Slow or Fast, Life Deserves Respect: 'Miss Night and Day' Star Jung Eun-ji

연합뉴스 / 2024-08-07 09:15:24

▲ This still photo of recently concluded JTBC drama "Miss Night and Day," provided by the broadcaster on Aug. 7, 2024, shows actresses Lee Jung-eun (L) and Jung Eun-ji. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Aug. 7 (Yonhap) -- Jung Eun-ji, who portrayed the struggling job seeker Lee Mi-jin in the recently concluded JTBC drama "Miss Night and Day," reflected on her role, emphasizing that everyone deserves respect regardless of their pace. "

What I realized while playing Mi-jin is that each person has their own speed, and whether slow or fast, it's worth respecting. I hope Mi-jin can love her youth more as she lives on," Jung shared.

▲ This image, provided by IST Entertainment on Aug. 7, 2024, shows actress Jung Eun-ji, who portrayed the struggling job seeker Lee Mi-jin in the recently concluded JTBC drama "Miss Night and Day." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

In an interview on the 6th at IST Entertainment in Gangnam, Seoul, marking the end of the series, Jung described "Miss Night and Day" as a drama that conveys the message, "Age is just a matter of mindset." She added, "Although many might find it hard to think that way due to their circumstances, it’s nice to have a drama that makes you consider it even once."

"Miss Night and Day" begins with Lee Mi-jin, a late 20s job seeker who has failed the civil service exam for eight years. After another unsuccessful interview, Mi-jin falls into a well while trying to rescue a cat and wakes up in the body of a woman in her 50s. She then lives as a 50-year-old during the day and a 20-year-old at night, attempting to regain her original self but failing. Ironically, Mi-jin applies under the alias "Im Soon" for a senior intern position at a public institution and gets accepted, achieving her long-cherished dream of starting a career.

The character's journey of fulfilling her dream in a 50-year-old’s body brings laughter but also evokes sympathy. Jung Eun-ji admitted that she initially struggled to empathize with the job-seeking character of Mi-jin due to their vastly different life trajectories. Jung, who debuted as the main vocalist of Apink at 18 in 2011, found it hard to relate to Mi-jin, who had been preparing for employment for almost a decade.

Jung also found it frustrating that Mi-jin hesitated to share her mysterious predicament with others. However, after discussing Mi-jin's actions with friends and acquaintances, she came to understand the character better. "I realized that Eun-ji and Mi-jin have very different paces. Some people told me that there are people like Mi-jin, and just because her personality is different from mine doesn’t mean it's wrong. That helped me understand the different speeds between us."

▲ This still photo of recently concluded JTBC drama "Miss Night and Day," provided by the broadcaster on Aug. 7, 2024, shows actress Jung Eun-ji, who portrays the struggling job seeker Lee Mi-jin. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

"Miss Night and Day" concluded with its highest viewership rating of 11.7% for its final episode. The series was praised for its warm and humorous portrayal of the struggles faced by both the 20s and 50s versions of Mi-jin. A significant factor in the drama's success was the dual performance by Jung Eun-ji and Lee Jung-eun, who played the 50-year-old Mi-jin. Lee Jung-eun's meticulous mimicry of Jung Eun-ji's Busan dialect and nervous hand gestures captivated viewers.

Throughout the interview, Jung Eun-ji fondly referred to Lee Jung-eun as "Jung-eun unnie" and credited her as a major reason for joining the project. In the later episodes, Mi-jin decides to pursue her dreams and focuses on studying, ultimately parting ways with her 50-year-old self when the curse is lifted. In a poignant scene, the older Mi-jin gazes at her younger self and bids farewell, acknowledging the gift of self-reflection.

Jung Eun-ji confessed that she eagerly anticipated but also dreaded filming this scene. "As soon as we started shooting, I burst into tears and wondered, 'What is this feeling?'"

After a year dedicated to "Miss Night and Day" through six months of filming, promotion, and the four-month broadcast, Jung Eun-ji is now planning her next project, though details remain under wraps. She is also preparing for a comeback with Apink, discussing plans with her group members both online and offline. "If we release an album, I hope it will be a group album before a solo one, but nothing is officially confirmed yet," she said.