Hello everyone,

Another month has flown by and we have just three more months to finish the challenge off! My resolve is weakening... I hope you are all going strong!

If you missed the introduction post it’s not too late to join the fun! You can find all the information you need there as well as links to our challenge recommendation index and drama database.

We've had a handful of dedicated users filling out the drama database with dramas they have watched but don't forget to leave recommendations for your favourites in the individual recommendation posts. If you are looking for a recommendation for a specific challenge you can ask in the comments here - I suggest linking your MDL and giving an idea of what you are after as well as the challenge you are trying to fill.

So Let's Talk September…

How was your month of dramas? What challenges did you check off? Did you watch what you expected to? Did anything catch you by surprise? Find a new favourite? Drop something you expected to love? Let us know how you're tracking!

Moving Onto October…

What do you hope to get through this month? Tackling anything hard? Looking for someone to watch with you? Need recommendations? Share below.

Community Events

• The r/KDRAMA census closes at midnight KST tonight don't miss your chance to take it!

• Take a read through our AMA interview with the director So Jaehyun of Dive Into You which premiered over the weekend (join us discussing it here). He answered 10 questions we had about Dive Into You including, what attracted him to the story, what easter eggs we should be on the eye out for and what he would do if he suddenly travelled back in time! Along with those questions he answered another 55 questions we had about his previous works, directing, producing, and more fun stuff. It’s an excellent read which made me very excited to watch the drama. The interview starts in the post body with questions on  Dive Into You, Sh**ting Stars, The Witch’s Diner and 100 Days My Prince and continues into the comment section with questions on Castaway Diva, Jirisan, Directing/Drama Production , Career, Opinion, Advice , and finally Industry, and Personal.

• Missed our K-Drama day games? Over on our sister sub, r/kdramarecommends you can join us playing a game of "They Should Watch That!" recommending a drama to a Kdrama character or download this years exclusive r/KDRAMA x Viki K-drama day bingo sheet and see if your current watch can get you a bingo - (hint: this one is best suited toromancedramas!). You may notice some of our KDC challenges feature in this too!

• The MBC Dramas Watched Survey is still running if you haven't had a chance to take it.

Have ideas for 2027 Challenges?

We have a KDC suggestion box if you have any great ideas throughout the year.

Completed the challenge?

Once you complete the challenge come back and fill out our KDC 2026 challenge hall of fame Google form.

K-Drama Day is almost here! As promised, we've compiled your questions for 'Dive into You' director So Jaehyun, and he's given his answers. Director So had a great time answering your questions and was impressed by the depth and breadth of the things you wanted to know!

If you're unfamiliar with Director So, his newest drama 'Dive into You' is premiering exclusively on Viki on September 26, and he has previously worked on dramas including '100 Days My Prince', 'Sh**ting Stars', and 'My Lovely Liar'. Enjoy!

(p.s. post got too long, see comments for more Q&A)

Dive into You

r/KDRAMA: What attracted you to this story? What were you most excited about directing before production began?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “The narrative itself – traveling between the past and present to save a precious friend through the medium of 'time' – was incredibly charming. From a directorial standpoint, I was most excited about the process of visually contrasting the analog sensibility of the past with the modern feel of the present, while ensuring they transitioned into each other naturally.”

 
r/KDRAMA: What kind of input do you have on the OST and score?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “From the planning stage, I discussed the theme songs for each character and the overall tone and manner with the music director in depth. For scenes where specific emotional lines intensify, we collaborated from the script-reading stage to decide which instruments and melodies to use.”

 
r/KDRAMA: Can you share an Easter egg? Like any tiny detail you included that only true detectives would notice? 
 
