[Limelight] Like Dandelion Seeds... Flying into Viewers' Hearts to Sow Seeds of Hope

Discovery of the Year 'Morning Comes to the Psychiatric Ward' by Lee Idam
Dandelion Role Contemplating 'How to Survive'
Unable to Find Courage to Escape the Bonds of Bloodline but 'The Diagnosis is Mom'
Facing Long-Standing Anxiety Through Strong Medicine and Taking a Step Forward

In Netflix's Morning Comes Even to the Psychiatric Ward, Mindeulle (Lee Idam) is a meticulous nurse. She keeps her distance not only from patients but also from colleagues, dedicating herself to her work. She is not stubborn; rather, she resembles a domesticated animal deprived of emotions. She silently endures pain day by day. The source of her suffering is her mother, who is addicted to gambling. Even when she openly complains, there is no sign of change.

"I started working part-time when I was fifteen. I went to college on my own and never missed a scholarship. If I missed it, I would have to take a leave of absence, and if I took a leave, I would have to live with my mom longer. How could I not be tough and endure?" "That's why you became a nurse. Shouldn't you be grateful to your mom?" "I became a nurse to pay off debt. But the debt keeps increasing. What's harder is that debts disappear when paid off, but my mom doesn't."

She lacks two things: love and the desire for self-esteem. The former is the wish to belong to a social group by being with its members, and the latter is about enhancing one’s social value. Humans have these two desires, emphasizing survival not just physically but as social beings. They fear being excluded from social groups or having their social value diminished.

Having lost these desires, Mindeulle is gripped by shame. She feels ashamed of her very existence as 'I' and as a whole. This is not just her problem. Korean society has long been dominated by anxiety and fear. The majority feel primal or social threats from losing in competition. Instead of pondering "How can I live like a human?" they worry about "How can I survive?"

Actress Lee Idam portrays Mindeulle’s journey to find a humane life by depicting emotional health. For example, she expresses anxiety as a narrowing of the emotional realm that limits growth and awareness. She shows Mindeulle recognizing this herself and expanding her awareness, symbolizing self-expansion. This exploration of the fundamental reasons why modern people find happiness difficult and the active solutions offered make it a remarkable discovery this year. We met Lee Idam to discuss her thoughts on the challenges imposed on Mindeulle and the path to happiness.

- Mindeulle is even afraid to face her long-standing anxiety. Her unconscious avoidance seems ritualized.

"She is a person who is clumsy at revealing her inner feelings. She lacks the courage to break free from her constraints. She just avoids them. The hospital is the perfect place to forget that. Much of it is because she was not loved and nurtured. Even as an adult, she is bound by words like 'cheonryun' (filial duty) mentioned by her mother. If she hadn’t met Hwang Yeohwan (Jang Ryul), she might never have severed that relationship."

- She is more proactive than anyone else in the hospital. She adapts well to the special environment. In that sense, she seems mature enough.

"Since she is recognized in the ward, we can say she has enough motivation to change. The problem is the direction. She doesn’t know which way is right. The signpost that guides her is Hwang Yeohwan. His words 'Let’s abandon mom' open a new path of choice. It also promotes the pure expression of the self."

- Did you see her diligent and meticulous attitude in the ward as stemming from inferiority complex?

"I didn’t think she had a strong desire for recognition. She became a nurse because loans were easily approved, so it’s not completely absent. She must have feared her value being denied. But I think she liked the hectic environment more. Since the outside world is a thorny path, she probably enjoyed her working hours."

- Mindeulle is so thorough that she is called the next head nurse, but occasionally she shows humanity.

"She is not originally a dry personality. She has a warm side like Jeong Daeun (Park Boyoung). She is just clumsy in dealing with people, so it appears the opposite. She draws a clear line in the ward, which might make it seem that way. Someone called it a mask. I want to call it Mindeulle-ness."

- Psychology says anxious people find it hard to connect emotionally with anyone.

"I could feel that while acting. Even using the same language, I felt communication didn’t happen. That seems to be why she doesn’t easily open her heart to Hwang Yeohwan. I thought Mindeulle could be a patient. Someone like Hwang Yeohwan needs to be a social therapist for her."

- What would be the diagnosis?

"It’s 'mom.' The line to abandon her is the medicine. When I first read the script, I was shocked. I kept wondering, 'How can someone write such cruel words?' But after acting, I understood. Mindeulle wanted to avoid anxiety more than to be happy. She has lived that way. From afar, it was hard to understand, but when I got closer, I did. It needed a radical remedy."

- Thanks to the hopeful ending, you probably didn’t suffer aftereffects.

"It wasn’t the punctuation mark I hoped for while acting, but it seemed like the best solution Mindeulle could choose. Since it was a happy ending, I felt less regret or disappointment than with other works. Rather, I felt refreshed as if her worries were resolved. Sometimes I want to ask, 'Are you doing well?'"

- Your interpretation and judgment seem to have been reflected quite a bit in your acting.

"I read the script more than usual and frequently exchanged ideas with fellow actors. Thanks to that, I could break out of passive acting patterns. I even insisted in front of director Lee Jaekyu. I often gave opinions about expressions not written in the script. He seemed to know Mindeulle better than anyone and accepted most of my opinions. I am very grateful."

- I heard Mindeulle grows well in a sunny place. Perhaps she was the role that most eagerly awaited the morning in this drama.

"I once pondered why she was named that way. I thought of dandelion seeds. When you blow on them, they fly away and bloom flowers on new land. I wanted to express her as such a being. Even if she doesn’t appear often (as a supporting role), I wanted her to quietly take a place in viewers’ hearts and convey hope."