(From left to right) Writer Kang Full and director Kim Hee-won with 'Lightshop Keeper' cast members Shin Eun-soo, Lee Jung-eun, Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, Kim Seol-hyun, Uhm Tae-goo, Kim Min-ha, Kim Sun-hwa and Park Hyuk-kwon at a press conference, December 3, 2024. Photos courtesy of Disney+Disney+’s South Korean drama “Lightshop Keeper” arrives with significant buzz for several reasons. 

First, it marks the directorial debut of actor-turned-director Kim Hee-won. Second, it’s based on a popular webtoon by Kang Full, the creator behind “Moving.” Finally, its release coincides with the highly anticipated return of “Squid Game” on a rival streaming platform.

But instead of feeling pressured, Kim acknowledges that competition is a given in the entertainment industry and hopes that “Lightshop Keeper” will resonate deeply with audiences.

“I think it’s the competition that kind of makes me a little bit nervous, but it’s inevitable. There are other shows in the market, it’s just natural. As a director, I just feel that what’s really important is that I could move people’s hearts with the show,” Kim said via an interpreter at a recent online press conference.

“I have confidence that this show can really move people’s hearts. The vibe and atmosphere of ‘Lightshop Keeper’ is something that is relatable to everyone and something that can really touch your hearts,” said Kim, whose acting projects include “Moving,” the thriller film “Unlocked” and other series like “Behind Your Touch” and “Han River Police.”

The eight-part mystery series, which premiered Dec. 4, centers on a mysterious light shop, the sole source of illumination in a dark alley. This enigmatic establishment, which attracts a group of strangers, is managed by Jung Won-young, played by actor Ju Ji-hoon.

Apart from Ji-hoon—who rose to fame through the series “Princess Hours” and more recently starred in “Kingdom” and “Jirisan”—the powerhouse cast also features Park Bo-young (“Strong Woman Do Bong-soon”), Kim Seol-hyun (“Summer Strike”), Uhm Tae-goo (“My Sweet Mobster”), Bae Seong-woo (“The 8 Show”), and Lee Jung-eun (“Miss Night and Day”).

Rounding out the ensemble are Kim Min-ha (“Pachinko”), Shin Eun-soo (“Twinkling Watermelon”), Park Hyuk-kwon (“Behind Your Touch”), and Kim Sun-hwa (“The Glory”).

“This is such an amazing ensemble. Every day on set, it was so amazing to work with them. Everyone was so considerate of one another. I could tell that all these people cared for one another genuinely. So it was a very happy experience for me,” said director Kim.

The cast members also praised Kim, noting that his background as an actor helped in his directorial approach.

Ju Ji-hoon“It’s not just about being meticulous but he made sure that we went home on time, we had a lot of rest. As actors, we were very satisfied with the work because he made sure to stay on the schedule that he talked to us beforehand. It was quite comfortable for us,” Ji-hoon said.

Bo-young, meanwhile, shared how Kim would personally demonstrate movements for a scene and make adjustments to enhance the performance. “He would just do the rehearsals himself before we got on set so that was something that was a pleasant surprise for me,” she said.

“Every time I was done with the shooting and going home, [director Kim] would call and ask me, ‘What was it like today? Did you enjoy the shoot today?’ So it was just a heartwarming experience for me,” the actress said.

Min-ha appreciated how Kim gave her plenty of freedom to interpret and portray her character.

“He just trusted me wholeheartedly and he gave me so much freedom to maneuver. So that gave me a lot of confidence and I just had a lot of fun doing whatever I could on set,” Min-ha shared.

Park Bo-young

Kim Seol-hyunRealistic set

Kim said he put immense effort into making the show—despite its fantastical elements—feel realistic. This commitment even led the production team to construct an entire neighborhood for the set.

“In terms of the design, we actually set out to create an actual village as the set... Each little detail, we tried to incorporate all of that into the design,” he said.

Sun-hwa recalled doing a test shoot in an eerie alley, which was recreated on the set to capture the same atmosphere.

“That alleyway [for the test shoot] was almost abandoned, it had an eerie aura. It was amazing to find out that they really took that and built it exactly as it was on set, even the eerie vibe and all. It was interesting to act there,” she said.

Eun-soo added, “When you actually enter that alleyway [set], it seems so long, dark and scary and all of the little textures, minor details, even to the smallest brick into the wall, everything is so detailed and realistic.”

Director Kim Hee-won and Kang Full

Difference from webtoon

Kang Full, who also wrote for the series, said the live-action adaptation gave him the opportunity to explore aspects that he could not fully realize in the webtoon.

“When I draw the webtoon… because of the time restraints, I sometimes give up on delving into areas. And I was younger when I wrote this webtoon so there are things that I couldn’t portray at that time. That becomes a regret later on,” Kang Full said.

“‘Light Shop Keeper’ was like that for me. I knew there were areas that I could delve deeper into and explore more. With the series, I have a great director and ensemble, and I could say everything I wanted to say with the show,” he said.

Kang Full also admitted to feeling “a bit pressured” with his new project, given the success of Disney’s adaptation of his other webtoon “Moving.”

READ: Disney+ announces 'Moving 2,' lineup of upcoming Korean titles

When asked to differentiate “Moving” and “Lightshop Keeper,” Kangfull explained that “Moving” is more accessible to viewers as a superhero story, while the new series is “more emotional.”

“[‘Lightshop Keeper’] is a little bit different because it’s horror, it’s human drama, so it’s a mixture of different tastes. There’s melodrama, horror, mystery. There’s just a lot that’s in store for you, so I feel like with each member of the audience, you will find different things to enjoy about the series,” he said.