Although K-drama Nevertheless (available on Netflix) is based on a webtoon, it aims to depict a more true-to-life relationship of young adults, showcasing the ups and downs when two people get together.
In the first episode we see Yu Na-bi (Han So-hee), an art student, becoming cynical about love after discovering that her partner took advantage of her innocence.
As she is mending her broken heart at a bar, she meets Park Jae-eon (Song Kang) who flirts with her.
Though they part that night, the two – who are students at the same art college – happen to meet again, and their dance sort of begins.
But can Na-bi love again, or even trust this guy, who seems to be flirting with every woman he comes across?
During a video press conference, director Kim Ga-ram acknowledged the essence of the drama is very much about how we still dive into the next romantic encounter without a safety net even when we have been hurt before.
Kim, who helmed 2019’s The Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency, said: “Hopefully the audiences can relate to the characters, and the series reminds them of that feeling being young and in love.”
According to the director, she had wanted to turn the webtoon into a drama series as she herself related to “the despair and the bitterness of romance in the original story”.
“I wanted to convey a story that is real life. I hope the audience roots for Na-bi throughout her romantic journey, and understands the decisions she makes in this regard,” added Kim.
Coming off from the success of The World Of The Married, actress Han concurred the relatable factor is exactly why she wanted to be part of the series as well.
“I felt like this series focused on emotions that anyone goes through when you find yourself in love. And I also felt like this was a completely different type of romance.
“As an actress, I thought this was a great opportunity for me to play a role like this. Na-bi is a character I have so much in common with,” said the 26-year-old, who is gifted artistically like her character. Reportedly Han even drew some of the art pieces featured in Na-bi’s home.
“I tried to be as real and raw in conveying the emotions my character go through and I hope she resonates with the viewers.”
Actor Song agreed that the love story in Nevertheless is unlike the romance portrayed in most K-dramas.
The 27-year-old actor, recently seen in dance drama Navillera, said cryptically: “It has the sweetness of romance that we typically expect of young love, but there are other things that differentiate the story and make it stand out.”
Director Kim revealed that the first moment she read the webtoon, she thought of Han and Song for the leading roles.
“I tried really hard to cast them. As they’re the hottest rising stars, I had to ask multiple times. Fortunately, they both liked the webtoon and wanted to work with me,” she said.
Kim added that the two actors tried their best to look like their webtoon characters, so much so Song went on a diet to lose some weight so he can appear lean and sharp, similar to the character in the webtoon.
“I lost about 5kg,” noted Song. “Jae-eon is someone you can’t describe in words, so I really wanted to portray his cold personality visually.”
Song went on: “Jae-eon doesn’t really talk about his feelings, so I thought a lot about how to portray his emotions, not just the lines but what he feels – his anger, his sadness, his happiness, which he doesn’t really show.”
Kim had high praises for the level of commitment Han and Song brought to Nevertheless.
“They were great colleagues to each other, and they really played off of that energy.
“Anytime I’d see them really get into their roles and focus on the scene, I would become a viewer and not a director.
“It just made me really excited to see the final result. That’s how great their energy and their chemistry was,” the director said.
With mature topic about love, relationship, as well as sexual attraction between the characters, some episodes are not suitable for audiences below 18, and hence Nevertheless carries an R-rating.
Kim said: “Well, first of all, when we say something is R-rated, you’d think it could be something that’s very graphic, but it’s not really what you think.
“It’s just what 19-year-old people do. So that’s why it’s R-rated and you will understand when you see it for yourself. I think you can have your hopes up.”
Song teased on this as well: “There’s a lot of heart-fluttering scenes in our drama.”
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