November 2023 Issue
Disclaimer: Article is roughly translated. It may contain inaccuracies. Please pardon any mistakes.
The Matchmakers
Q: In the midst of filming the upcoming drama “The Matchmakers,” we finally get to meet. How far are you in the story? Cho Yihyun: We’re already halfway through. We just need to keep going by doing as much as we’ve done so far.
Rowoon: Now, we need to work in earnest once more. I’d like to think that today’s the starting point for us to take a breather and reset.
Q: What scene did you shoot yesterday?
Rowoon: It’s about time that Jungwoo (played by Rowoon) and Soondeok (played by Cho Yihyun) slowly begin to look at each other after doing the matchmaking business out of necessity.
Cho Yihyun: However, they haven’t realized their feelings for each other yet. Should I say they’re both in the indenial stage? (laughs)
Q: Just by the trailer alone, Jungwoo and Soondeok are different. What did you both focus on for your characters?
Cho Yihyun: Soondeok, who lost her husband very young, starts a matchmaking business without her parents-in-law knowing. When asked why she works as a matchmaker, (Soondeok) said, “Isn’t it wonderful to match with someone that suits you? It makes your heart flutter. As for me, nothing else will make my heart flutter. There shouldn’t be.” I think her answer perfectly describes Soondeok’s character. The drama is set in the Joseon Dynasty, and in those days, it was difficult for a widow to dream of remarriage or finding new love. Soondeok conforms to this, but she pursues love in her own way.
Rowoon: Like Soondeok, Jungwoo also becomes a widower, but his situation is slightly different. His wife, the princess, dies on the day of their wedding. They haven’t even held hands nor shared their feelings yet. And so, he’s never been in love, nor did he start a new relationship. You could say he’s close to being emotionally numb. He is filled with the knowledge he learned from the wisdom and the writings of that time, and so he can be stern and inflexible. However, like Soondeok, Jungwoo also eventually wants to talk about love. He’s also a person who dreams of splendid, pure love. In a way, (Jungwoo and Soondeok) have the same goal, but their means of getting there are different from each other.
Q: Listening to your explanations makes me think that love is the most significant value people pursue, regardless of the era.
Rowoon: Of course. It doesn’t necessarily have to be love between lovers or married couples. It can also be (love towards) nature, animals, or places. Anyway, I wonder if it’s possible to look at the world without love properly. I’m guessing it’s not a world where you live alone. You live in twos*… (laughs) I’m sorry.
[*Rowoon actually said the word ‘double’ as a joke. Since he said it’s not a world where you live alone (single), he’s saying it’s a world you live in twos (doubles).]
Q: If love was the easiest subject to understand, other parts might be more challenging to express.
Cho Yihyun: It’s my first time doing a historical drama, so when I received the script, that was the hardest part. But once I focused on the character Soondeok, I wasn’t burdened at all. More than that, I was surprised about Soondeok having an adopted son. It’s my first time playing the role of a mother, and my son is quite grown. (laughs) I’ve been thinking a lot about how I should feel about my son. But I love kids so much, so I’ve only enjoyed the shoot.
Q: The experience of living and expressing a character’s life through dramas also affects your own lives. In that sense, what did you learn from Jungwoo and Soondeok?
Cho Yihyun: I try my best to be cheerful when I'm working. That doesn’t mean I’m usually not cheerful; I’m just not very expressive and I'm quiet. So, I thought it necessary to make an effort to become a positive and upbeat Soondeok. I would practice by raising my energy before the shoot, and (in that process), I myself became brighter. I didn’t realize the change in me, but a few days ago, my long-time friend said, “Why are you so cheerful?” I have Soondeok to thank for that. And I like this change because it’s not awkward or uncomfortable.
Rowoon: Jungwoo isn’t used to relationships, so his comments can sound rude because of his honesty. In the past, I was concerned about that. I would think that I needed to be honest and that it’s okay to say something because I’m just being honest, but at some point, I’ve realized that honesty isn’t everything because what I say can hurt someone. Then, I met Jungwoo and started to think about those concerns again. One of the good things about Jungwoo is his attitude to learn and accept anything. So, as the story continues, I’ve realized that being brutally honest can harm a relationship, so I’m gradually becoming gentler with my honesty. It’s difficult to realize what you’re doing wrong and fix it right away, but Jungwoo knows how to do that. I’m currently learning that mindset.
Q: Jungwoo and Soondeok. The two characters share the pain of losing their spouses to death. How do they handle and overcome this?
Rowoon: (Jungwoo) isolates himself from the world. He doesn’t meet anyone. He tends to be on his own by either reading books, drawing, or playing instruments.
Cho Yihyun: On the other hand, Soondeok goes out. She overcomes it by matchmaking. I think that by connecting two people, she feels excitement, pride, and a sense of accomplishment as she tries to erase the pain from her heart.
Q: What if you put yourselves in their situation? How do you overcome life’s hardships?
Rowoon: On the contrary, I welcome the hardships. When darkness creeps into my life, I think of it as a moment to grow emotionally or some other way.
Cho Yihyun: Oh, you have such a positive mindset.
Rowoon: It can also be my justification for wanting to feel comfortable. It’s so painful that there will still be some (pain) left deep inside, even when that moment passes.
Cho Yihyun: For me, I can’t look that far. I just completely accept it. I don’t think it’s good for the mind and body, but I have yet to find a better way to handle (hardships). I just hope that it passes while thinking of how exhausted I am. (laughs)
Q: What are the hardships you experienced in this drama?
Rowoon: “The Matchmakers” is a romantic comedy. The comedy part is challenging.
Cho Yihyun: He’s right. Because on set, we think, amongst ourselves, that “It’s so much fun,” but it may not look that way to the viewers. A tiny gap between what we think is funny and what the viewers feel is funny makes it very difficult.
Rowoon: I think the comedy genre is the most difficult. Melodrama (romance) is a genre that everyone can relate to. But the standards for laughter are very vague.
Cho Yihyun: This is my first time doing a genre that becomes more difficult the more I do it. I’m continuously learning and overcoming it.
Q: As you go through hardships together and working on the same drama, you have probably discovered certain aspects of each other. What parts have you discovered?
Rowoon: Cho Yihyun says it’s because of Soondeok, but I don’t think that’s the case. I think she’s a very adorable and cheerful actress. Whenever I’m having difficulty on set, her energy helps me while filming. If I put it like this, then it will come back to me! (laughs)
Cho Yihyun: (I’m not saying this) because he said good things about me, but he's also very…
Rowoon: Ador…able?
Q: Aren’t you just completing her sentence? (laughs)
Cho Yihyun: No, but he is. While working with him, I realized that he’s full of love. He takes excellent care of me. That can be uncomfortable, however. From the point of view of the person on the receiving end, they would be cautious to avoid being an inconvenience. But he’s very considerate that I don’t feel (the need to be careful).
Q: The conversation was filled with love and ended in loveliness. (laughs) Can we expect “The Matchmakers” to also be filled with love?
Cho Yihyun: Absolutely. It’s not just Jungwoo and Soondeok. All the characters are cute and lovely. I think it’s a drama that suits the word ‘love.’
Rowoon: Everyone is so cute; it’ll drive you crazy. I’m serious.
Source: Marie Claire Korea, November 2023 Issue
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