Show Business Netflix...The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo x Squid Game’s Gong Yoo: A Journey Back to the 1960s with Noh Hee-kyung

Currently in production with a target release in 2026, the Netflix original series 〈Slowly and Intensely〉 (tentative title, English title: Show Business) is expected to be recorded as a significant event in the history of Korean popular culture, beyond just the news of a drama production. The fact that it marks the historic first meeting of two icons representing the Korean drama market, Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, is enough to capture public attention, but the industrial and cultural implications embedded in this work far exceed the glamour of the casting.  

Based on the news of the drama's crank-up, the released synopsis, and historical materials, the internal world and external background of the work will be analysed in a three-dimensional manner. In particular, this work, which deals with the birth of 'show business' in the ruins of post-war Korean society, will explore how it visualises the tumultuous period of modern Korean history from the 1950s to the 1980s, and how the outstanding creators Noh Hee-kyung and Lee Yoon-jung will reinterpret this era.

The most important measure of the drama's success is the harmony between the writer, director, and production system. 〈Slowly and Intensely〉 is born at the point where 'the essence of humanism' collides and merges with 'the aesthetics of sensory direction.'

Noh Hee-kyung holds a unique position among Korean drama writers. Her body of work focuses more on the inner lives of characters rather than on glamorous events, exploring the fundamental loneliness of humans and the dynamics of relationships.

• Evolution of Filmography: 〈The World They Live In〉 (2008), 〈That Winter, The Wind Blows〉 (2013), 〈It's Okay, That's Love〉 (2014), 〈Dear My Friends〉 (2016), 〈Live〉 (2018), 〈Our Blues〉 (2022) and her works consistently focus on 'people'.  

• Expansion into Historical Dramas: Noh Hee-kyung's handling of modern and contemporary history, particularly the birth of the entertainment industry, signifies an expansion of her artistic worldview into a new dimension. While her previous works dealt with the stories of ordinary citizens or broadcasting personnel of the contemporary era, this work addresses the 'survival' and 'aspirations' of artists against the backdrop of the 1950s to 1980s, a time when the scars of war were still visible. This is expected to depict not just a simple success story, but the desperate struggles of humanity trying not to lose themselves under the pressures of the times.  

• Third Encounter with Song Hye-kyo: This is the third meeting with Song Hye-kyo following 〈The World They Live In〉 and 〈That Winter, The Wind Blows〉. Their collaboration has always elevated the acting depth of Song Hye-kyo as an actress. Among netizens, there is a prevailing expectation that "Noh Hee-kyung will once again redefine Song Hye-kyo's life character."  

Lee Yoon-jung is regarded as a pioneer who opened the era of 'emotional direction' in the history of Korean drama directing.

• Visual Storytelling: 〈Coffee Prince〉 (2007) was praised for its sensory direction that seemed to capture even the humidity and air of a summer day, going beyond a simple romantic comedy. Since then, she has showcased her directorial skills across genres through works like 〈Cheese in the Trap〉, 〈Argon〉, and 〈Everyone's Lies〉.  

• Reunion with Gong Yoo after 19 Years: For Gong Yoo, 〈Coffee Prince〉 is a "record of youth" and a pivotal work that solidified his position as an actor. His reunion with Lee Yoon-jung suggests that an environment has been created where he can act in the most comfortable and natural state. Attention is drawn to how Lee Yoon-jung's unique delicate handheld technique and natural lighting will create a mise-en-scène that meets the vintage atmosphere of the 1960s.

Characters Traversing a Tumultuous Era

The characters in this drama are not mere fictional figures but complex beings reflecting the fragments of real individuals who have adorned the history of Korean popular culture.

Min-ja (played by Song Hye-kyo): A Diva Crying Out for Survival on Stage

• Character Overview: Min-ja, played by Song Hye-kyo, is a character who, despite having a childhood filled with poverty and hardship, dives into the rough entertainment industry with a single-minded determination to become a singer.  

• Inner Analysis: Min-ja's driving force is 'deficiency'. While Moon Dong-eun from 〈The Glory〉 burned herself for revenge, Min-ja throws herself into success and artistic achievement. The title "Slowly and Intensely" may symbolise the pace and impact of Min-ja's growth into a star. Song Hye-kyo has boldly adopted a short haircut for this role, establishing the image of a 'modern girl' from the 1960s to 70s.  

• Acting Challenge: If Song Hye-kyo's previous image was that of a 'melodrama queen', this work requires her to simultaneously showcase a desperate survival instinct and charisma on stage. Given the nature of the Netflix series, much bolder and more intense emotional expressions are expected compared to existing terrestrial dramas.

Dong-gu (played by Gong Yoo): A Gambler Selling Romance

• Character Overview: Dong-gu, played by Gong Yoo, is Min-ja's childhood friend and takes on the role of a manager or producer who walks alongside her as she steps into the music industry.  

• Role Theory: Dong-gu is the first person to recognise Min-ja's talent and is a supporter who bears the dark side of show business to make her a star. He is likely to be portrayed as a character with both a romantic artistic temperament and a cold businessman's demeanour.

• Relationship: The relationship between Min-ja and Dong-gu is closer to 'comrades' than just lovers. Their narrative, having grown up relying on each other amidst the ruins of war, will provide a weighty emotional impact beyond mere melodrama. Gong Yoo is expected to break away from the static image shown in recent works like 〈Squid Game〉 and 〈Trunk〉, and adapt the energy from his 〈Coffee Prince〉 days to fit the historical drama.  

