Forbes Exclusive: Behind the Scenes of 'Typhoon Family,' the Drama That Celebrates Courage Amid A Crisis
A 1997 South Korean drama, "Typhoon Family" is a testament to how art can turn an era into a golden memory. Director Lee Na-jeong has taken upon her responsibility to portray the financial and emotional tolls faced by people in Korea's IMF crisis of that year through the narrative of Tae-poong. The character struggles with growing up rapidly as he tries to save his late father's business. By doing so, he must cope with an overwhelming array of challenges.
Lee stresses how pivotal script is for any filmmaker: "The most important factor for me is whether or not the script moves my heart," she says. Lee Jun-ho plays Tae-poong in this drama and portrays various sides of him that people may have never seen before. For example, he's charming when singing and dancing - all traits one might associate with his career as a k-pop star. However, for "Typhoon Family," those qualities play an essential part in bringing the main character to life.
To cast Lee Jun-ho was also significant for director Lee Na-jeong. She recalls: “I had long considered Lee Jun-ho to be one of the best actors among his peers…However, while his previous works—whether romantic comedy or historical drama—focused on highlighting one specific charm, I wondered if we could show every side of Lee Jun-ho in Typhoon Family.” He plays Tae-poong, who, in a dramatic turn of events, can’t even save the company by himself. Instead, he needs the help of Mi-seon, played by Kim Min-ha.
Director Na-jeong also praised Kim Min-ha: "Because of this, her facial expressions are humorous and dynamic, which was very enjoyable," she said. The director has a background in directing various types of dramas such as comedy, drama, or historical ones. Her work with Lee Jun-ho on the previous film "Fight for My Way" established trust between them.
For this project, she used pre-visualization to bring 1997 Korea back to life. While that era is usually easily recreated using computer graphics (CG) and art direction, director Na-jeong wanted a unique take: capturing the spirit of the human stories behind specific locations such as Euljiro's Cheonggye elevated highway or Seoul’s Busan Station.
This approach not only immersed viewers in the drama but made each scene feel authentic. Director Lee feels that is crucial for storytelling, especially in period dramas like this one.
The end result is a compelling portrayal of Korea's IMF Crisis and the people who overcame its challenges. By focusing on Tae-poong's journey to save his business, director Na-jeong highlights courage as well as emotional depth in both characters.
A 1997 South Korean drama, "Typhoon Family" is a testament to how art can turn an era into a golden memory. Director Lee Na-jeong has taken upon her responsibility to portray the financial and emotional tolls faced by people in Korea's IMF crisis of that year through the narrative of Tae-poong. The character struggles with growing up rapidly as he tries to save his late father's business. By doing so, he must cope with an overwhelming array of challenges.
Lee stresses how pivotal script is for any filmmaker: "The most important factor for me is whether or not the script moves my heart," she says. Lee Jun-ho plays Tae-poong in this drama and portrays various sides of him that people may have never seen before. For example, he's charming when singing and dancing - all traits one might associate with his career as a k-pop star. However, for "Typhoon Family," those qualities play an essential part in bringing the main character to life.
To cast Lee Jun-ho was also significant for director Lee Na-jeong. She recalls: “I had long considered Lee Jun-ho to be one of the best actors among his peers…However, while his previous works—whether romantic comedy or historical drama—focused on highlighting one specific charm, I wondered if we could show every side of Lee Jun-ho in Typhoon Family.” He plays Tae-poong, who, in a dramatic turn of events, can’t even save the company by himself. Instead, he needs the help of Mi-seon, played by Kim Min-ha.
Director Na-jeong also praised Kim Min-ha: "Because of this, her facial expressions are humorous and dynamic, which was very enjoyable," she said. The director has a background in directing various types of dramas such as comedy, drama, or historical ones. Her work with Lee Jun-ho on the previous film "Fight for My Way" established trust between them.
For this project, she used pre-visualization to bring 1997 Korea back to life. While that era is usually easily recreated using computer graphics (CG) and art direction, director Na-jeong wanted a unique take: capturing the spirit of the human stories behind specific locations such as Euljiro's Cheonggye elevated highway or Seoul’s Busan Station.
This approach not only immersed viewers in the drama but made each scene feel authentic. Director Lee feels that is crucial for storytelling, especially in period dramas like this one.
The end result is a compelling portrayal of Korea's IMF Crisis and the people who overcame its challenges. By focusing on Tae-poong's journey to save his business, director Na-jeong highlights courage as well as emotional depth in both characters.
! It's amazing how art can take us back in time and bring the past to life 
. Director Lee Na-jeong did an incredible job of capturing the spirit of 1997 Korea without using fancy computer graphics or tricks 
. I think it's really refreshing to see a director who values authenticity over special effects 
. And can we talk about how talented Lee Jun-ho and Kim Min-ha are? 
They bring so much depth to their characters, from the humor to the drama 
. The way they use pre-visualization is genius 
! It's like you're right there with Tae-poong on his journey 
. I'm not surprised Lee Na-jeong has worked with Lee Jun-ho before, that chemistry is undeniable 
#TyphoonFamily #KoreanDrama #AuthenticStorytelling #LeeJunHoAndKimMinHa
. It's crazy how much Lee Jun-ho has grown since then and it's awesome that he's taking on roles that show his range as an actor. I mean, who would've thought he'd be singing and dancing his way into our hearts again 
. Director Lee Na-jeong must've done some serious research to get all the details right, I love how she wove the story together with Tae-poong's journey and Mi-seon's character too... their chemistry on screen is electric 
.
anyway, i think its dope that they're focusing on the IMF crisis, thats not usually something you see dramatized. but what im saying is, its pretty cool how director lee na-jeong brought 1997 korea back to life with her pre-viz approach 
...it all seems a bit too nostalgic and old for me. The IMF crisis is ancient history now 
. And what's with the pre-visualization technique? It just feels like a bunch of fancy graphics to me 
. I mean, can't they just use good old footage from back then instead? 
The whole thing feels like some sort of nostalgic marketing ploy to me 
. And I love how she cast Lee Jun-ho and Kim Min-ha, they're talented actors who brought so much depth to their characters 
. The way director Na-jeong balances the drama and comedy is a testament to her skill, it's not easy to make a period piece work without feeling too heavy-handed 
. Overall, I'm loving this drama, it's like a time capsule of Korean history that's also super entertaining 
... I mean, I love his K-pop days as much as the next person, but come on! It feels like they're trying too hard to make this drama feel modern. The pre-visualization approach is actually kinda cool tho 
Overall, I'd definitely recommend "Typhoon Family" to anyone who loves a good period drama! 
. The way the director is using pre-visualization to recreate 90s Korea is genius 
. Can't wait to see more of this drama unfold! 
. director lee na-jeong did a great job showing how even in tough times, courage and emotional depth come out of it, not just control or strength 
. maybe instead of trying to be superheroes like tae-poong, we can focus on being human and asking for help when we need it 
. And I'm loving how Lee Jun-ho brings so much depth to his character Tae-poong - from the charming singing and dancing scenes to the dramatic parts where he just needs help 
. The way director Lee Na-jeong has captured the spirit of 1997 Korea is also super impressive - it feels like you're transported back in time, experiencing everything through their eyes 
. It's a beautiful story that highlights courage and resilience, I'm so glad they're sharing this with us 
. It's not just about reliving history, though - it's about telling a story that still resonates today 
. And I love how the director highlighted their range as actors - it's not just about one charm or trait, but a whole person 
. It wasn't always easy to get both in period dramas, but she pulled it off 
.