Gong Seung-yeon “‘Beside the Cow 2’ is an honor” [Q&A]

It was a perfect finale that resulted in victory through triple coordination. Gong Seung-yeon of ‘The police station next to the fire station and the National Forensic Service’ gave her thoughts on the end of the show on the 11th and said goodbye to Song Seol, with whom she had been together for a long time.

Gong Seung-yeon gave a passionate performance as Song Seol, a paramedic with a warm heart and strong inner self, who has a ‘maximum level of empathy’ in the SBS Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Police Station Next to the Fire Station and the National Forensic Service’, which ended on the 9th. Gong Seung-yeon was loved as a healer by viewers by appealingly expressing the good and sincere Song Seol at every moment in the triangle cooperation between the fire department, the police, and the National Forensic Service.

Since season 1, Gong Seung-yeon has been a paramedic who puts patients first before anyone else, carefully caressing not only the wounds but also the hearts, giving a sense of stability and tranquility to the viewers. It led to emotional empathy in the home theater. In particular, she developed trust in the character with her calm yet serious acting, completed the portrayal of Song Seol as a humane, real-life hero, and solidified her position as the ‘genre queen’ who further expanded her acting spectrum.

Gong Seung-yeon, who once again achieved significant results by flexibly portraying a good character who always values ​​the right thing, answered directly about ‘the police station next to the fire station and the National Forensic Service’ and Song Seol.

Below is a Q&A with Gong Seungyeon.

Q. Thoughts on completing ‘The Police Station Next to the Fire Station and the National Forensic Service’

A. First of all, it was a great honor to be able to meet viewers with Season 2 following Season 1, and I had the pleasure of working with this great director, writer, actors, and staff for a long time. I think it was a very meaningful work for me as an actor, as I had a very happy time being able to do it. In fact, I think it was a difficult work to film, both mentally and physically, due to the nature of the genre and the nature of the job in the play, but I was able to slightly feel the hard work of those actually working in this industry with a strong sense of duty, and I am grateful to everyone who works hard to ensure the safety of Korea. I think it was a work that made me feel a sense of awe. And now, when I hear or see the siren of a fire truck, ambulance, or police car on the street, I feel like I have an aftereffect of stopping for a moment and becoming dizzy.

Q. From season 1 to season 2, what kind of person did you interpret and prepare for the character Song Seol, the ‘paramedic with the highest level of empathy’? Is there anything different in Season 2?

A. In the unfolding events, accurate treatment and process are important for paramedic Song Seol, but as a character who empathizes greatly with each character’s story, when looking at the script, she focuses more on the story of the episode characters and their emotions. I think it was analyzed accordingly. However, I think I acted while trying to maintain a balance because I did not want to lose the cool-headedness and situational judgment required for accurate treatment as a professional paramedic in the play. However, as Season 2 became the center of a love triangle, it seemed like they tried to focus a little more on the individual narratives with Ho-gae and Do-jin, and Song Seol’s feelings in the situation she was in, rather than on the main characters of the episode.

Q. You were at the center of the love triangle between Ho-gae and Do-jin. What kind of beings were Jin Ho-gae and Bong Do-jin to Song Seol?

A. Jin Ho-gae is a character who started out as a truly ‘Gye-reuk’ type of person, but eventually opened his heart after learning about his past and true feelings. In addition, it seems that Song Seol, who has a progressive personality, was a character with a cool-headedness and drive that I could learn a lot from. I think that’s how I opened my heart, got closer, and started to feel attracted to him. On the other hand, Bong Do-jin’s character is a heart-warming character who has been with the fire department and has helped a lot. Also, it seems like there was strength and professionalism in it, and I think that was the part that shook Song Seol’s heart. By far, I think it was the best ‘Song Seol’ episode that could give Song Seol a sense of stability.

Q. What are the most memorable lines and scenes?

A. There are two buttons for my tears in dramas. The scene where Myung Pil eats the sour kimchi and the scene where he blows the whistle. And the most memorable scene is Dojin saying, “Firefighters don’t burn in fire,” and going into the flames after safely rescuing a child.

I think this is a scene that clearly shows the humanism and professionalism of Myeong Pil and Do Jin, and I feel overwhelmed just thinking about these scenes.

Q. You have a special affection for the fire department, to the point where you describe it as your ‘beloved fire team.’ What was the atmosphere like on set with the actual fire team actors?

A. The teamwork throughout the filming was really great, and from a personal standpoint, I think I gained some really great and good people. ‘Is it possible to meet a team that works well together and knows each other’s feelings well in the life of an actor?’ That’s as much as I want to. It’s been a long time since filming ended and each of us is filming another project, but we try to watch it whenever we have time. Once you meet, it’s not easy to go home. I’m so happy.

Q. How would you describe Song Seol’s life afterward?

A. Song Seol has gone through many twists and turns, but I think she will still remain silent and do her best at her main job. Song Seol is that kind of character. He is a strong and tenacious character. This is a character who will always take the lead whenever and wherever help is needed.

Q. What kind of work do you think ‘The Police Station Next to the Fire Station and the National Forensic Service’ will be for Gong Seung-yeon?

A. This is a work that took more than a year and a half from start to finish. It was a really long project, and it would be a lie to say that I felt very peaceful both physically and mentally. It was difficult, but I am honored because there are so many things I have gained. On a larger scale, it was a work that made me aware of the hard work of the police, firefighters, and National Forensic Service personnel who serve and serve the country and its people in a small way, and personally, it was a work that helped me meet a lot of really good people. It was truly a series of many honors for me. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the director, writer, actors, and all staff for their hard work and for creating a great work. Also, I am sincerely grateful to the many viewers who silently supported and watched.

Online reporter Kim Ji-woo zwoome@kyunghyang.com