Gil-yeo (played by Cha Seung-won) & Yang-ja (played by Lee Hanee): Icons of the Era

• Gil-yeo (Cha Seung-won): He appears as the top composer and producer of the time. He is a 'mentor' and 'power figure' who provides opportunities to Min-ja and Dong-gu while also presenting them with trials. The unique charisma and black humour of Cha Seung-won are expected to create a multi-dimensional character. Historically, he is likely inspired by legendary musicians like 'Shin Joong-hyun'.  

• Yang-ja (Lee Hanee): She is Min-hee's (played by Kim Seol-hyun) mother and a singer who dominated the era, representing the loneliness of entertainers hidden behind glamour. Lee Hanee, with her artistic background in traditional Korean music, is expected to provide overwhelming visual appeal by performing stage performances without a double. Her character symbolizes perseverance and passion for not giving up on dreams.

Min-hee (played by Kim Seol-hyun): Between Desire and Purity

• Character Overview: She is a character who either sets up a subtle rivalry with Min-ja or shares sisterly affection, representing another youth experiencing growing pains in a harsh environment. As an actress from an idol background, Seol-hyun is expected to deliver the most natural performance in her role as a singer.

The Light and Shadow of Korean Show Business in the 1960s-70s

The 'US 8th Army Show', which is expected to be the main stage of the drama, is one of the most important spaces in the history of Korean popular music.

• Industrial Structure: Immediately after the Korean War, the domestic economy collapsed, but the US military bases were a paradise overflowing with dollars. For Korean musicians, the US 8th Army stage was the only job that guaranteed stable income. At that time, the US 8th Army Show was operated under a strict 'audition system', where performers were graded (AA, A, B, etc.) based on their performance skills and repertoire, and payment was differentiated accordingly. This can be seen as the prototype of the modern K-Pop idol training system.  

• Musical Evolution: To satisfy the US soldiers, Korean singers had to perfectly digest the latest pop, jazz, country, soul, and rock and roll. In this process, 'standard pop' was implanted in Korea, and legendary singers like Shin Joong-hyun, Yoon Bok-hee, Patty Kim, and Hyun-mi were born. The songs that Min-ja (played by Song Hye-kyo) will sing in the drama are likely to be adaptations of Western pop songs that were popular at the time or early rock/soul numbers.  

The relationship between 'Gil-yeo', played by Cha Seung-won, and Song Hye-kyo and Seol-hyun in the drama evokes the real-life figures of Shin Joong-hyun and the singers of the 'Shin Joong-hyun group' he discovered.

• Shin Joong-hyun's Emergence: Starting his activities as 'Jackie Shin' on the US 8th Army stage in 1957, Shin Joong-hyun formed Korea's first rock band 'Add4' in 1962. He took pride in having formed a rock group a year ahead of the Beatles.  

• Success Myth: Shin Joong-hyun hit songs like the Pearl Sisters' 〈Nima〉 and Kim Choo-ja's 〈Before It's Too Late〉, bringing psychedelic rock and soul into the mainstream of Korean pop music. The drama will vividly depict the relationship between producers and singers, as well as the behind-the-scenes stories of hit song creation.

The characters in the drama will struggle to protect their artistic world while constantly clashing with the control of state power. Scenes of being taken to the police station to write a letter of reflection and fleeing from a crackdown team wielding scissors can be utilised as black comedy elements that showcase the 'laughably sad' zeitgeist of the time.

Visual & Style: A Reinterpretation of Retro

Director Lee Yoon-jung and the costume team will put effort into recreating the fashion of the 1950s-70s with a modern sensibility.

• Glam Look and Mod Look: The pantaloons, flamboyant patterned dresses, heavy eye makeup, and lion hairstyles worn by the Pearl Sisters and Yoon Bok-hee will provide visual pleasure.  

• Song Hye-kyo's Style Transformation: Song Hye-kyo is expected to shed her previously refined and elegant style, showcasing bold outfits in primary colours and daring accessories as a 'fashion icon'. This will serve as a device to visualise the 'fashion revolution' of the time set against the backdrop of the tailor street in Myeongdong in the 1960s (now a fashion hub).

A New Milestone for K-Dramas

〈Slowly and Intensely〉 is likely to become a generationally integrated content that evokes nostalgia for the middle-aged while stimulating a 'hip' retro sensibility for the MZ generation. Especially when observing the phenomenon of past singers (like Yang Joon-il, Kim Choo-ja, etc.) being re-highlighted through platforms like YouTube (such as the Topgol Park songs), it is possible that after the drama airs, the rock and soul music of 1960s-70s Korea may experience a resurgence on the charts.

Since 〈Squid Game〉, Netflix has been experimenting with various genres of K-content. This work will combine the genre characteristics of 'historical drama' with 'music' and 'human drama', serving as a showcase to present the dynamism of modern Korean history to global audiences. Set to be released in 2026, this work is expected to be a 'tentpole' piece in Netflix's Korean lineup, once again driving up the stock of Studio Dragon and the status of the Korean drama industry.

There is an old saying, "If you lack knowledge, you live by common sense, and if you lack common sense, you live by intuition." However, the characters of 〈Slowly and Intensely〉 have boldly confronted the barbaric era with only 'passion' and 'talent' as their weapons, where neither knowledge nor common sense applies. The brutal yet beautiful growing pains that Noh Hee-kyung will depict will meet the perfect vessels of Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, and in 2026, it will seep into the hearts of global viewers as 'Slowly, but Most Intensely'.