[Sportschosun Reporter Kim So-hee] Actor Park Ji-hyun, who made a strong impression as the toxic parent "Woojin's mother" in the Netflix series "Teach You a Lesson," revealed the story behind her casting and how she prepared for the role.
On the 16th, a video titled "'Teach You a Lesson' graduates(?) gathering. Reading villain comments, Q&A, and behind-the-scenes stories" was uploaded to the official YouTube channel of Netflix South Korea.
That day, Park said with a laugh that the reactions around her had changed since the series was released. "People around me tell me to wear a mask just in case," she said. She also related to other actors who said, "I end up defending myself without even realizing it," showing just how immersive the project was.
She especially drew attention when she shyly replied, "Thank you," to a fan comment that read, "You were so good at playing a parent. My blood pressure went up the whole time I watched." When asked, "Are you a real mother?" she answered, "No," drawing laughter.
She also caught attention with a playful response to a fan who said, "I recommend you stay indoors for a while." Park joked, "I'm wearing a mask carefully," drawing more laughs.
When a fan mentioned her past work, "Daily Dose of Sunshine," she said, "I laughed a lot when I saw this comment," and explained, "I appeared in 'Daily Dose of Sunshine' as Nurse Hong Jeong-ran."
Park Ji-hyun also shared the story behind her casting as Woojin's mother. "The director originally cast me for a role in episode 3, but before it was finalized, he suggested a role in episode 5," she recalled. "It was a role I had never tried before, so I wanted to challenge myself and told him I really wanted to do it."
She added, "The director said that since I had always played kind characters, 'It will be fun for you and fun for me too, so let's make it an enjoyable project.'"
Her efforts to immerse herself in the character were also unusual. Park said, "I changed my hairstyle to a bob, and I looked up a lot of documentaries and books related to the role." She added, "I also walked around nearby elementary schools and cafes to observe people." She continued, "On set, I kept preparing myself mentally to raise my anger level."
Finally, Park Ji-hyun delivered a sharp line to the character she played, saying, "Don't live like that." She then shared a heartfelt message: "I hope people will think of others, be considerate, and value each person, since we are all children of someone's parents."
