Korean actor Song Seung-heon says new role is very â¿¿Alice in Wonderlandâ¿¿

Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - Viewers might be wavering over which program to tune in to come next weekend when two brand new series, MBC⿿s ⿿Dr. Jin⿝ and SBS⿿ ⿿A Gentleman⿿s Dignity⿝ (working title), go head to head.

While actor Song Seung-heon, who is starring in ⿿Dr. Jin,⿝ sincerely wishes fellow actor Jang Dong-gun and his drama, ⿿A Gentleman⿿s Dignity⿝ the best, he did not mince words when it came to the desired outcome.

⿿I would like his series to do well, but I would like ours to do a tad bit better,⿝ Song, 35, said at the series⿿ press conference in Seoul Thursday.

Song has the advantage of having stayed in the drama game after a five-year hiatus from 2003 to 2008. That said, Song admitted that he is stepping out of his comfort zone with ⿿Dr. Jin.⿝

⿿As an actor, I have been kind of avoiding the historical romance genre, it⿿s true,⿝ he admitted. ⿿It⿿s a challenging genre. But then I saw the script for ⿿Dr. Jin⿿ and I really wanted to do it.⿝

Song revealed that he liked the fact that his first period piece would feature him as a modern man who has traveled back in time to the Joseon Dynasty.

⿿It is like ⿿Alice in Wonderland,⿿⿝ he said. ⿿Playing a modern day guy who interacts with Joseon period people is fun.⿝

⿿Before this, I was already aware of the popularity of the Japanese comic series,⿝ Song said. ⿿Looking at the script, revamped with Korean sentiment, I could not resist jumping on board.⿝

The upcoming series is an adaptation of Motoka Murakami⿿s comic book series ⿿Jin,⿝ changing the setting from Edo-period Japan to the Joseon period, and replacing real-life historical figure Sakamoto Ryoma (who was depicted in the original) with Joseon political figure Yi Ha-eung, who will be portrayed by actor Lee Bum-soo.

Song is tackling the role of the protagonist, neurosurgeon Dr. Jin, with actress Park Min-young playing his love interest both in the 21st century and in 1860. JYJ boy band member Kim Jae-joong is playing Dr. Jinâ¿¿s rival for the Joseon Dynasty heroineâ¿¿s affections in his first role in a historical piece.

Kim revealed that he received a couple of tips from fellow boy band member Park Yu-chun, who starred alongside actress Park in KBS⿿ historical romance ⿿Seonggyungwan Scandal⿝ in 2010.

⿿He said, ⿿Min-young is an excellent actress, so work hard at doing a good job,⿿⿝ said Kim, 26.

Park, known for her feisty and cheery roles in dramas like KBS⿿ ⿿Glory Jaein,⿝ revealed that this work represents a departure from previous characters.

⿿My Joseon Dynasty character will be passive,⿝ the 26-year old actress said, adding that ⿿that does not mean she is weak.⿝

⿿She possesses a very powerful energy.⿝

⿿Dr. Jin⿝ starts airing May 26 on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9:50 p.m. on MBC.