[PREVIEW] MBC's “No Limit”

It is a drama about sports. Furthermore, a drama about young romance without a Cinderella in it. In the Korean TV drama market, this is a bold, crazy head-on move. Even Chung Yun-ho, who has been cast to lead the series, confessed that his acting skills have yet to be verified. "The fact that I am acting itself is a head-on move." Despite all this, the cast and crew, who made and loved and recommended this drama, stressed over and over that this is a “human story” worth watching. The people who are struggling to make this difficult project a success -- director Park Sung-soo, writer Kim Sol-ji and actors Jung Yoon-ho, Ara, Lee Sang-yoon, Lee Yoon-ji -- held a press conference on Wednesday at the Seoul Grand Hyatt Hotel for the upcoming drama.

To call something a TV series a “mania drama” is to compliment the show’s appeal but it is also a roundabout way of saying that ratings tanked. In that sense, director Park Sung-soo could be called the epitomy of Korea’s mania dramas. From “Do As You Want”(MBC), “I Run” (MBC) to “Dr. Ggeng” (MBC), he has accompanied both manic fans and commercial criticism. However, with “No Limit” set to air soon, Park stated that he would deliver the story in an easier, clearer way. “I hope to exchange emotions with the viewers rather than to show the writer and director’s personal interpretation," he said at the press conference. Also, by jokingly adding that Yoon Yeo-jung will appear as Chung Yun-ho’s new woman so there will be complex relationships, Park revealed his intentions to reach out to a lot of viewers in various age groups. Writer Kim Sol-ji said it is her desire to make a down-to-earth but honest drama, saying: “It’s a story that supports and encourages depressing youths with passionate hearts. I wanted to take their side”. In summary, “No Limit”, a story about honest youths growing up in a world surrounded by down-to-earth adults, will air its first episode on September 9. It will not be long before we get to see whether the drama scores gold or makes a meaningless halt.

Cha Bong-goon: The simple-minded, ignorant soccer genius
(played by Chung Yun-ho)
Bong-goon was a prominent player with an excellent sense for shooting goals, joining a pro team right after graduating high school. After being chosen to play on the national junior team with his trademark volleyball skill, he one day drives his young stepsister Byul-yi to the hospital in his friend Seung-woo’s car. With one snap judgment he becomes wrongly accused of being an hit-and-run driver without a license and loses everything. What is worse, when his father dies after the incident, Bong-goon tries to gain a peace of mind by giving up soccer. Starting a new life selling chicken skewers, he one day runs into agent Hye-bin, who flat out wants to recruit him for a team. Thus, his dream to play on Manchester United starts burning inside him again. “Bong-goon is a gifted shooter but he struggles to find his place because of his reckless personality. He doesn’t know how to live in the world.”

Kang Hye-bin: The commanding soccer agent
(played by Ara)
Her mother passed away when she was in middle school. She went away to school in the U.S. as her relationship with her father, professional soccer club and owner of architecture firm, deteriorated. But it must have been in the genes. Despite the physical and emotional distance from her father, she was crazy about sports throughout her school years and after graduating from college, she returned home and got herself a sports agent license. After working as a sports journalist, she joined a sports marketing firm but it was too rough of a world for a young woman. Eventually, she accepts Sang-man’s offer that he would be her business partner if she can get Bong-goon to join the team. “She is very smart but she is tone-deaf and clumsy, so she always falls while running around in high heels. She is a character that represents people in their twenties who chase their dreams. We call her ‘Dream Hye-bin’ on set.”

Jang Seung-woo: The lawyer who wants to win
(played by Lee Sang-yoon)
Compared to other lively and healthy characters, Lee explained that his character is somewhat complex and dark. “While the others are running toward achieving a goal, Seung-woo is a character has already gotten where he wants. So, in order to maintain his position, he tries hard to not get caught up by people who are trying to catch up with him”. After passing the bar exam at a young age, graduating first in class at the training institute and then scouted to Korea’s top law firm, he works as FC SOUL’s advisory attorney for fun and has never known what it means to lose. So he cannot accept it when Hyebin, the woman he loves, falls for Bong-goon, who has nothing. Moreover, Bong-goon is someone that he looks down on, and a long time ago, his own testimony caused Bong-goon to lose everything. For the first time in his life, faced with a race that is hard to win, Seung-woo tries to do whatever it takes to win.

Oh Yeon-yi: The innocent nutritionist
(played by Lee Yoon-ji)
Her nickname is Potato Oh because her mother has been running a potato stew restaurant since middle school. And since then, she has secretly been in love with Bong-goon, her childhood best friend. She pretends she does not love him but even after she gets her job as FC SOUL’s professional nutritionist, she still loves Bong-goon. However too much time has passed and Bong-goon treats her only as a good friend, and her mother spies on her non-stop to prevent her daughter from crossing the line with someone who has nothing. Seeing Hye-bin appear out of nowhere and getting closer with Bong-goon, she makes up a lie, desperate to get her away from him. “On the set, they call me ‘air Yeon-yi’. Because, like air, I’m always around Bong-goon, sometimes like a wife, sometimes a friend and sometimes a sister or mother who helps him grow into a fantastic player.“

Why You Should Watch
The reason so many people in their teens and twenties are paying attention to this drama, starting this past summer season, is that it stars Yuno Yunho, the leader of one of South Korea's most popular idol group TVXQ. He introduced himself as, “Today I am Cha Bong-goon, not Chung Yun-ho!”, showing how immersed he is with his character. In the promotional video, he simultaneously displayed two sides to himself -- one as a young, fresh athlete and the other as the clumsy newbie actor. But director Park is all praises about him, further raising expectations for his acting. “I thought TVXQ composed of four people? T.V.X.Q. But I rid myself of any stereotypes I have of the group after meeting Yun-ho. After sharing our experiences of living as on the streets near Seoul Train Station during our teens, I thought, ‘You could be my long lost brother!’ I discovered a lot about Yun-ho that I never knew. He is Cha Bong-goon, the character itself. I even this drama was made for Chung Yun-ho." We will soon find out whether this will be the start to his multi-career, just like Eric (of Shinwha) did with his acting debut in Park’s “I Run”?

Reporter : Yoon Hee-Seong
Photographer: Lee Jin-hyuk
Editor : Lynn Kim lynn2878@asiae.co.kr, Lee Ji-hye