From left, actors Kim Min-jae, Kim Hyang-gi, and director Park Won-gook pose during an online press conference for tvN's new series "Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist 2," Tuesday. Courtesy of tvN

By Lee Gyu-lee

Actor Kim Min-jae hinted that the second season of "Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" will delve deeper into the romance between the two lead characters.

The period comedy series revolves around skilled physician Yoo Se-poong (Kim), who used to work for the royal family. After losing his job at the palace due to a medical incident, he meets a small-town medical practitioner Kye Ji-han (Kim Sang-kyung) and widow Seo Eun-woo (Kim Hyang-gi) and joins them to treat patients' physical and mental health issues.

The new season, set to kick off Wednesday, will pick up on the story of Se-poong returning to Hanyang, the name of Seoul during the Joseon Kingdom period, where he used to work, with Ji-han and Eun-woo. With the help of two friends, Se-poong sets out on another quest to become a true doctor as he encounters and treats patients, each with their own stories.

"With Season 2, we've put the focus on the romance (between Se-poong and Eun-woo). In the first season, Se-poong didn't really express his feelings for Eun-woo and the plot didn't center on a romance. So the viewers will see a huge change with the second season," Kim Min-jae said during an online press conference for the series, Tuesday. "The way Se-poong expresses his feelings and the subplot is close to perfection. It's really sweet."

The series' director Park Won-gook, who also led the first season, and actress Kim Hyang-gi also said that there will be sweet, romantic scenes.

"(When we filmed the two's romance scenes,) my heart would pound. On the set, I was so fixated on watching their acting through the monitor that I wouldn't even check if the camera was out of focus. That's how sweet their love story is," the director said.

A scene from the series "Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist" / Courtesy of tvN

Kim Hyang-gi added, "There are a lot of scenes that will leave viewers' hearts all aflutter. Se-poong has become much more honest in showing his feelings."

The director explained that the new season will have a bigger setting and story of the characters will also be deeper.

"As the story is now set in Hanyang and at the palace, we've expanded everything. The characters' subplots will be delving deeper and the setting has become bigger," he said.

Compared to the previous season, the two lead actors said that their characters go through a change.

"In the first one, Se-poong was more of an uncompromising and single-minded person. But in season two, as he treats different patients, he comes to be more warmhearted and feels more responsible to save people's lives," Kim Min-jae said.

Kim Hyang-gi's character Eun-woo finds her talent as a physician during the first season and begins to learn from Se-poong, including how to use acupuncture.

The actress said that the new season will show Eun-woo growing into a skilled physician.

"You will be able to see (Eun-woo) gaining more confidence as a doctor, and the different chemistry with other characters in a new environment," she said. "Season two will be filled with spectacles. If you follow our series, you will be able to have an enjoyable time."

"Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist 2" airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 p.m.