Cable channel Genie TV is set to kick off the summer with its highly anticipated eight-part suspense thriller series, titled “Lies Hidden in My Garden.”
Director Jung Ji-hyun and the star-studded cast expressed their excitement for the series during a press conference held at Stanford Hotel Seoul in Mapo-gu, Seoul on Monday.
Actor Lim Ji-yeon, who gained popularity through the hit revenge series “The Glory,” spoke about the show’s unique appeal. She mentioned that unlike many existing thrillers, “Lies Hidden in My Garden” doesn’t rely heavily on sensational and shocking scenes. Instead, it creates a mysterious and eerie atmosphere that will entertain viewers. In the series, Lim plays the role of a pregnant woman who becomes a victim of domestic violence, in stark contrast to her iconic villain character in “The Glory.”
Lim emphasized that she filmed “Lies Hidden in My Garden” before “The Glory” was released, so she didn’t feel any pressure to portray a different side of herself as an actor. She was genuinely intrigued by her character, Sang-sun.
“At first, I was curious to know who Sang-eun was. As I delved into the script, I developed a strong desire to become Sang-eun. After reading the original novel, I was convinced that I made the right choice to star in this series,” Lim said.
Her co-star Kim Tae-hee, who is returning to the small screen after three years since “Hi Bye, Mama!,” agreed with Lim about the series’ unique charm and the appeal of its individual characters.
“Although the thriller genre is unfamiliar to me, the storyline is thrilling. After reading the script for the first episode, I was eager to find out what would happen next. Just imagining myself playing Joo-ran made my heart race,” Kim said during the press conference.
“I believe our series is a well-crafted project that will satisfy the passion for suspense of thriller fans. While I didn’t feel a lot of pressure regarding viewership, I genuinely hope the series will be enjoyed by as many people as possible,” the actor added.
Director Jung Ji-hyun, known for the smash hit coming-of-age series “Twenty Five Twenty One,” revealed that he put in his utmost effort to bring the script to life on the screen.
“‘Lies Hidden in My Garden’ relies less on dialogue. The characters’ psychological states and emotions are often expressed through visuals. So, I focused on explaining and presenting the characters through various camera angles, symbolic props, and facial expressions,” the director explained.
With Lim and top actor Kim starring together for the first time, “Lies Hidden in My Garden” is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated series of the year.
Adapted from the novel “A House with A Yard” by author Kim Jin-young, the thriller series revolves around an ordinary housewife named Joo-ran (played by Kim). Her life takes an unexpected turn when she notices a strange smell in her backyard and encounters Sang-eun (played by Lim).
Meeting the high expectations of drama fans both locally and globally, “Lies Hidden in My Garden” has already sold its distribution rights to 190 countries ahead of its premiere.
The series will premiere at 10 p.m. on Monday and subsequent episodes will be released on Mondays and Tuesdays on the local cable channel ENA, as well as on global streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Japan, iQIYI, and Rakuten Viki.
