How Cha Eunwoo And Co-Star Park Gyu Young Relate To Their Characters In Their Latest K-Drama

In the vast landscape of South Korean entertainment, the romantic comedy K-Drama A Good Day to Be a Dog has been the talk of the town since its debut on October 11 on MBC TV. The series is based on the much-adored NAVER webtoon by Lee Hey, and the well-crafted narrative has indeed struck a chord with the audience. The plot unfolds a unique romantic entanglement blended with comedic elements, keeping the viewers glued to the screen.

At the heart of this narrative are the characters Han Hae Na and Jin Seo Won, portrayed impeccably by Park Gyu Young and Cha Eunwoo, respectively. Han, a high school Korean language teacher, is cursed to morph into a dog upon a kiss. The only remedy for the curse is a kiss from Seowon, a man who — due to a childhood trauma — fears dogs. The plot thickens with a mistaken confession and a consequential kiss, setting the stage for a comedic yet touching narrative as Han endeavors to reverse the curse within a stipulated 100 days.

The connection between the actors and their portrayed characters was emphasized in a recent press conference where both Park and Cha shared some remarkable similarities and contrasts between them and their roles on screen.

Park Gyu Young shared that although Hae Na is much more vibrant, bold, and physically strong, playing the character has been a learning curve. She embraced Hae Na’s positive energy throughout the shooting, which made the portrayal authentic and engaging. However, she pointed out a stark difference, her not being that close to dogs, unlike Hae Na.

I’ve learned a lot from her as I played her. During the shooting, I was able to stay with her positive energy. The only difference is that I’m not that close with dogs.

— Park Gyu Young

Park also highlighted her efforts in mirroring Hae Na’s appearance to not disappoint the original webtoon’s fans. Her dedication shone through as she changed her hairstyle and adorned bright-colored clothes to resonate with the character’s personality. This meticulous attention to detail undoubtedly adds a layer of authenticity to her character, allowing the audience to delve deeper into the narrative.

I didn’t want to disappoint the original work’s fans so I made efforts to have Hae-na’s appearance, like dying my hair and wearing bright colored clothes.

— Park Gyu Young

On the other hand, heartthrob Cha Eunwoo, known for his romantic comedy roles, sees a 70 percent resemblance with his character, Seo-won. He shared that, like Seo Won, he too can be shy around new individuals, which may come off as aloofness.

I saw a lot of resemblance with Seo Won. I’m shy with someone I first meet or who I feel awkward with, so I may give off the impression that I’m aloof.

— Cha Eunwoo

This similarity, he believes, has aided in bringing the nuanced emotions of Seo Won to the forefront. However, unlike Seo Won, Cha doesn’t harbor a fear of dogs. This undoubtedly adds a layer of complexity to his character as he navigates through the anxiety Seo Won experiences around dogs.

I think we are similar in that sense. But the difference is that I’m not scared of dogs.

— Cha Eunwoo

Their portrayal not only sheds light on the unique narrative of “A Good Day to Be a Dog” but also on the actors’ journey in aligning themselves with their characters.