Kim Hee-Won Makes His Directorial Debut With K-Drama ‘Light Shop’

K-drama fans may know actor Kim Hee-won from his many roles in dramas such as My Love From The Star, Misaeng: Incomplete Life, Angry Mom, Bring It On Ghost, Behind Your Touch, Han River Police and the Disney+ superhero drama Moving.

It was the role in Moving that led to his directorial debut with another Disney drama Light Shopwhich, like Moving, was created by popular Korean webtoon artist Kang Full. Making this career shift came as no surprise to Kim.

“It might seem sudden from the outside,” said Kim, “But for me, I’ve always wanted and have been preparing for directing. Unexpectedly, I was recommended by writer Kang Full, who I got to know through taking part in Moving. So, I think I was chosen to do this job instead of me choosing to direct this series.”

He said yes at least partly because he was a Kang Full fan and wanted to help make his new work a success.

“I imagined how Light Shop would be received if it were to be released and what kind of impression it would leave with people,” said Kim. “These are the things I thought about before wanting to be a part of the project. For me, Kang Full’s works have always had that human touch that makes you want to imagine more.”

In Light Shop a series of lost souls is drawn to a mysterious light shop found in an otherwise dark alley. These souls seek answers. Most notably, am I alive? Some visitors seem to be alive. Others don’t. Some talk to the mysterious shopkeeper, played by Ju Ji-hoon. He wears sunglasses at night and knows a thing or two about ghosts.

Fulfilling the promise of this soulful ghost story required a deft touch, posing just enough questions in each episode that viewers longed for answers, not unlike the characters who wander into the light shop. The first-time director did an admirable job of creating an engagingly mysterious mood.

“Honestly, since it was my first time directing, nothing felt easy for me.”

While he wanted to present a drama that was worthy of Kang Full’s work, that sense of responsibility did not make him feel pressured.

“Working with writer Kang Full brought me huge happiness, “ said Kim. “So, I really didn’t feel much pressure.”

An important part of bringing the story to life was assembling a diverse and talented cast. As well as Ju, the drama also stars Park Bo-young as a nurse who can see spirits.

“I have worked with many actors in the past including Ju Ji-hoon and Park Bo-young,” said Kim. “Working with actors I’ve always admired was an amazing experience, and even though we met as a director and actor this time instead of being fellow actors, nothing really changed for me. Since our acting philosophy and values overlapped, I was happy to shoot with them.”

The cast also includes Kim Seol-hyun (Summer Strike), Um Tae-goo (My Sweet Mobster)Kim Min-ha (Pachinko), Lee Jung-eun (The Trunk)Bae Sung-woo (The 8 Show), Kim Sun-hwa (Midnight Romance in Hagwon), Shin Eun-soo (Twinkling Watermelon) and Park Hyuk-won (Uncle Samsik). Not every casting choice was made to match the original characters, but some actors were definitely chosen with that intention.

“Since our actors shared similar perspectives on the work we do, casting wasn’t difficult at all,” said Kim. “We have built up trust with each other for a long period of time and since the actors had a strong level of trust in the writer, I felt a lot of support.”

Kim and Kang Full worked together to realize the look and feel of the drama. Sometimes that meant acting out certain scenes and sometimes it involved drawing and editing storyboards as needed. They discussed details such as the sunglasses Ju suspiciously wore at night.

“The sunglasses were Kang Full’s idea,” said Kim. “But it came to life as I fully agreed to it.”

The storyline of Light Shop involves spirits with some unresolved issues, but also those who can see them. Kim is not sure how he really feels about ghosts. It’s possible they exist.

“Personally, I find it intriguing because I can neither believe it nor deny it,” he said. “The reason is that I still wonder about the existence of people between life and death sometimes.”

There are many remarkable scenes in Light Shop but Kim can single out two favorites, both of which are pivotal to the plot.

“While every scene stands out, particularly the long take at the end of episode four and the bus accident scene in episode five stands out,” said Kim. “I remember the entire staff going through multiple rehearsals to get this right with less attempts.”

Light Shop airs on Disney+ internationally and on Hulu in the U.S.