The director of Dive Into You has revealed why Park Seo Ham immediately stood out as the right choice for the drama’s male lead.
During the September 22 online press conference for the upcoming Disney+ and Channel A series, director So Jae Hyun discussed the casting of Park Seo Ham, Bona, Moon Seung You, and Jang Se Hyuk.
According to the director, one of the key ideas behind Park Seo Ham’s character was finding a male lead with a striking physical presence.
He explained, “The keyword for the male lead was a ‘door-frame male lead.’ Seo Ham has the perfect physique, but his appearance also fits the image perfectly because there is a story in his eyes.”
The Korean expression refers to an especially tall and broad male lead whose presence can feel as imposing as a doorway.
Director So Jae Hyun added that Park Seo Ham’s eyes were particularly important to the character.
“His eyes are really good, so when you watch the drama, I hope you pay attention to his gaze,” he said.
The director also praised Bona, who stars opposite Park Seo Ham, revealing that she was an actress he had wanted to work with for some time.
“I had watched all of Ji Yeon’s projects, and she was someone I wanted to work with. She is very beautiful and also a very good actress,” he said.
He added that while filming, one of the things he said most often was, “Thank you, Hana,” because of how well Bona portrayed her character.
The director also explained that Moon Seung You caught his attention with her distinctive screen presence, while Jang Se Hyuk earned his role after reportedly competing against around 120 applicants.
Dive Into You follows twins Yoon Hana and Yoon Haru, who discover that an old camcorder can take them into the past. They travel back in time in an attempt to save Jung Woo Jae, creating a first-love romance mixed with a time-travel story.
The drama, led by Bona and Park Seo Ham, premieres September 26 on Disney+ and Channel A.
