In a couple of days, fans will finally uncover the mystery surrounding Netflix’s new K-drama The Frog. For the first time since Sweet Home Season 3, Go Min-si will return to the small screen, bringing fear and terror to the peaceful life of veteran actor Kim Yoon-seok. However, they aren’t the only ones contributing to the show; Yoon Kye-sang, EXO’s Chanyeol, and Lee Jung-eun will also add more depth to the mystery. With these talented actors on board, director Mo Wan-il can’t help but compare The Frog to his hit 2020 romantic thriller, The World of the Married.
During a press conference at Josun Palace in Gangnam District, Seoul, Wednesday, Wan-il talked about The Frog (via The Korea Times) and praised the cast’s exceptional acting that made the show more interesting than it was. With their great talents, he likened their skills to that of the cast of The World of the Married, which won Wan-il his 56th Baeksang Arts Award for best TV director.
“There are scenes where you can roughly predict clichés or what will happen during filming,” he said. “But just like with The World of the Married, the actors on this set exceeded my expectations. They added their own interpretations to their acting, which was truly impressive.”
The Frog will tell the story of people whose peaceful lives are disrupted by a mysterious visitor. Instead of bringing profits, this guest ruins their summer and draws them into a series of unfortunate events.
Wan-il also praised rookie writer Son Ho-young for creating a unique story. But with its thrilling theme, he admitted that he wasn’t sure he could make it into a drama. However, with the characters’ uncertain future, he eventually found it interesting and intriguing, making him decided to pursue the project.
“Doesn't it feel good to walk through the woods?” he continued. “It's a moment of great happiness, but when an unwanted person appears in front of you, that peaceful space suddenly turns into terror. I wanted to capture that duality in this series.”
Kim Yoon-seok Reveals Reason He Did The Frog After His 17-Year TV Hiatus
The Frog will mark the return of Yoon-seok on the small screen after 17 years. Last seen in the 2006 soap opera Love Me When You Can, he was known for his hit movies Tazza: The High Rollers and The Chaser. But despite not doing any series for almost two decades, he revealed he was drawn to do The Frog due to the growing popularity of TV series.
“Following the changing times, series have become a genre of their own,” he said. “As actors, I think we need to do what we need to do during such changing times.”
Being distributed by Netflix held additional appeal to the 56-year-old star. “The global reach and the opportunity to convey the details and expressions to people who speak different languages is something I aspire to do,” he continued.
Yoon-seok also revealed that he was profoundly affected by the series’ story, inspired by the Korean saying, “A carelessly thrown stone can kill a frog.” In this context, the frog refers to an ordinary individual who suddenly faces a terrible misfortune.
“This narrative about our society and our own experiences affected me profoundly,” he added. “By depicting how the individuals cope and persevere, without missing any detail, we are given a chance to reflect on ourselves.”
What date and time will The Frog be released?
The Frog is set to be released on Netflix on Friday, August 23, at 12 AM PT/ 3 AM ET. For other release times based on your region, you can check the list below:
12:AM Pacific Time
3:00 AM Eastern Time
3:00 AM (Toronto), 12:00 AM (Vancouver) Canadian Time
4:00 AM Brasilia Time
8:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time
9:00 AM Central European Time
10:00 AM Eastern European Time
3:00 PM (Perth), 5:00 PM (Sydney) Australian Time
7:00 PM Coordinated Universal Time
2:00 PM (Jakarta), 12:30 PM (New Delhi) Indian Time
3:00 PM Philippine Standard Time
3:00 PM Hong Kong Time
3:00 PM Singapore Standard Time
4:00 PM Japan Standard Time
9:00 AM Central Africa Time
With a great cast and a thriller mystery, The Frog promises to put viewers on the edge of their seats with the secrets it’s about to reveal. Hopefully, this one will live up to its promise.
