[PREVIEW] MBC TV series "The Greatest Love"

From left, actors Yoo In-na, Cha Seung-won, Kong Hyo-jin and Yoon Kye-sang pose during a photocall of a press conference for MBC TV series "The Greatest Love" held in Seoul, South Korea on April 28, 2011. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]

"There's a lot going on in the entertainment industry nowadays so we're hoping to the healthy and bright side to it," actor Cha Seung-won said of his determination in going into upcoming MBC TV series "The Greatest Love" held in Seoul yesterday. Like he said, it has become frightful to read news on show business on the Internet these days. And "The Greatest Love" is a drama that will try to depict on the 'healthy and cheerful' love which occurs within that seemingly far and distant industry that the public still speculates and fantasizes about. However, it will not adorn itself with positive yet fake images in an attempt to shed new light on the world of entertainment which is suffering from gossip. It rather starts its story from how everything in that industry is about image while the reality is concealed.

That is why the characters Goo Ae-jung (played by Kong Hyo-jin) and Dokgo Jin (Cha Seung-won) in "The Greatest Love" will be interesting. Goo, the former member of an idol group which was at its prime ten years ago yet easily got talked about and drew hatred from the public, is actually a diligent member of her household which she works hard at supporting. On the other hand, top star Dokgo, who became a 'nationally loved' figure for his good looks and good manners, is actually a mean and self-centered character. The entertainment industry often becomes the noisy space for gossip when something true, or close to it, emerges beyond that image the public has of them. But "The Greatest Love" seems to believe that it can discover a positive story of human beings from amongst the cracks that exist in that world.

Dokgo, who signs Goo's hand after mistakening her as the employee of a gas station, and Goo, who on a variety show exposes a secret of Dokgo's that she finds out by chance, are truly in an ill-fated relationship. Yet it is also the Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran sisters' specialty to show how such characters in such a relationship break away from such pretentiousness and reveal their true selves and true emotions, as proven through their shows ranging from MBC's "Fantastic Couple" to the recent SBS "My Girlfriend is Gumiho." This will ultimately be a story of love and people because it will tell of how a top star, who can survive in show biz by covering up who he is, and a former star, who wants to show her real self, become healed of their wounds in the process of their constant clashing.

Of course, what many viewers will be looking forward to are "fun episodes which contain the subtle combination of the characters' comedic aspects and the characters themselves," as said by show's producer Park Hong-kyun. The picture, containing a variety of slapstick action scenes acted by Goo which is based on the script Kong described as being "simple to the extent it says 'avoids' or 'runs')," is quite reliable. Just like the entertainment industry where celebrities walk a fine line when it comes to their public image and true selves, "The Greatest Love" will have to take a risk in figuring out what the public wants to see in terms of the cheerful scenes versus insight on human beings. So how well will this drama maintain a balance between the two? Check it out on the show's premiere at 9:55 p.m. on May 4.

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