The A to Z of 'Happy Ending' as Told by Director Jung Winter

Hello, STRONGBERRY viewers!

The mini-series 'Happy Ending' was fully released last month. Thanks to your passionate support and love, 'Happy Ending' continues to receive a lot of attention and love. To express our gratitude, we have prepared a written interview with Director Jung Winter, who directed 'Happy Ending.'

STRONGBERRY viewers have left questions for the work and the director. We've packed the interview with rich content, from the ending of 'Happy Ending' that many of you were curious about to news about the next season. We hope you enjoy it. For convenience, STRONGBERRY is represented by 🍓, Director Jung Winter by ❄️, and viewers by 👤.

Now, let's begin the interview with Director Jung Winter!

🍓 Hello, Director Jung Winter. Thank you for participating in this interview. 'Happy Ending' was completely released until its final, 3rd episode on February 8th. Even now, after the interview, the series continues to receive positive reactions from viewers. How do you feel about this?

❄️ I am truly grateful to the viewers. To be honest, I was quite worried at first. This project being my directorial debut, I thought there were many immature and regrettable aspects, which made me wonder, 'Will the viewers like it?' However, seeing the response after its release gave me a lot of confidence. I've read each comment with care, and I want to express my gratitude to everyone who praised us and pointed out areas for improvement. Also, many are looking forward to a sequel, and if given the chance, I'd love to explore more about Hyun and Dongho's story :)

🍓 I'd love to hear about 'Happy Ending' directly from you. Could you introduce the work to us?

❄️ ‘Happy Ending’ is a story about the tender first love of 'Hyun'. As the main character 'Hyun' revisits an old diary, they unearth memories of their first love, long buried under dust, offering solace to their past self who had hidden their heart away for fear of being hurt.

I hope this story allows viewers to reminisce about the purity of their first love.

🍓 Now, let's take a look at the questions we've received from the viewers in advance.

👤 I have a question about the bookshop scene. It seems like Hyun found his old diary on a bookshelf. How did the diary end up there? It wasn't for sale, was it?

Thank you for the wonderful series! I was impressed by the attention to detail! (Vic***son)

❄️ First of all, thank you for appreciating the attention to detail! Seeing this question made me realize a slight oversight. My original intention was not to depict that place as a bookstore per se, but more as a 'studio' where Hyun focuses on writing, although books are sold there. Also, that place symbolically represents Hyun's 'memories', and taking out the diary from the bookshelf was meant to symbolize pulling out an old memory from the many layers of memories in Hyun's mind. However, filming in a location that looked unmistakably like a bookstore and insisting it's a studio does sound funny, doesn’t it? 😅 I'll definitely think more about these aspects when directing in the future! Thank you for pointing it out. 😄

👤 Why is there no kiss scene? (ard***an0)

❄️ In fact, contrary to the title 'Happy Ending', I wanted to create a sad story. Therefore, I didn't intend to create an atmosphere of excitement or happiness from the beginning, so a kiss scene was not considered.

Of course, even considering that the two didn't end up together in the past story, one might wonder why I didn't include a kiss scene in the imagined scene at the end... But somehow, I didn't want to include it. I thought the ending was truly beautiful just with Hyun's loving gaze and smile in the final scene, so I didn't include a kiss scene. Even on set, the actors kept asking if it was really okay not to have a kiss scene, and if they were supposed to kiss, which I find amusing to remember now. 😚

👤 First off, I enjoyed 'Happy Ending.' I liked the calm narration, the choice of moments shown, and the meaningful silence between conversations.

As a detailed viewer, the title might imply the affection both characters are unwilling to acknowledge due to fear.

However, I felt the ending was somewhat abrupt and not definitive. I'm referring to the scene where Dongho confesses to Hyun after reading his diary and revealing he is that person. If it wasn't a wish or a dream, that sequence didn't resonate with me.

So, I'm wondering if there was some issue that led to such a sudden ending? Or was it actually planned this way, and the ending was indeed a dream? (usu***ost, use***w5n)

❄️ I must say, I'm a bit cautious about sharing my thoughts on this. It could have been a dream, or it could have been reality.

Some might wish to give them a direct happy ending in reality. Others might prefer to give Hyun his own happy ending for unburdening his honest feelings, even if it's just in a dream. Therefore, I'd like to leave this up to the viewers. After all, the happy ending is something that you, the viewers, create :)

👤 I really enjoyed ‘Happy Ending.’ Kudos to the cast and crew for their hard work 👏.

