The press conference for the Netflix series Mr. Plankton, set to release on Nov. 8, was held on the Nov. 4 in Mapo, Seoul. Attendees included director Hong Jong-chan and cast members Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, and Kim Hae-sook, who discussed their experiences working on the show.
Woo Do-hwan introduced the series, saying, “Mr. Plankton tells the story of Hae-jo, a man who was ‘born by mistake,’ embarking on his final journey, joined by Jaemi as an unexpected companion.” Director Hong explained the title’s deeper meaning: “Just as plankton, though invisible to the naked eye, contributes to the world by producing oxygen, each of us shines as a unique and valuable presence, like plankton.” He noted that the vision aligned well with writer Jo Yong’s approach of exploring characters’ emotions in depth.
Describing his character, Woo said, “Hae-jo is a drifter with a strong longing for family love.” To portray Hae-jo’s free-spirited nature, Woo shared, “I even paused my regular workouts and tried drinking, which I usually don’t do.” Lee Yoo-mi spoke about her role as Jo Jaemi, describing her as “a delicate flower who tries not to hurt herself even in the midst of despair after her mother’s dreams have fallen apart.”
Oh Jung-se, who plays the role of Eo-heung, a character experiencing many things for the first time after meeting Jaemi, said he focused on the emotions of “firsts.” The cast and crew all agreed that “the character of Eo-heung could not exist without Oh Jung-se.”
The series takes on the form of a road movie, capturing episodes that unfold as the main characters travel. Director Hong added, “I wanted to showcase Korea’s unique landscapes, and filming felt like I was accompanying the characters on their journey.”
