Sung Kang-joon Returns in 'Undercover High School'

The highly anticipated drama 'Undercover High School' featuring actor Sung Kang-joon has finally been unveiled. The production conference for the new MBC Friday-Saturday drama took place on February 20 at MBC's new headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul. Attendees included Sung Kang-joon, Jin Ki-joo, Kim Shin-rok, Jeon Bae-soo, Kim Min-joo, Park Se-hyun, and director Choi Jung-in, who shared insights about the show.

'Undercover High School' follows a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent who goes undercover as a high school student to track down the missing gold bars of Emperor Gojong. After enlisting in the army in November 2021 and completing his service in May 2023, Sung Kang-joon is making his return to the small screen for the first time in nearly three years since his role in Disney+'s 'Grid' in 2022. He expressed his feelings about returning, stating, "It feels like it's been about three or four years since I last presented a project to everyone, and the world has changed a lot. The poses have changed, and there are so many new things. I realized that a lot has changed during my time away, and I thought I should quickly adapt and present an enjoyable work."

In the drama, Sung Kang-joon plays Jeong Hae-sung, an ace field agent of the NIS who is deployed for the 'Undercover High School' operation. At 31 years old, he finds himself back in a school uniform. He shared, "While filming, I encountered many new slang terms. I learned a lot of new things, but I couldn't understand any of it. There were actual high school students and adult friends around, and I felt they looked so young. I thought, 'Why do I feel so different from them?' It was a bit embarrassing to wear the uniform, but I reminded myself that I am 31 in the drama, so I decided to enjoy it."

Sung Kang-joon chose 'Undercover High School' as his comeback project because of its diverse genres. He noted, "The drama encompasses many genres, including comedy, action, romance, and crime, all blended together beautifully. While it is light-hearted, it also contains deeper messages that provoke thought and provide entertainment."

Reflecting on his time in the military, he remarked, "The time felt like an eternity. I thought a lot about my past, what kind of actor I want to be, and why I wanted to be an actor. Looking back, while not everything I did was satisfying, I realized I have no regrets. I always did my best when making choices. I decided to approach 'Undercover High School' with the same mindset, regardless of the outcome."

Jin Ki-joo plays Oh Soo-ah, Jeong Hae-sung's homeroom teacher. She emphasized the importance of her character's mission, stating, "Soo-ah has a reason for wanting to become a full-time teacher. She faces a dilemma where her sense of duty is hindered by her environment. I wanted to express the dilemmas faced by young adults entering society, and I hope I portrayed that well."

Kim Shin-rok portrays Seo Myung-joo, the school principal and mother of student council president Lee Ye-na, played by Kim Min-joo. When asked about their chemistry, Kim Shin-rok said, "We mainly meet after school at home, where we release the stress we've built up. We film several episodes at once, and from the first day, I tried various ways to portray a mother who loves but also wants to control her daughter. Kim Min-joo is beautiful in real life, but she looks even more stunning through the lens. I found that the more I express love, the more I want to control her, which made for great acting."

Jeon Bae-soo plays Team Leader Ahn, a father figure to Jeong Hae-sung, and he shares scenes with Park Se-hyun, who plays Ahn Yoo-jung, a member of the student council. Jeon expressed disappointment at not having filmed much together, while Park noted, "Although we haven't met often, we focused on fun and lively scenes. There was a bit of awkwardness at first, but once the camera was rolling, everything went smoothly. I wanted to be more affectionate, but I felt shy since we hadn't met much."

Director Choi Jung-in shared his thoughts on the casting, praising Sung Kang-joon for his genuine charm and suitability for the role. He also highlighted Jin Ki-joo's unique loveliness and how it complements her character's grounded nature. He expressed admiration for Kim Shin-rok's intelligence and how she provided guidance on set.

As for the show's unique blend of genres, Choi stated, "It's a complex genre that includes elements of horror, action, comedy, and romance. I believe it offers a variety of attractions beyond the typical undercover investigation or thriller. I am confident that this is a well-made production."

Sung Kang-joon humorously mentioned a promise he made regarding viewership ratings, saying, "I mentioned a trip if we hit 12%. I might have said it while drunk, so I hope we can achieve that!" He added that he would feel embarrassed to cancel it if they don't reach the goal.

As the conference concluded, Sung Kang-joon highlighted the show's mix of genres, stating, "It's a blend of action, comedy, crime, and human elements. Viewers will likely notice a different vibe from my previous characters. Jin Ki-joo added that the drama contains hidden messages that viewers will discover as they watch. Kim Shin-rok remarked that the story reflects a world of coexistence, while Jeon Bae-soo noted its appeal to families. Kim Min-joo emphasized the beauty of the set and the actors, and Park Se-hyun pointed out the growth of the high school characters throughout the series.

'Undercover High School' is set to premiere on February 21 at 9:50 PM.