The Success Of 'Signal' Is All About The Characters

Following "Reply 1988" was not easy but Kim Won Suk, the director of the tvN drama "Signal,"managed to achieve both critical praise and high ratings for his cable drama.

It's the story of a modern day criminal profiler, played by Lee je Hoon, who communicates with a detective from decades earlier, played by Jo Jin Woong. The two communicate via an outdated walkie talkie.

With information from the present, obtained using modern-day technology, Jo Jin Woong's character gets help in solving old crimes. And conversely Lee Je Hoon's character gets help solving cold cases.

It's a police procedural with a time travel element. But it's also a story about corruption and what it takes to fight the system. Both men encounter resistance when they want to find criminals that are too well connected or when they want to solve a case that might have made them look negligent. But neither is the type to give up.

Kim, who previously directed the award-winning cable hit "Misaeng," says the success of his dramas have a lot to do with characters.

"I feel grateful when I hear that 'Signal' also has detailed and sophisticated direction, but I always place emphasis on the people," Kim said in an interview with the Korean media outlet JoongAng Daily.

He got some help in creating Lee Je Hoon's profiler character by talking to a real criminal profiler. Getting advice from people with real experience is vital to creating great characters,

"Luckily, I got to know the first female profiler in Korea," said Kim. "She also worked for seven years as a police officer before becoming a profiler, so she was a great help, from touching up the screenplay to selecting props for the set," said Kim.

Lee Je Hoon faced criticism for his portrayal of profiler Park Hae Young. Some viewers said his acting was not realistic. But Kim disagrees. Any actor attempting this role might have seemed unreal.

"The profilers we are familiar with are usually cool-headed and rational," he said. "But Lee's character in "Signal" doesn't have that characteristic. He became a profiler due to a painful incident he experienced as a young boy. He's an emotional and sensitive character."

"Signal" also stars actress Kim Hye Soo as the department chief that previously worked with Jo Jin Woong's character and now works with Lee Je Hoon's. She's the connection they both don't initially realize they have.

Have you see this drama? What do you think?