Two veteran Korean actors, who are fans of each other, finally got the chance to work together thanks to Disney+’s K-drama Tempest. Both superstars in their own right, Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won finally come together to star in Tempest as United Nations diplomat Seo Mun-ju and highly skilled mercenary Paik San-ho, exploring a murky world of espionage and political intrigue.

Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won on why they joined ‘Tempest’

During a press conference held in Seoul, the two stars revealed that they have always wanted to work with one another, and when the chance came with Tempest, they took it.

“I am a long-time fan of Dong-won. I always wanted a chance to work with him, and that was a big reason why I took up this role,” said Ji-hyun. “As we were filming, I got to know him as a person and came to be a bigger fan of him.”

The actress added that thanks to working with Dong-won, she could fulfill her role as Mun-ju much better. “Because he was playing Sanho, I think I could better immerse myself in my role, and we had a better synergy.”

Meanwhile, Dong-won said he joined the project primarily because he wanted to work with Ji-hyun. “We’ve never had a chance to collaborate until now. And I was so happy to finally work together.”

“As we were filming on set, I was so immersed in the charm and appeal of Ji-hyun. She was having so much fun, which also made me happy. And throughout the whole production, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a really cool person,’” he added.

Prior to Tempest, both Ji-hyun and Dong-won both started as models before venturing into acting and establishing themselves as household names in the industry.

Jun Ji-hyun helmed many popular Korean dramas, including My Love from the Star, The Legend of the Blue Sea, My Sassy Girl, as well as the horror-historical period piece Kingdom: Ashin of the North. Meanwhile, Gang Dong-won is best known for his diverse filmography, which includes Temptation of Wolves, The Priests, Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned, and Palme d’Or-nominated Broker, to name a few.

Jun Ji-hyun on the emotional appeal of her character Seo Mun-ju

When asked what the charm of her character is, Ji-hyun said viewers can look forward to the ways her character, Mun-ju, would balance multiple emotional situations simultaneously (trust us, there’s a lot).

“Mun-ju doesn’t have a lot of action sequences, but she is rather a figure to be protected, so I relied on San-ho for that,” Ji-hyun said. “Emotionally, there’s a whirlwind of events, so there were a lot of multifaceted things going on. There were a lot of charms and appeal that I could convey through those scenes.”

Gang Dong-won on the dichotomy of his character Paik San-ho

Dong-won described his character as strong physically but lonely emotionally and perhaps even vulnerable mentally. And this very dichotomy in him is what draws him to Mun-ju, according to the actor.

“The strength Mun-ju holds, which is different from what he has, is what he looks up to as they together solve the difficult situations,” he said. “For San-ho, Mun-ju is a very different person, so dear and precious to him. And I even thought that he is such a lonely character that he is maybe even slightly obsessed with Munju because he vows to protect her at all costs, foregoing everything else.”

Jun Ji-hyun and Gang Dong-won on working together

This is the first time the two actors are working together.

According to Ji-hyun, it was great that they were able to work together at this more mature age. “When we were monitoring on set, we always talked about this: ‘Have we ever had such a deep aged kind of melodrama?’ And we loved it.”

“Seeing it onscreen, I think it looked natural and organic. It feels we got the right vibe. As people nowadays say, it’s ‘neujo’ (i.e. the feeling or vibe is good),” she added.

Dong-won agreed with Ji-hyun’s description. “That’s what I felt when working with her. If we met when we were younger, it would have been totally different. But when we were looking at the monitor, we were half-jokingly saying that it looked like we’ve been there and done that,” he said. “When we were younger, we probably wouldn’t have known certain things, but now it feels like we do know something — been there and done that. It’s really cool.”

Regarding their characters’ chemistry, Ji-hyun said that it’s the difference between Mun-ju and San-ho that draws them to one another, and she invites viewers to watch that difference closely as it evolves throughout the story.

“Mun-ju and San-ho come from completely different backgrounds, and they are drawn to each other because they’re so different. The more they learn about each other, the more they look back on themselves, too. It’s like a mirror image,” the actress said. “As the narrative progresses and the emotions evolve, I think that can be an area you can focus on when watching the show.”

‘Tempest’

Featuring one of the most impressive international line-ups in a Korean drama to date, Tempest follows skilled former diplomat Seo Mun-ju as she tries to uncover the truth behind an attempt on a presidential candidate’s life. After discovering the candidate has been accused of being a North Korean spy, Mun-ju digs into his past, unlocking a Pandora’s box of deception, state secrets, and more.

Protected by Paik San-ho, a mercenary with a suspicious history and a hidden backer, Mun-ju repeatedly finds herself under attack as she uncovers an international conspiracy stretching all the way to the White House. As danger draws ever closer, Sanho struggles to keep his principal safe and his emotions in check.

Directed by Kim Heewon (Queen of Tears, Vincenzo), co-directed by Korea’s leading martial arts director Heo Myeonghaeng (THE ROUNDUP: PUNISHMENT, Badland Hunters), and written by Chung Seokyung (Decision to Leave, Little Women), Tempest stars:

• Jun Ji-hyun (My Love From The Star, Kingdom) as former UN ambassador Seo Munju
• Gang Dongwon (Peninsula, Uprising) as highly trained operative Paik Sanho
• John Cho (Star Trek, Murderbot) as Assistant Secretary of State Anderson
• Lee Misook (Queen of Tears, The Plot) as Candidate Jang’s mother Lim Okseon
• Park Haejoon (When Life Gives You Tangerines) as Presidential candidate Jang Junik
• Christopher Gorham (The Lincoln Lawyer, Ugly Betty) as Ethan, a mercenary
• Michael Gaston (Daredevil: Born Again, Bridge of Spies) as Secretary of Defense Eagleton
• Spencer Garrett (Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood) as President Houser

Tempest is set to premiere with three episodes on September 10 exclusively on Disney+. New episodes will be released every Wednesday.

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