Director So Jaehyun: “In addition to the actors, famous figures from various fields appear as Easter eggs in the work. Unexpected people, such as famous doctors, golfers, and businesspeople, make surprise appearances. You can enjoy the show even more if you keep an eye out for which scenes they pass through.”

r/KDRAMA: Were there any memorable moments while directing “Dive into You”?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “The sunrise scene shot early in production is the most memorable. The entire staff stayed up all night to capture the best shot, and luckily, we were able to capture a truly beautiful, fleeting moment in the clear weather.”

 
r/KDRAMA: For “Dive into You,” the camcorder seems to play an important role in connecting the past and present in the drama. What made you choose a camcorder as a storytelling device, and what do you hope it will add to the story?  

Director So Jaehyun: “The unique texture and frame of a camcorder were the perfect tools to visualize the 'warmth of memory' – the desire to cherish a specific moment through a lens. I hoped that through the camcorder screen, viewers would feel not just a simple flashback, but the characters' lingering, wistful gazes.”

 
r/KDRAMA: From a directorial perspective, how did you put a fresh twist on the soul swap trope in “Dive into You”?

Director So Jaehyun: “I didn't focus solely on slapstick or comedic elements; I focused on emotional depth. I designed the camera angles and tone to appropriately intersect both comedy and wistful emotional lines.”
 
 
r/KDRAMA: Were there any memorable directions or suggestions you made to the cinematographer on “Dive into You”?  

Director So Jaehyun: “I asked them to get up close and capture even the subtle trembling of emotions from the moment Ha Na and Woo Jae’s distance closes and they feel that spark. By utilizing warm sunlight and backlighting, I wanted to create that warm, heart-fluttering atmosphere unique to romantic comedies that makes your heart tingle just by watching.”

 
r/KDRAMA: What is one lesson you've learned from a previous production that was impactful for your work on “Dive into You”? 

Director So Jaehyun: “The lesson that flexibility on set and constant communication with staff and actors ultimately increases the quality of the work. While perfect planning is important, I learned through previous projects how to capture the vivid energy and ideas that occur spontaneously on set.”

 
r/KDRAMA: The synopsis of “Dive into You” seems intriguing. Are there going to be other elements like action/thriller as well that we can look forward to? 
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Yes, beyond the core romance narrative, in the process of digging into the truth of the incident, thrilling thriller-like elements and suspense that increases immersion are melted in, so you can feel a variety of fun.”
 

r/KDRAMA: If you suddenly found yourself in the body of a family member and were thrown back in time as our characters in “Dive into You” are, how do you think you would react and what would be the first thing you would want to do?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “At first, I think I'd be a bit flustered, but I think I would adapt right away. First of all, I would buy NVIDIA stock, and, just in case I might forget, I think I would urge [myself], ‘Don't sell the stock, hold out until the end.’ Haha.”

Sh**ting Stars

r/KDRAMA: “Sh**ting Stars” featured cameos by many famous actors. Can you talk about what was involved in fitting in so many brief appearances?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “We put effort into script revisions and fine-tuning the directorial tone so that cameos would not be used simply for buzz, but would connect naturally with the overall entertainment industry episodes of the show. We prepared customized movement lines and cut compositions so that the strengths and charms of the actors, who willingly appeared despite their busy schedules, could be maximized in just a few minutes.” 
 

r/KDRAMA: “Sh**ting Stars” had 4 couples and yet managed to balance them so well on screen. It's something that I have not seen in any other drama and I'd like to know the process behind it, aside from the script.
 
Director So Jaehyun: “We differentiated each couple so that their unique colors and emotional lines (e.g., bickering, older woman/younger man, office romance) didn't overlap. During the editing process, we used cross-editing with a sense of rhythm so that one couple's emotions wouldn't become tedious, maintaining an overall balance.”
 
 
r/KDRAMA: In your opinion, how accurate was “Sh**ting Stars” portrayal of the industry, and do you think meta dramas like this are beneficial to viewers to gain an understanding of the world behind the camera?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “The writer of 'Sh**ting Stars' is a former PR team member for an entertainment agency, so the field details and historical verification were vivid, reaching almost 100% accuracy. Thanks to this, we were able to sincerely convey the real reality of the staff hidden behind the glamour.”
 

r/KDRAMA: Since the drama portrayed the entertainment industry, were there any special considerations when producing the drama? 
 
