[PREVIEW] SBS TV series "Scent of Woman"

From left, Kim Suna, Lee Dong-wook, Seo Hyo-rim and Um Ki-joon at the press conference for their upcoming SBS TV series "Scent of Woman" held in Seoul, South Korea on July 19, 2011. [SBS]

How would you spend every day of your life if you only had six months to live? SBS TV series "Scent of Woman" takes off from this question. Lee Yeon-jae (Kim Suna), an entry-level employee at a travel agency who beared with all sorts of unjust acts in order to stay employed, is told one day of the shocking news that she will only have six months to live after being diagnosed with gallbladder carcinoma. So she turns in her letter of resignation actually written five years ago, buys expensive clothes for herself that she would not have even dreamt of buying in the past and for the first time, she goes on a trip overseas. There, she meets Kang Ji-wook (Lee Dong-wook), the son of the travel agency's chairman, who is unamused with life. And of course, the two fall in love and together start discovering the joys of life.

In sum, the setups in "Scent of Woman" somehow seem familiar. The main character is leading life on limited time and by chance comes across and falls in love with a man who is the heir to a conglomerate. However, this setup is only the start to the story and what'll lead the drama is what is told from that point onward. At a press conference for the drama held at SBS's headquarters on Tuesday, director Park Hyung-gi explained that the show differentiates itself by saying, "You may be sick and tired of the plot and think it's worn-out because it's about the limited time one has to live but 'Scent of Woman' is not about dying but rather about a woman trying to figure out what a happy life is." That is why it'll be important to see what it means for us, who have put off the things we really want to do for a time somewhere in the future while living a life that will come to an end someday, to see Yeon-jae look for happiness in life, something she had been putting off.

Scenes from upcoming SBS TV series "Scent of Woman" [SBS]

That is why the presence of Kim Suna, playing the role of Yeon-jae, will be important as well. It is not too difficult to think of Kim for the role when thinking of a female character who will overcome barriers which she thought were obstacles in reality but were actually emotional constraints. Her character Kim Sam-soon in MBC's "My Name is Kim Sam-soon" was like that and Shin Mirae in SBS's "City Hall" was like that as well. A video with highlights from the show revealed that the comical scenes are typical ones -- she falls over while bringing the red pepper paste for bibimbap at the travel agency and serves a Muslim customer beef. However, it will definitely be worth looking forward to the sense of vicarious substitution or emphathy you may feel from seeing how Yeon-jae goes to look for delayed joy after getting rid of her horn-rimmed glasses.

Director Park Hyung-gi and screenwriter Noh Ji-seol who told of "a story of people who aren't No. 1 but work hard" through SBS's "Doctor Champ" in 2010, will try to ask "the question of am I living my life the right way? Am I happy? After stopping working" through "Scent of Woman." Will the show be able to overcome its typical setup and provide viewers the chance to ruminate on life? Let us find out through its first episode set to air on 9:50 p.m. this Saturday.

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Reporter : Hwang Hyo-Jin seventeen@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@, Lee Ji-Hye seven@