depicted in various works, Jang Hyuk also pondered deeply to incorporate his own unique color.'Moomoo', featuring actors Jang Hyuk, Lee Hyun-wook, and Kim Kang-woo (from left), is a work that depicts the desperate and solitary epic of leaders who risked everything for a single victory amidst 600 years of war and internal turmoil within the Three Kingdoms. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolHe explained, "There was pressure on how to portray the historical situation Yeon Gaesomun was in persuasively while also bringing out the actor's unique color," and added, "In a situation where we are filming using AI systems, actors must lead the drama with analog emotions. Within that, I am feeling the potential for expansion in acting and filling it in one by one by finding points of contact."Kim Kang-woo plays King Taejong Muyeol of Silla, the 29th monarch, Kim Chunchu, who saves the country in crisis with his extraordinary strategy and sociability. He said, "Since many people know the life story of a real person, I felt a heavy burden as an actor," and added, "I prepared by imagining what Kim Chunchu might have thought when he went to the Tang and Wa countries, and what he felt when he fought alone in a situation where the fate of Silla depended on his words."Park Sung-woong plays Kim Yu-shin, the guardian of the battlefield, symbolizing 'the Silla army itself,' and Jung Woong-in leads the drama as General Kim Jin-ju, a Jin-gol noble.In particular, Jung Woong-in focused on completing Kim Jin-ju, for whom there are not many historical records, with his own interpretation. He said, "Since there are not many historical materials about Kim Jin-ju, I felt less pressure, thinking that Jung Woong-in could create it from scratch," and added, "Not all generals of Silla at that time were heroic figures like Kim Chunchu. I thought Kim Jin-ju represented many people who were not, and I tried to express that part."Kim Do-hyun plays Seol O-yu, who possesses outstanding bravery and tactics, and Baek Sung-hyun plays Go Yeon-mu, a righteous soldier. Choi Ye-bin transforms into Empress Wu Zetian, the first empress of the Tang Dynasty.The three actors also prepared for the work by interpreting their characters in their own ways, as they had to portray figures with limited historical records. Kim Do-hyun stated, "I pondered how a general from the sixth-rank official class could survive in a history centered around Seong-gol and Jin-gol."Actors Kim Do-hyun, Jang Hyuk, Choi Ye-bin, Lee Hyun-wook, Kim Kang-woo, and Jung Woong-in (from left) appear in 'Moomoo', which will meet viewers every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 PM starting on the 14th. /Reporter Kim Sung-ryeolBaek Sung-hyun said, "As a soldier loyal to the end, I think he was a character with many concerns about where to stand. I acted with the hope that the choices he made amidst that anguish would resonate with the viewers," and Choi Ye-bin emphasized, "Empress Wu Zetian is a figure who is evaluated as both extremely cruel and a great woman who fought against her destiny. I approached it with caution and prepared accordingly."In addition to the actors' passionate performances, another point of interest in the drama is the large-scale battle scenes. The production team plans to vividly realize the scale and realism of the war by actively utilizing AI technology.Lee CP said, "AI technology is developing rapidly. We will film parts that need to be shot realistically in person, but we will use AI for scenes that can be realized without filming them one by one," and added, "Since 'Moomoo' has many battle scenes, we have utilized AI technology as much as possible."Kim Kang-woo also said, "I think AI's technology is improving as it continues to learn," and added, "I look forward to seeing many large-scale scenes in this 'Moomoo' that I thought would have been better if they were included in historical dramas in the past."Finally, Jung Woong-in encouraged viewership by saying, "I hope it will be a time to reflect on what the lives of those who longed for peace were like amidst the horrors of war," and added, "While there is much interest in AI and war scenes, I hope you will focus on how their lives will be perceived by our next generation."'Moomoo', consisting of a total of 28 episodes, will premiere on the 14th at 9:20 PM.subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]