Yoo Yeon-seok Returns with 'The Call You Just Made' After 9 Years, Competing Against 'Hot Blooded Priest 2'

The new drama 'The Call You Just Made' (지금 거신 전화는) is set to make its debut on television. A production showcase was held on the afternoon of the 21st at the MBC headquarters in Sangam-dong, Seoul, featuring director Park Sang-woo and cast members Yoo Yeon-seok, Chae Soo-bin, Heo Nam-jun, and Jang Gyu-ri.

'The Call You Just Made' is a secret romance thriller that revolves around a politically arranged couple, Baek Sa-eon (played by Yoo Yeon-seok) and Hong Hee-joo (played by Chae Soo-bin), who are in their third year of a show-window marriage. The drama showcases the talents of skilled actors and the strong writing of Kim Ji-woon, along with the artistic direction of Park Sang-woo.

During the event, director Park Sang-woo described the show, stating, "While it’s promoted as a show-window couple, it’s even more complex than that. Baek Sa-eon, a golden boy in politics, has a wife shrouded in mystery. Although she is the daughter of a chaebol, her identity is hidden due to unknown reasons. The couple begins to understand each other through threatening phone calls, and I believe the romance they portray will add warmth to the drama."

The actors introduced their characters, with Yoo Yeon-seok expressing his excitement about returning to MBC after nine years since his debut in 'General Hospital 2'. He shared, "I left MBC, which felt like home, and now I’m back. I’m thrilled to meet the audience again in a romance thriller genre. It’s both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking."

Yoo Yeon-seok and Chae Soo-bin play the show-window couple Baek Sa-eon and Hong Hee-joo, who maintain a strictly business-like relationship, rarely speaking to each other at home. Their marriage is a strategic alliance between Baek Sa-eon and Hong Il-kyung (played by Choi Kwang-il), the owner of the country’s top media company, as they both eye the next presidential election.

Heo Nam-jun portrays Ji Sang-woo, a psychiatrist with a charming personality and good looks. He is also a mystery-focused content creator with 200,000 subscribers, who finds himself in a complicated relationship with Hong Hee-joo, stirring jealousy in Baek Sa-eon.

Jang Gyu-ri plays Na Yu-ri, a bright and lovable news anchor who idolizes Baek Sa-eon. Unbeknownst to her, Hong Hee-joo, who works as a sign language interpreter, is Baek Sa-eon’s wife.

When asked why they chose this project, Yoo Yeon-seok mentioned, "I’ve recently played warm and indecisive characters in romance dramas. In this script, I portray a cold character who hides his emotions, and I found the process of peeling back his layers to reveal his charm very appealing."

Chae Soo-bin added, "The combination of romance and thriller felt fresh and exciting. I was drawn to the character of Hee-joo, who communicates through sign language, which is a new experience for me. She seems passive due to her difficult life, but she has a strong will that makes her character interesting."

Heo Nam-jun shared that he was impressed by the director during their first meeting and found the script engaging. He expressed a desire to take on a character that is both cool and internally rich. Jang Gyu-ri noted that she was eager to explore a professional character that was different from her previous roles.

'The Call You Just Made' is based on a web novel of the same name, and director Park Sang-woo explained that while the original had a higher intensity due to its format, they had to adjust it for broadcast standards. He also mentioned that new characters were added for the drama adaptation.

Coincidentally, 'The Call You Just Made' will compete against SBS's 'Hot Blooded Priest 2' during its premiere. Yoo Yeon-seok commented on this, saying, "I’ve enjoyed 'Hot Blooded Priest' and I think viewers looking for a mix of thriller and romance will choose our drama."

As for preparing for his role as a spokesperson, Yoo Yeon-seok studied videos of real-life spokespersons and received guidance from former MBC anchor Jeon Jong-hwan. He also tailored his suits to fit his character perfectly.

Chae Soo-bin, who uses sign language in the drama, expressed her eagerness to learn and practiced extensively before filming. Jang Gyu-ri received training from a real news anchor to prepare for her role.

Regarding their on-screen chemistry, Yoo Yeon-seok shared that he and Chae Soo-bin had previously worked together on a coffee advertisement years ago, and they took their time to build their relationship on set. Chae Soo-bin echoed this sentiment, noting that they gradually became more comfortable with each other as the filming progressed.

The cast also made a viewer rating promise, with Heo Nam-jun stating that if the ratings exceed 20%, they would go camping together and appear on Yoo Yeon-seok’s YouTube channel. Yoo Yeon-seok added that he would host a live stream for their subscribers.

In closing, when asked what title they would like to be associated with after the drama, Yoo Yeon-seok humorously said he would like to be known as 'sexy eyebrows' due to the stress of filming. Chae Soo-bin playfully suggested 'Sign Language Soo-bin', while Heo Nam-jun pondered over his title, leading Yoo Yeon-seok to jokingly suggest 'Gorgeous Voice Nam-jun'. Jang Gyu-ri also requested a title, and Yoo Yeon-seok playfully suggested 'Gyu-ri Gyu-ri'.

'The Call You Just Made' is set to premiere on the 22nd at 9:50 PM.