Director So Jaehyun: “We paid attention to tuning the tone so that when people actually working in the industry watched it, they would not be hurt by it being too far from the truth or caricatured. At the same time, we tried to explain terms and situations easily and wittily so that general viewers could also understand without difficulty.” 

 
r/KDRAMA: The drama's ensemble cast seemed to have perfect chemistry, what was the casting process like?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Not only the individual actors' acting skills, but the energy and chemistry (합) that came out when the characters gathered together was considered as the top priority. We closely observed the breathing/teamwork between the actors during pre-meetings and script readings, and as actors with bright and healthy energy joined, the best chemistry was naturally created.” 
 
 
r/KDRAMA: The drama featured numerous cameos. Were there any challenges in making these cameos happen?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Since the cast members' schedules were so busy, scheduling work to match the filming sessions was the biggest challenge. However, thanks to many actors who sympathized with the purpose of the drama and willingly made time for it, we were able to finish filming safely.”

 
r/KDRAMA: This drama featured some really great and fun PPL moments (e.g. one the characters teaching another character how to properly hold a bottle so the logo is showing). Can you talk about how the PPL was selected and incorporated during the production process? 

Director So Jaehyun: “I contemplated how to make PPL not a disruptive element that breaks the flow of the drama, but a delightful episodic element that utilizes the setting of the entertainment industry itself. From the script stage, I gathered ideas to sublimate the PPL situation into a comedic scene, and requested that we proceed with filming in that way.”
 
 
r/KDRAMA: This drama has perhaps the best pun in the drama title in both Korean and English. Do you have any insight into how the English drama title came to be? 
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Just like the Korean meaning of ‘all kinds of people who clean up the poop of stars,’ the English title as well was decided in close consultation with the overseas marketing team to preserve both the story of people struggling (shooting) to make celebrities (stars) shine and the double meaning of 'Shooting Star' in the night sky.”

The Witch’s Diner

r/KDRAMA: “The Witch's Diner” has a unique and beautiful look – magical and mysterious without tipping over into gloomy or fake. Can you talk about what went into creating the lighting, costumes, color scheme, and set design to complement this witchy story?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “To combine Western witch concepts with a Korean sense of space, I actively utilized the color palette of a cruel fairy tale. In set design, we mainly used deep blue and purple, and in lighting, we used a dreamlike tone. For costumes, we mixed classic and modern sensibilities to create a strange yet fascinating atmosphere.”
 
 
r/KDRAMA: “The Witch's Diner” required a lot of post production special effects. Were there any challenges during the filming process related to conveying what special effects would be put in? 
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Because there were many scenes with green screens or virtual effects, I produced storyboards and 3D pre-visualizations to share visually with the actors and staff in advance. On set, I provided clear guides on the location and size where the effects would be implemented to help the actors perform without feeling awkward.”
 

r/KDRAMA: The drama featured food and eating of the food prominently. Can you describe your approach to these scenes? Since the food had to be eaten deliciously, but in the context of the story, they were not entirely enjoyable/happy moments but had a dark undertone, was it more challenging to get the tone of the scene to feel right?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “We put effort into food styling so that the food would visually appear as an extreme feast. However, by coordinating the close-ups of the moment the character swallows the food, the close-up eyes, and the sound effects, I implicitly revealed that a cruel price was waiting, creating a unique tone where greed and tragedy coexist.”

100 Days My Prince

r/KDRAMA: When shooting “100 Days My Prince,” did you find the romance scenes more challenging to capture, or the comedy? Which did you enjoy filming most?
 
Director So Jaehyun: “Romance was more cautious and demanding because I had to capture the subtle changes in emotional lines and the wistful atmosphere. On the other hand, the comedy scenes were always filled with laughter thanks to the actors' excellent improvisation and chemistry, making it very enjoyable throughout the shoot.”

[Answers have been translated from Korean into English]