At the series launch event held Sept. 4 at SBS headquarters in Mok-dong, Seoul, Ko and Jang were joined by co-stars Jo Sung-ha and Lee El, along with director Byun Young-joo, to tease what’s coming in the network’s latest Friday-Saturday drama.
"Queen Mantis" picks up more than 20 years after a ruthless serial killer known as the "Mantis" was caught. When a copycat emerges, a detective is forced into an unthinkable team-up with the killer he’s hated his whole life ― his own mother. Ko plays Jung I-shin, the infamous murderer nicknamed the Mantis, while Jang stars as her son, detective Cha Soo-yeol, who’s spent years consumed by contempt for her.
Recalling her first impression of Jang, Ko quipped, "When I met him I thought, ‘Is it even fair to be this good-looking?’ I couldn’t take my eyes off him."
She went on to praise him as a scene partner: "On set, it felt less like a mother-son dynamic and more like actor to actor. He’s incredibly generous and gives his co-stars real energy. I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to root for whatever this actor does next.’ I often forgot we were playing family because I was so delighted and surprised by Jang Dong-yoon the actor."
For his part, Jang didn’t hold back his admiration for Ko. "She’s a legend ― an all-time No. 1 in my book. I’ve always respected her and was curious how she’d tackle a serial killer," he said.
Watching her work up close left him floored. "I was honestly shocked. She embodied Jung I-shin so completely that I can’t imagine anyone else playing her. The character is so complex, and she nailed every layer ― I got chills more than once while we were shooting," he shared.
He added, "I fed off that energy and found it easier to lock in while acting. Beyond that, she treated me like a true colleague ― almost like I was the senior ― with so much consideration. It made the set feel comfortable, and going to work was pure joy."
"Queen Mantis" follows "The Winning Try" and premieres Friday, Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS.
[Photo by Baik Seung-Chul]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)