• Lee Yoo Mi Talks About Her Contradicting Roles In 'Squid Game' And 'All Of Us Are Dead', The Character She Would Like To Try + More

    In the Netflix series that was popular around the world, one of the casts was actress Lee Yoo Mi. She showed a different side of her in each work, capturing the attention of viewers.

    Lee Yoo Mi, who debuted in 2009 as a CF, has appeared in dramas such as 'Future Boy', 'Children of the 20th Century', Young Adult Matters, '365: Repeat the Year', the movies 'Park Hwa Young', 'Never Ever Rush'. ' She built her filmography by appearing in 'Hostage: Missing Celebrity'.

    Following the Netflix series 'Squid Game', she appeared in 'All Of Us Are Dead' and made her face known worldwide. 'All Of Us Are Dead' is the story of those isolated in a high school where a zombie virus has spread and those who try to save them, going through an extreme situation where they can't figure out what's ahead.

    In the drama, Lee Yoo Mi takes on the role of Na Yeon, a student at Hyosan High School who constantly conflicts with her friends. Na Yeon was a villain who drove her classmate to death for her own well-being.

    The following is Lee Yoo Mi's Q&A.

    Q. Following 'Squid Game', 'All Of Us Are Dead' is popular all over the world, how do you feel?

    “I feel so good and I thought that only good things would happen this year, but only good things happened and I think I’m going to fly away. so happy”

    Q. You often appear as a student. Is there any pressure on the student role?

    “I’m grateful because it seems like I wore school uniforms to make my face look younger. Rather than feeling a burden, I think it's thanks to my mom and dad who I inherited my face."

    Q. I heard that 'Squid Game' and 'All Of Us Are Dead' were filmed around the same time. What is your thought about it?

    “I think it was done while going back and forth during filming. I think I learned a lot by going back and forth for a week in the same clothes because of my unexpected schedule. When I was playing 'Squid Game', I filmed it while taking it out, and when I was doing 'All Of Us Are Dead', I think I did it while filling in prejudices and stereotypes. I think it was an opportunity to grow while repeating it. It was a way of learning, so I think it was a good opportunity.”

    Q. What is the most memorable reaction for the characters in the two works?

    “I think they expressed a lot of regret to me after seeing Jiyoung. It seems that there were many people who shed tears, and now, for Nayeon, I really feel that I will live a long time. You gave me too many compliments. The opposite reaction came to me as a miracle, and I thought I was blessed.”

    Q. Your SNS followers have increased a lot. Do you feel the global popularity?

    “I think it is still difficult for me to feel real. A lot of things happened, I met good works, and as I was doing it, something new happened to me. It seems that the word “real” still needs time. Looks like its's still on its way  to feel. If you work hard, you might think that it was real at that time.”

    Q. I heard that special makeup requires a lot of time. Was it difficult to dress up as a zombie, how do you feel about playing a zombie role?

    “I slept really hard. Somehow, I was able to sleep well. I had to stay still and there was nothing I could do at the moment I was doing it, so I slept soundly for a long time. When I opened my eyes, there was a new person, so I took a picture while being curious. I think it was fun because it is something that cannot be easily experienced.”

    Q. Nayeon is a role that shouldn't have a high similarity in 'All Of Us Are Dead', but what if there are similarities?

    “I think the character Nayeon contain the attitude of extreme human nature. Should I say it's similar? Humans don't know what they look like in extreme situations, so I don't know, so maybe there are similarities about human nature. Because there are different people. The difference was that I thought that the way I react when faced with a certain emotion or event is very different from mine. Nayeon understands, but she is different from me.”

    Q. If you could challenge other characters in 'All Of Us Are Dead', which character would you like to try?

    “The character I want to play is Su HyeokSu Hyeok saves his friends when they are in danger, kicks them, and does good actions. He seems like such a cool character, so I have a feeling it would be fun if I did.”

    Q. You worked with Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo and Oh Young Soo in 'Squid Game'. On the other hand, in 'All Of Us Are Dead', you worked with the younger actors, what did you learn from the opposing field?

    “I think I learned a lot from the seniors in ‘Squid Game’. When I went to the filming set, I was very nervous, but watching the seniors trying to relax me, I think I learned a lot of relaxation. I think I was able to see the cute little sisters with their mother's smile really cute while filming ''All Of Us Are Dead'.”

    Q. Are there any characters or works you would like to challenge?

    “There are so many roles I want to do because there are so many roles I haven’t done yet. First of all, I want to do something that doesn’t die (laughs). I want to play a friend who lives a little longer, and I think it would be nice to show something cute and refreshing now. Actually, I really want to do cool things like Su Hyeok. There are so many things I really want to do, so I think it would be good if I could do them all.”

    Q. Lastly, do you have any plans for this year's activities?

    “I am filming ‘Mental Coach Je Gal Gil’ as my next project. I think we will be able to meet on tvN. I hope to see you soon.”

  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

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