AO EXCLUSIVE: Jang Nara and Nam Ji Hyun talk about their roles and their chemistry in “Good Partner”

The newest legal series has finally landed on our small screens!

Good Partner depicts the story of divorce lawyers who try to give the best alternatives to every client’s case who is facing a crisis in their marriage.

The Annyeong Oppa team had the opportunity to have a written interview with Jang Nara and Nam Ji Hyun and got the chance to delve into their characters and their chemistry in the series.

Jang Nara as Cha Eun Kyung

Jang Nara plays the role of the feisty star divorce lawyer, Cha Eun Kyung in this series. She is a divorce lawyer who gets to face a matrimonial crisis because of the unfaithfulness of her husband.

Q: You are playing the role of a divorce lawyer in this series. Since this is your first legal drama, did you face any challenges while playing your role as Cha Eun Kyung? How did you adjust to this new role? 

Jang Nara: The challenge was not so much the legal aspects but rather the desire to portray Cha Eunkyung in a way that blends well with the drama while also making her distinctive.

Q: Do you have any memorable line/s from the series that you can share with us? 

Jang Nara: Cha Eun Kyung’s line to her client, “Acknowledge that you are no longer the head of the family, that you are no longer family,” struck me deeply. It felt like it was directed at Eunkyung herself, which made it quite poignant.

Nam Ji Hyun as Han Yu Ri

Nam Ji Hyun portrays the role of Han Yu Ri, a rookie divorce lawyer who can’t stand injustices. She has an inner scar that was caused by her father’s infidelity to her mother.

Q: This is your second legal drama since “Suspicious Partner.” Since it’s your second time working in this genre, what is your focus now in playing the role of Han Yu Ri? Is it the same approach as your previous work? 

Nam Ji Hyun: Although ‘Suspicious Partner’ and ‘Good Partner’ may seem similar in terms of title and the legal profession of the roles, I believe they are completely different dramas. ‘Suspicious Partner’ is a romance drama, whereas ‘Good Partner’ is more of a human drama. So as an actor, the differences between the two are quite clear. In this project, since we delve more into the struggles of people in the lawyer profession, I made an effort to portray the scenes where the character wrestles with these issues and contemplates what might be the best course of action.

Q: If you were given the chance to portray other characters in “Good Partner”, who would it be and why?

Nam Ji Hyun: Personally, I would like to play a character like Woo Jin. I would love to portray a role that observes someone from a respectful distance and quietly supports them. I believe that deep affection unconditionally can move and attract many people.

Jang Nara and Nam Ji Hyun’s Chemistry

Eun Kyung and Yu Ri are the proof that opposites attract! Jang Nara and Nam Ji Hyun’s chemistry in this series is top-tier! They show different points of view on marital issues and how it affects them as a parent and a child.

Q: How does it feel working with each other? Can you share what was your chemistry like on the set? 

Jang Nara: I had always felt positive about Nam Jihyun through her many previous works, so I was thrilled when I heard she was cast as Han Yuri. I thought she was an excellent actress, and meeting her in person, she felt like a strong, deeply rooted tree pillar, which felt very reassuring. As we worked together, I found her even more endearing and ended up becoming a fan.

Nam Ji Hyun: I think we naturally grew close. We had a lot of scenes together, so we spent a lot of time together, and since we also shared many scenes where our characters experienced various plots together, we bonded more quickly. Chatting during breaks also brought us closer. Plus, Nara sunbae-nim is so warm and kind—she would give me cute gifts and often treat me to snacks.

We would like to express our gratitude to Viu Philippines for this opportunity!

Good Partner is now streaming on Viu!