AO EXCLUSIVE: “When the Stars Gossip” stars talk about their roles and challenges while filming the series

An out-of-this-world new rom-com series has finally landed on our small screens!

When the Stars Gossip follows a story between Eve, a spaceship commander who works at the zero-gravity space station, and Gong Ryong, an unwelcome guest with a confidential mission. It is a story about those who want to seek life and study how they can create more life that takes place in outer space.

To deep dive into this most anticipated series, a virtual global press conference was held on January 9 with the presence of the charismatic and talented stars, Lee Min Ho, Gong Hyo Jin, Oh Jung Se, and Han Ji Eun.

The Cast and Their Characters

Lee Min Ho as Gong Ryong

Lee Min Ho portrays the role of Gong Ryong, an obstetrics gynecologist. He paid 70 billion won to get into the space station and found love and life there. He experiences personal growth as well while staying at the space station. Min Ho mentioned that he is interested in outer space and all things related. The story of life in outer space and Gong Ryong’s unique character are the things he was drawn to.

Gong Hyo Jin as Eve Kim

Gong Hyo Jin transforms into an astronaut named Eve Kim who is the commander of the space station. She is a character who appears to be very tough outside but very soft inside. She said she is a fan of writer Seo Sook Hyang and director Park Shin Woo, whom she previously worked with, so when she received the script, she couldn’t say no. Hyo Jin also mentioned that she is also very interested in outer space.

Oh Jung Se as Kang Kang Su

Oh Jung Se plays the role of Kang Kang Su, a space experiment expert. Jung Se shared that he loves director Kim, and he worked with him in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, so he knew that if he worked on another project, he could go anywhere with him, whether in outer space or not. He added that when he read the script, he realized that the characters are so dynamic and there is a very good message that is delivered by the end of the story.

Han Ji Eun as Choi Go Eun

Han Ji Eun portrays Choi Go Eun, the CEO of MZ Electronics as someone who believes that love is more important than anything. She said she is a big fan of director Park and had infinite trust for him since she previously worked with him in Lovestruck in the City. She also mentioned that when she read the script, she thought that the narrative was fresh and it’s all about life and love.

The Challenges

All the cast and staff of the series worked hard to make this series more appealing to the audience and on that note, Gong Hyo Jin shared that it took 2 months just to shoot the rocket taking off scene of G.O-10. In the scene where Gong Ryong throws up in the space shuttle and when they have to open the hatch, it took them a month and a half and because they have no experience, they were able to do about 2 to 3 cuts per shoot day. She also said that they had to sit in a chair that looked like an egg; it took them an hour just to get there because there were so many gadgets and buckles, and they were always gasping for air when they wore their helmets on because they need to close the visor. The staff also shakes them when they have to be shaken.

In the zero-gravity scenes, they have to move very slowly and have to push something with a hand or foot to move.

The Collaboration of the King and Queen of Rom-Com

This is the first time seeing the rom-com king and queen in this series. When asked about their chemistry on set, Lee Min Ho said that he just tried to work off of her energy and he thinks that naturally built chemistry was what they needed when they were not on set. They just talked about what they do in life, tried their best to know more about their true selves, and talked about the thoughts and ideas they have.

According to Gong Hyo Jin, she wanted to make Min Ho feel very at home on set, and it was a set when they had to become close. When they were not on set, they spent so much time together and talked about random things about each other.

Message to the Viewers

To wrap up the event, Han Ji Eun first took the floor and said that the series is something very relatable to viewers and can resonate with, so she hopes that everyone enjoys the show.

Oh Jung Se was the next one to speak and mentioned that a lot of cast and crew took on a lot of challenge with this show. “There are some themes that can be very grave and heavy, but it’s very witty and refreshing, and I think it’s a very original take on some of the deeper subjects, so I hope that you look out for it and show us a lot of support,” he said.

“We’ve just begun, and I hope you enjoyed the first 2 episodes. From episode 3, it’s gonna get even more exciting; I think that It’s going to be a story that is going to compel you until the very end. I hope you enjoy it. To know that there’s a lot of support and love out there from all around the world, I’m very grateful and I hope we can meet soon face to face. Thank you so much,” Gong Hyo Jin’s last message.

Lee Min Ho was the last person to speak and said, “The unique color and sentiment of our drama series, I think it’s very original and distinctive. I think it can come up as something that is something you’re unfamiliar with, but I strongly believe that you will find yourselves deeply immersed into the story without even knowing it. Happy New Year to everybody, thank you.”

When the Stars Gossip now streaming on Netflix!