Namgoong Min Returns to KBS After 7 Years

Actor Namkoong Min expressed strong confidence in the drama at the production presentation for KBS 2TV's new Saturday-Sunday drama, 'The Completion of Marriage.' 'The Completion of Marriage' is a crime thriller that depicts the story of a man who engages in an extreme struggle with a criminal to save his wife, who was kidnapped just before their divorce. Namkoong Min returns to a KBS drama after 7 years, following 'Doctor Prisoner' in 2019, playing the role of neurosurgeon Kang Tae-joo. He stated, "​I had a gut feeling when I first read the script," and "I chose it because I thought viewers could easily relate to it and it would be loved by various age groups." He added that he hopes this drama will entertain many people and be a drama that approaches viewers comfortably, as he felt he didn't entertain many people in his previous work.

In 'The Completion of Marriage,' Namkoong Min will star as a couple with Lee Seol, who plays Go Se-yoon, the hospital chairman and his wife who has informed him of their divorce. Lee Seol previously worked with Namkoong Min as ex-lovers in the film 'Our Film.' She mentioned that she was comfortable acting with Namkoong Min again and learned a lot by watching his passion. Kim Dae-myung transforms into a villain, playing Noh Man-hee, the director of a computer academy who kidnaps his wife while appearing as a drunken designated driver. Kim Dae-myung said he didn't think of Noh Man-hee as a villain and found it fun to boldly say and do things he couldn't normally do. Director Kim Jung-hyun hinted that Kim Dae-myung's unexpected portrayal of a frightening villain, contrasting with his kind and gentle image, would be interesting.

Due to the genre of the drama, various action scenes are featured. Director Kim Jung-hyun revealed that they filmed diligently through cold winter nights, as Kang Tae-joo, played by Namkoong Min, had to constantly move around as a fugitive and a pursuer. Namkoong Min confessed, "I thought a lot about how an ordinary doctor would perform action scenes, and it wasn't easy to express on screen." He explained that he tried hard to use his facial expressions while running and to pretend he couldn't drive, but found it harder than doing it coolly, expressing his hope that viewers would recognize his efforts to embody an action-oriented doctor.

'The Completion of Marriage' will compete with SBS's Friday-Saturday drama 'Chief Kim,' which recorded a viewership rating of 15.7% in just two episodes, for the Saturday time slot. Namkoong Min humorously mentioned the competing drama 'Chief Kim,' saying he felt a bit bitter as it seemed to be a step above him. He praised 'Chief Kim' as fun, with a good and fresh subject matter, and stated that even though it's a competitor, it feels good when other dramas do well in this difficult era for drama production. However, he added that it's a shame that their Saturday time slots partially overlap. The actors highlighted the drama's viewing points and asked for viewership. Lee Seol said, "It runs like a runaway train. The action is also captured beautifully, so please watch it," and Kim Dae-myung confidently stated, "I think it will be the most fun content you can watch this summer. It's a drama that can combat the heat."

'The Completion of Marriage' will premiere on the 4th at 9:20 PM.