While the ending leaves room for interpretation, one might guess it's a happy one just by the title.

Watching Hyun's confession scene, I wondered if it was an imagined and "rewritten" moment, speculating if they confessed to each other at another time not shown in the series. (res***127)

❄️ This response is similar to the previous one regarding the confession scene on that night – whether it was imagined or real changes the interpretation of the ending and the significance of the unshown time gap in the movie.

I'll leave it to your imagination as well!

👤 Have you ever considered a different ending? (use***m3u)

❄️ I haven't thought extensively about a different ending. However, I did consider exploring more of Hyun and Dongho's story.

As the narrative primarily followed Hyun's emotional journey, I felt that Dongho's emotions and story were not fully revealed, which left me feeling somewhat unsatisfied. If there's an opportunity in the future to expand this story into a longer series, I would like to explore the perspective of Dongho and delve into his feelings towards Hyun.

👤 Did Dongho already have feelings for Hyun even before reading the diary? (arp***228)

❄️ Absolutely! Dongho was depicted as someone who had feelings for Hyun long before reading the diary. That's why when he mustered up the courage to ask if the person in the diary was himself, and Hyun said no, he was disappointed and turned away. The reason was that Dongho, who always appeared cheerful like a fool, became serious and more hesitant in that scene.

Since the series progressed only from Hyun's perspective, it seems that Dongho's feelings were not well revealed. If there is an opportunity to make the series longer next time, I definitely want to explore Dongho's feelings as well.

👤 Which character resonates with you more, Hyun or Dongho? (use***m3u)

❄️ It's really hard to say which character I prefer as both feel like my own children to me.😭

But if I were to pick a character who resembles me more, it would be Hyun. He's shy, quiet, and struggles to express his feelings, which resonates with me. There are times when Hyun seems like me, especially when he couldn't confess his feelings and came into the room crying.

👤 Did the actors face any challenges in embodying their roles? What aspects did they excel in portraying? (log***882, use***m3u)

❄️ I am grateful to the actors for embodying their roles so well, even though I didn't provide much direction beyond my imagination. Especially in the scene where Hyun cries alone in the room, Junemok, who played Hyun, led the scene exceptionally well without any special direction. I want to express my gratitude to Junemok for his performance as Hyun.

Additionally, Seonghyeok, who played Dongho, made the character even more charming than I had envisioned, especially in the scene where Dongho confesses to Suyeon at the café. I believe Seonghyeok portrayed the facial expressions in that scene exceptionally well.

Lastly, I think Yang Seul, who played Suyeon, brought a vibrant charm to the character. Yang Seul's scenes often involved improvisation, which made them particularly enjoyable to watch.😆

👤 Is there a scene in 'Happy Ending' that you'd like viewers to pay special attention to? (_mi***761)

❄️ I would like viewers to pay special attention to the scene where Hyun attempts to hold Dongho's hand but ultimately gives up. When Hyun tries to reach for Dongho's hand but stops upon seeing a heterosexual couple walking ahead, it reflects the feelings experienced by many LGBTQ+ individuals in this era. Hyun's expression in that scene represents not only that moment but also the emotions of the entire series. By focusing on Hyun's expression in that scene, viewers may experience the same emotional journey as Hyun and relate to it on a personal level :)
 

👤 What inspired you to become a director? (Tif***rry)

❄️ I always wanted to be someone who creates stories from a young age. I wanted to blend my thoughts and desired expressions into one piece of work, and I believed that filmmaking was the most appropriate medium to bring my stories to life. Additionally, the allure of film and drama lies in their ability to convey stories through acting, facial expressions, and silence without the need for words, which greatly appealed to me.

Of course, my love for watching movies since childhood played a significant role as well. Watching fantasy series like Harry Potter or films by director Tim Burton fueled my desire to create beautiful stories like those. I kept that desire in my heart and pursued it as an opportunity to direct films came my way.

👤 What process did you go through to direct this series? (Tif***rry)

❄️ As an individual, making films or dramas is incredibly challenging. So, I initially participated in a workshop where people interested in directing queer short films gathered. There, I met people, collaborated on writing scripts, and learned about directing during the filming process.

Afterward, I began making short films with members from the workshop, collaborating in a way where each member helped out when making their own film. At the time, I was also working a full-time job, so I took a brief vacation and spent four days shooting films overnight. I still remember the hardships of those times vividly! Anyway, through these processes, I continued to direct films.

