Her Private Life (Korean: 그녀의 사생활) is a 2019 South Korean television series, created by Kim Hye-young and directed by Hong Jong-chan, starring Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook. Developed by Studio Dragon and produced by Bon Factory Worldwide, the show is based on a web novel called Noona Fan Dot Com (Korean: 누나팬닷컴; RR: Nunapaendatkeom) written by Kim Sung-yeon and published in 2007. The series aired on tvN from April 10 to May 30, 2019.
Contents
Synopsis
Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young) is a talented chief curator of Cheum Museum of Art, who also happens to have a secret: she is a fangirl of White Ocean's Cha Shi-an (Jung Jae-won). In addition, she is the fansite manager of the famous "The Road to Sian" (Korean: 시안은 나의 길; RR: Sianeun naui gil; lit. 'Sian is My Way'), the abbreviation of which (Korean: 시나길; RR: Sinagil) she uses as her screen name. Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) is a standoffish artist who develops Stendhal syndrome, eventually retiring as an artist. After the current boss, Uhm So-hye (Kim Sun-young), is investigated for embezzlement, Ryan Gold becomes the new Art Director of Cheum Museum of Art.
After unfounded rumors break out claiming Deok-mi and Shi-an are dating, Ryan suggests he and Deok-mi pretend to date to ward off Shi-an's fans who threaten to harm her. However, Kim Hyo-jin (Kim Bo-ra), Um So-hye's spoiled daughter, who is another fansite manager of Cha Shi-an under the pseudonym Sindy, (a fact unknown to her mother as she would strongly disapprove), manages to land a job as an intern in the museum, seeking to prove that Ryan and Deok-mi are a fake couple. This leaves them both no choice but to continue the act even at work, and they eventually fall in love.
Cast
Lead characters
Park Min-young as Sung Deok-mi / Sinagil
Park So-yi as young Sung Deok-mi
The chief curator at Cheum Museum of Art who often does not get credit for the work she does under Director Eom, an incompetent socialite. She runs a fan website called "The Road to Sian" which she intends on keeping secret. She later falls in love with Ryan.
Kim Jae-wook as Ryan Gold / Heo Yoon-je
Choi Go as young Ryan Gold
The standoffish new art director of Cheum Museum of Art who is very strict and is allergic to caffeine. After seeing Lee Sol's painting, he develops Stendhal syndrome which prohibits him from painting, eventually leading to his retirement. He is also famous in New York for his perspective on new artists. He eventually falls in love with Deok-mi.
Supporting characters
People around Sung Deok-mi
Ahn Bo-hyun as Nam Eun-gi
Yang Hee-won as young Nam Eun-gi
An Olympic silver medalist in judo who opens his own gym and becomes an instructor. After his single mother abandoned him in the hospital, Deok-mi's mother took him in and raised him with Deok-mi as family. He harbours secret love for Deok-mi.
Park Jin-joo as Lee Seon-joo
Deok-mi's best friend who is the owner of CocoMoco café, which Deok-mi, Ryan, and Eun-gi frequent. Like Deok-mi, she is also a fangirl of Cha Shi-an, and she often voices out her sadness that she can no longer be a full-time fan after becoming a mother. She helps with the creation of Ryan and Deok-mi's fake relationship. After seeing her employee, Joo-hyuk, at a concert, she becomes a fan and makes and runs a fansite for him.
Kim Mi-kyung as Go Young-sook
Deok-mi's mother who is a knitting-obsessed woman that is often portrayed as the head of the household. She urges Deok-mi to give up being a fangirl, citing it would be difficult for her to date since men would find her hobby off-putting. Not knowing Ryan and Deok-mi's relationship is fake, she becomes ecstatic and treats Ryan as her future son-in-law, inviting him for dinner and giving him side dishes.
Maeng Sang-hoon as Sung Geun-ho
Deok-mi's father who is a quiet, soft-spoken man that began collecting suiseki stones after his business failed. He is completely immersed in taking care of his rocks, which annoys his wife.
Park Myung-shin as Nam Se-yeon
A chief editor of an art magazine and mother of Nam Eun-gi. After having personal troubles, she allowed Young-sook to care for her son since he was an infant. Young-sook and Se-yeon become friends and accept that they are both the mother of Eun-gi. Although she has a good relationship with her son, he often calls her "Editor Nam" while he calls Young-sook "Mom", which she doesn't seem to mind.
Special appearances
IN2IT as other members of idol group White Ocean (Ep. 1)
Hyunuk
Inho
Inpyo
Jiahn
Kim Ho-chang as Ryan Gold's senior and psychiatrist (Ep. 1)
Kim Young-ok as Deok-mi's grandmother (Ep. 4)
Seo Sang-won as Noh Suk, a writer who is Yoon Tae-hwa's friend (Ep. 5)
Hwang Hyo-eun as Latte, Ryan Gold's avatar (Ep. 5, 9)
Jung Soo-young as fortune teller possessed by French spirit (Ep. 7)
Park Seul-gi as MC of Cha Shi-an's autograph session (Ep. 7)
Lee Han-wi as Kim Moo-san, Uhm So-hye's husband (Ep. 16)
Production
The first script reading was held on February 25, 2019 with the attendance of the cast and crew.
It is the second time that Kim Mi-kyung portrays Park Min-young's mother in a television series, after Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010).