It was the first time I received a business card from an actress.

Prain Global Office Lifestyle Team Leader & Actress Lee Se-young. I've heard of the reputation of "an actress who goes to work in her agency", but she's an actress that even have business cards. When there is no schedule, she goes to work, reads a script, washes the dishes, cleans, and finds rest and relaxation. She was given the title of Team Leader of the Office Lifestyle for her contributions to the company's environmental beautification. When I asked if she would be promoted to 'Director' because 'The Red Sleeve' was a hit,  she said, "I lost my seat last year because I was out of work (filming). I have to find a desk again,” she said with a big smiled.

She is a middle-aged actress who debuted at the age of 5 and has walked the path of acting for 25 years. For 3 years from 2019, she worked tirelessly from 'The Crowned Clown, 'Doctor John', 'Memorist', 'Kairos' to 'The Red Sleeve'. 

A gorgeous actress with a small face that is likely to be covered by a cell phone and a perfect ratio of eyes, nose, and mouth, says, "I want to live a thin but long life," "I want to be an actor who pays for my meal," and "I just do my job with a heart of a female office worker." She keep taking notes without letting go of the pencil and carefully choose each word (to use) and give an answer. 

It was easy to understand why her longtime fans gave her the nickname 'Sato' (Lovely Lunatic/Crazy). 'The love story of a court lady who doesn't have much', told by Lee Se-young with her full big eyes that twinkles. It was calm like Deok-im's narration in 'The Red Sleeve', but the wave was quite big. 

▲ Usually, I tend to move on from my character after the drama ends. I have to start a new work, and I have to stand at a new starting point. But this time, there is a photo shoot, interviews like today and broadcasts, and the people around me keep talking about 'The Red Sleeve'. Then the (drama) ending comes to mind again which makes me sad and cry. 

▲ To be honest, I never thought it would turn out so well. I just trusted the work, the director, and Junho, and worked hard, and I was really happy because the set was fun. It's so well done, it's actually a bit unrealistic. So I try not to crash. I'm afraid my feet will fall off the ground.

▲ I think Deok-im also fell in love with San. I just couldn't show my heart because of the realistic part. I tried to express the feeling of Deok-im that grows for Lee San over and over with pain, loneliness, and pity. Before Deok-im's death, she said, "You still don't know yet, if I weren't willing, I would have run away at all cost" was the only part that expressed her heart. “I loved you. But I lose a lot, and I wasn't happy.”

▲ Knowing the timeline, when Deok-im realizes her love for the San, and when that feeling deepens, I put it into action. I didn't directly say it, but I wanted the viewers not to feel that Deok-im doesn't love San. The emotional line deepens towards the end of the play, and after the two kiss intensely in the library, Deok-im was kick out from the palace. Deok-im must have been living her life hard outside the palace as she have always missed San. Ah, I really lost him, I must be really in love with him. When she came back to the palace, Hwabin appeared and she must have felt a certain sense of anxiety that San's heart might not come to her. In the 15th episode, Deok-im's earnest heart was captured in her eyes, saying 'I can't tell you, but I love you', "Please understand me, who has no choice but to refuse because you're a king,", 'I can't hold you, but don't let me go'. 

▲ After reading the original work, I decided to do it because the ending was so good. I was most curious about the ending of the script that had been out until episode 6. On the day of poster and teaser filming, I saw the phrase 'A moment became eternity' and guessed that the original and drama ending would be the same. I made up my mind to draw a good image of the process moving towards the sad and desperate ending. San's line, 'Please love me,' still resonates with my heart. Isn't it so sad that two people who could fully love each other only after they died? 

▲ It is the process of raising tension while waiting. Mostly, I played a lot of pranks that were connected with the actual action of the drama. There was a kiss on the forehead, but the angle wasn't right, and Junho's lips kept touching the top of my head. I was embarrassed because my hair had been sweating a lot after applying the product all day, so when I joked, “If you kiss there, you will pass out,” and everyone laughed hahahahaha. In the scene where I fell into the water, I mimicked and teased that my movement was like a jumping ski movement, and I laughed a lot.

▲ It was perfect. Junho and I had the same goal to show fantastic teamwork. After seven months of acting together, we naturally became comfortable and had strong faith in each other. The director told us that we are Jeongjo and Deok-im  themselves, so there was a lot of discussion and coordination together, and it all portrayed into the screen, so 'Sandok Couple' received loved through it. 

▲ I watched 'Chief Kim' in the past and admired that he was an excellent actor. He was not at a level where he dared to judge. When it was said that Junho will play as Jeongjo, I had no doubts from the beginning that he would do very well. When 'The Red Sleeve' was aired, there was a reaction saying, "I didn't know that an idol could do this well", but I was rather curious about that. Junho was already a complete actor. And he's not only good at his job, he's a really nice person. As we became close friends without fault, synergy seems to have doubled. Thank you to Junho, who portrayed beyond the cool and charming San. 

▲ It is not easy to meet such good people while working. Actually, to me, the three of them are like court ladies. Everyone is like a jewel, so this relationship is precious, so we decided to 0meet up every three weeks. This is a meet up created to learn anything together. 

Around 2015 there were moments when I felt like I was in the darkness , but I tried to keep going. I had to take care of myself and live, but I didn't have a job back then, I didn't even want to ask my family's help, and I wanted to do something, so I went to school and study hard to get a scholarship. I even applied for a design trademark and started a cosmetics business. At this time, I think I came closer and more serious about acting. That's when I realized that I had to decide to live or die in order to move forward. 

▲ My birthday is in December, so I am still twenty-nine. (Laughs) I don’t have any particular feelings. Just to the part that I feel that my stamina is a little lower than when i were young. I feel that I should do well when I am young and energetic, even a little bit, to nourish and build a foundation for the future. 

▲ I try not to worry too much about it. The work is good I just keep doing this like a paycheck. But it feels really good.

▲ 'Please remember that Deok-im was running brightly in the green summer. Please remember San that looked  at the cold, snowy sky, who never forgot Deok-im.” To the director, I can't express my feelings in words.. You suffered the most, from filming, editing, and pouring energy into it, while we energized watching it. She loved this work more than anyone. Who knew that we would meet from spring to winter and do long-term projects, and who would have expected this result would come out? However, I just want to thank you for spending that time with me. 

① https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/415/0000007717

② https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/415/0000007719