👤 Was it more difficult or easier to film ‘Happy Ending’ because the episodes were short? (Tif***rry)

❄️ As it was based on short films, filming and directing 'Happy Ending' felt relatively easier and more condensed compared to longer series or dramas. I haven't directed a long drama yet, so I can't say for sure how difficult it would be, haha. If I get the chance in the future, I would definitely like to challenge myself with longer feature films or dramas.

👤 Where do you usually draw inspiration from? Were there any directors, movies, or TV shows that influenced you in directing 'Happy Ending'? (jay***153, Tif***rry)

❄️ The movies that I referred to the most were Taiwanese first love films like ‘Our Times’ and ‘Secret.’ I drew inspiration from the vibe and colors of Taiwanese first love films to create a fresh and cute queer film. I also referred to a Taiwanese queer film called ‘Hijra in Between.’

Among Korean films, I drew a lot of inspiration from ‘On Your Wedding Day.’ If I were to depict the story of Hyun and Dongho growing up from students to adults in the future, I would like to tell the story in a similar tone to ‘On Your Wedding Day.’

👤 Is Episode 3 really the end? Why is it so short? (jhc***923, app***004, roc***880, mjt***881)

❄️ It was initially planned as a short film rather than a series, so I wanted to pack a lot into a short amount of time. Perhaps because of that, the series overall feels short and ends abruptly. Still, as a director, I'm somewhat glad to receive this question. Feeling that it's short suggests a desire for more, indicating that you enjoyed my work.😊

👤 Is there a planned second season of 'Happy Ending'? (jen***532, jay***153, roc***880, son***877, res***127, use***q7x, niz***a_a, mjt***881)

❄️ I've been thinking about creating a remake version that delves more into Hyun and Dongho's story in greater detail rather than calling it a second season. Ending it like this feels too abrupt, and even after filming, their story continued to play out in my mind. So, if given the chance, I'd like to produce a longer version of 'Happy Ending' next time!

If it's also with STRONGBERRY, it would be perfect! Will you entrust it to me? 😉
 

🍓 We also hope to work with you 🤩

We appreciate all the questions from the viewers, and thank you for your hard work in answering them!

As for working with MATCHBOX for the first time, could you tell us how you got connected for this project? We'd love to hear your thoughts on collaborating together!

❄️ I first got connected with MATCHBOX through actor Seonghyeok, who appeared in 'Choco Milk Shake.' We met a MATCHBOX representative at a film festival, and that's how I got to know about STRONGBERRY. After seeing their works, I thought it would be great to collaborate with them for distribution or even produce other projects together.

Since then, we've collaborated on turning a short film into a series and also handled distribution and promotion tasks. It was a fantastic experience for me! I hope we can maintain a good relationship going forward, and if I get the chance to work on another BL project in the future, I'd love to work with MATCHBOX again for production or distribution.

🍓 Do you have any plans for your next project? If so, could you give us a sneak peek?

❄️ For my next project, I plan to shoot short films. I'm considering two films for this year: one in the queer genre and the other in the thriller genre.

Additionally, I'm also working on some BL-related scripts. There are two concepts I'm currently developing: one is a time-slip story, and the other is a more realistic portrayal of queer couples. I hope to share them with you once the scripts are complete!

🍓 Even just hearing about it, I'm already intrigued!

Well, let's look forward to Director Jung's next project. That wraps up our interview for today. Thank you!

❄️ I'll conclude by expressing my gratitude to the folks at MATCHBOX for providing this wonderful interview opportunity. Thank you, and I'll also wrap up here! Thank you :)

Did you enjoy the interview with Director Jung Winter? Thank you sincerely to everyone who participated in the interview and left questions. We ask for your continued love and support for 'Happy Ending' and STRONGBERRY in the future!

'Happy Ending' is available on the STRONGBERRY channel on YouTube and Naver TV.

Then, we will come back with even richer and more diverse content! Goodbye 🫶

<sub>해피엔딩
Happy Ending

2024 | Romance | 3 episodes
Director  Jung Winter
Cast  Park Junemok, Kim Seonghyeok

One day, Hyun, the owner of a bookstore, stumbles upon his high school diary and reminisces about the past, recalling his unrequited crush on his childhood friend, Dongho.</sub>

👉 Watch 'Happy Ending' here 👈