Why Her (Korean: 왜 오수재인가) is a 2022 South Korean television series directed by Park Soo-jin. Starring Seo Hyun-jin in the title role of Oh Soo-jae, and features Hwang In-youp, Huh Joon-ho in pivotal roles, also Bae In-hyuk appears in the series. It premiered on SBS TV on June 3, 2022, and aired every Friday and Saturday at 22:00 (KST) till July 23. It is also available for streaming on Viu in selected regions.
Contents
Synopsis
Oh Soo-jae (Seo Hyun-jin) is a talented lawyer and the youngest partner at TK Law Firm, the best law firm in South Korea. Oh Soo-jae is driven by her desire to win cases and also her self-righteous principles. She has lived her life to achieve success, but she gets involved in an unexpected case and she gets demoted to work as an adjunct professor at Seojung University law school. At the law school, Oh Soo-jae meets Gong Chan (Hwang In-youp). He is a student there. Gong Chan has experienced a painful past, but he still has a warm heart. He falls in love with Oh Soo-jae and he would do anything to protect her. Meanwhile, Choi Tae-kook (Huh Joon-ho) is the chairman of TK Law Firm. He would do anything to satisfy his desires, even if it's illegal or immoral.
Cast and characters
Main
Seo Hyun-jin as Oh Soo-jae
A star lawyer who is the youngest partner at TK Law Firm. She has become empty while pursuing only success. She is forced out because of an unexpected incident and demoted to becoming an adjunct professor at a law school.
Hwang In-youp as Gong Chan / Kim Dong-gu
Lee Eugene as young Gong Chan / Kim Dong-gu
A twenty-seven-year-old law school student who is warm and innocent, but hides a painful past with a twisted fate.
Huh Joon-ho as Choi Tae-kook
The chairman of TK Law Firm who crosses the boundaries of good and evil in the face of desire. He has power and hides his inner feelings. He watches over Oh Soo-jae, who is loyal to him.
Supporting
Ji Seung-hyun as Choi Joo-wan
The eldest son and heir of TK Law Firm.
Lee Joo-woo as Song Mi-rim
An associate lawyer at TK Law Firm and Legal Clinic Center Guest Attorney.
Kim Seon-hyuk as Min Young-bae
Partner Attorney at TK Law Firm
Jeon Jin-ki as Ha Il-goo
TK Law Firm chairman's chief secretary.
Bae In-hyuk as Choi Yoon-sang
A second year student at Seojung University's law school and the second son of Choi Tae-kook.
Kim Jae-hwa as Jo Kang-ja
A first year student at Seojung University Law School and Legal Clinic Center Team Member. She was a former police detective.
Nam Ji-hyun1 as Na Se-ryun
A first year student at Seojung University Law School. Former employee of TK Law Firm's General Affairs Department, Legal Clinic Center Team Member
Lee Jin-hyuk as Nam Chun-poong
A cheerful and optimistic law student who is also a former idol trainee.
Kim Chang-wan as Baek Jin-gi
Dean of Seojung University Law School, Kang Eun-seo's father.
Extended
Cha Chung-hwa as Chae Joon-hee
A professor of family medicine and Oh Soo-jae's only friend.
Lee Kyu-sung as So Hyeong-chil
Gong Chan's roommate and the kitchen attendant in his pub. He was jailed for a year after dreaming of becoming a chef at a luxury hotel, but was caught in a gang brawl.
Choi Young-joon as Yoon Se-pil
Representative director of SP Partners, Kang Eun-seo's fiancé. Works with Baek Jin-gi and Oh Soo-jae for Kang Eun-seo and Jeon Na-jeong's justice.
Bae Hae-sun as Ji Soon-ok
Gong Chan's stepmother.
Kim Joong-don as Do Jin-myung
A homicide detective.
Seo Jin-won as Kim Sang-man
Gong Chan's father.
Jo Dal-hwan as Gu Gu-gap
Gong Chan's roommate and in-charge of serving in his pub.
Lee Jin-hee as Seo Jun-myung's Wife
The wife of a former prosecutor.
Hwang Ji-ah as Jeon Na-jeong
Gong-chan's half-sister is warm-hearted with a bright nature and caring attitude. Helped Kang Eun-seo when Kang was sexually assaulted, and was killed for her involvement in the matter.
Jo Young-jin as Lee In-soo
Special appearance
Kwon Sang-woo as Jung Hyeon-soo
Chae Jun-hee's husband and a good hearted person.
Han Sun-hwa as Kang Eun-seo
Yoon Se-pil's fiancée, Baek Jin-gi's daughter. Past victim of sexual violence and a road accident.
Production
Casting
On December 10, 2020 SBS announcing its lineup for dramas to be released in 2021, including Why Oh Soo-jae with actress Seo Hyun-jin taking on the title role. The series is written by Kim Ji-eun and directed by Park Soo-jin. Seo would appear as an eccentric professor. Hwang In-youp and Huh Joon-ho were confirmed as part of the main cast in October 2021.
Filming
Script reading took place on October 19, 2021 while filming began in November of the same year, and ended on June 14, 2022.
On January 24, 2022 a representative from the entertainment industry told that filming stopped for two weeks after director Park Soo-jin was diagnosed with COVID-19. Park, who had never been vaccinated on the doctor's recommendation, was unable to return to the filming set for health reasons after the diagnosis; during his absence the series was co-directed by Kim Ji-yeon and Kang Bo-seung. On March 14, 2022, it was reported that Park had returned to direct the drama after three months of convalescence. On April 21, 2022 fresh photos from script reading site were released.