There’s no shortage of K-dramas set in the storied Joseon dynasty, rife with intricate royal court politics and royal tensions. But Disney+’s upcoming take on the era, The Murky Stream, brings us an altogether different perspective. Starring Rowoon, Shin Ye-eun, and Park Seo-ham, the series is set amongst the underbelly of trade and corruption on the banks of the Joseon river. Speaking exclusively with GRAZIA Singapore, the cast shared their thoughts about their characters, the series, and the experience of working with each other throughout filming.
Having starred in popular K-dramas like The Matchmakers and The King’s Affection, Rowoon is no stranger to the Joseon era, but the character of Jang Siyul is a far cry from the refined noblemen he has previously portrayed. A hardened gang enforcer, Siyul’s past is something of a mystery in the series. “Siyul is a mysterious character,” Rowoon shared. “I’m sure audiences will have many questions about him—what he went through, where, and how he became the way he is.” Siyul’s motivations are layered, and his past is a conundrum—once holding dreams of being a government official, he begins the show as a vagrant on the run. Rowoon explains, “he knows that having no attachment is the only way to survive. That’s why he carries only a bag, and he’s ready to leave whenever something bothers him or trouble arises. He has no home and no sense of belonging—no identity.”
With a backstory as richly layered as this, it’s no surprise that Rowoon found himself drawn to the weight and power of the script. He recalls the two hours it took the hair and makeup team to bring Siyul’s look to life every morning, and also the personal touches he brought to the character that went above and beyond what was scripted. “I added some details to the character,” he shared. “In the series, Chun wraps a wound on Siyul’s arm with a bandage. Siyul later wears that bandage around his neck or waist while working and continues to carry it with him. I thought it symbolised something that Siyul didn’t want to lose.”
The main cast mirrored this attention to detail, which no doubt added to the easy chemistry between them that Rowoon rates as “1000 out of 10”. Shin, playing the daughter of a prestigious merchant with a strong moral compass, recalls the passion with which director Choo Chang-min approached filming. “When I first saw the director not immediately call “okay”, and instead go for the fifth or sixth take—continuously monitoring the performances and paying close attention to every line and facial expression of the cast—I could see his incredible commitment to detail,” she shares. “In terms of [my character’s] tone of voice, I tried to keep it more controlled without going too high-pitched. For facial expressions, I tried to capture and express finer details rather than relying on big reactions.”
Recalling her scenes across Rowoon, Shin marvelled at his passion and professionalism during filming. “As a colleague, he was always positive and energetic on set, and it was great to be on the receiving end of such wonderful energy, regardless of how hot or cold it was. He probably had more scenes to film than anyone in the cast, with very few days off—which I’m sure must have been exhausting—but he never once showed how challenging it was.”
Park Seo-ham rounds out the final point of this star-cast triangle and echoes the praise his co-stars expressed about the series. His character Jung Chun, a newly appointed police assistant, is committed to bringing change, but battles emotional ties to Siyul. “I think Siyul and Jung Chun symbolise youth,” Park confesses. “They spent their youth together and went through what youth brings to life together. What allowed each of them to do well in their respective paths later in life was the friendship that they shared with each other.” He credits Rowoon for helping him bring as much as he could to his performance. “Whenever I was filming with [Rowoon], he was always so considerate of me. He also tried to look out for me, offering his ideas about how to approach certain scenes or asking me to help him cry. I was genuinely grateful to him.”
With the first three episodes of the series yet to premiere on Disney+, we’re on the edge of our seats waiting to see this cast bring their characters to life. With conflicting motives and passions on display, The Murky Stream promises a compelling tale of loyalty versus corruption. As for what we can expect to take away from the series, we’ll leave you with Rowoon’s poignant words: “It’s a project I poured everything into. It’d be wonderful if the series could help generate interest in Korean culture and history, or Korea in general. I hope it’ll serve as a good opportunity for audiences who may not be familiar with Korean history to learn more about it!”
This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.
READ MORE
Venice Film Festival 2025: Most Anticipated Films
Watchlist: 15 Best Movies & TV Shows To Catch In September
Is It Now Emily In Rome? Everything To Know About Season 5 Of Netflix’s Emily In Paris