After a long wait of five years, ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ is set to return, hoping to once again capture the throne of weekend dramas and create award-winning performances. The press conference for SBS’s new Friday-Saturday drama ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ took place on the afternoon of the 8th in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by director Park BoRam, actors Kim NamGil, Lee HaNee, Kim SungKyun, SungJoon, Seo HyunWoo, and Kim HyungSeo (BIBI), with broadcaster Park KyungLim hosting.
‘The Fiery Priest 2’ follows the story of Kim Hae-il, a hot-tempered priest who becomes a boss of an angelic faction during the day, and a leader of ‘Bellato’ by night, as he heads to Busan to take on the country’s top drug cartel. This high-energy collaborative investigation drama promises thrilling action and comedy. Returning after its first season in 2019, which recorded a remarkable 24% viewership rating, this sequel reunites the original team’s writer Park Jae-beom and director Park BoRam.
Director Park BoRam expressed, “It’s hard to believe the first episode is airing today. I’m confident that fans of the first season will thoroughly enjoy this one and won’t be disappointed. Even those who haven’t seen the first season will find it to be a delightful, entertaining drama.”
The sequel not only brings back the original crew but also reunites the principal cast members including Kim NamGil, Lee HaNee, Kim SungKyun, Kim Won-hae, Go Kyu-pil, An Chang-hwan, Baek Ji-won, and Jeon Seong-woo, who all reprise their roles.
Kim NamGil shared his thoughts on returning for a second season, saying, “Instead of believing that season two would be more successful, I was happy with the idea of sharing the joy experienced on set with the viewers once more. Everyone ran to join upon hearing the news of production, and it feels great.”
Lee HaNee expressed her excitement, “It’s so delightful. Through ‘The Fiery Priest 2,’ I realized why doing a series is challenging. Despite the difficulties, the desire of the actors and staff to come together was strong, which made it possible. We’re still in the middle of filming, so it can be tough, but the joy of shooting makes it all worthwhile.”
Kim SungKyun added, “I feel honored to return with season two after receiving so much love in season one.”
With new settings and characters in Busan, SungJoon, Seo HyunWoo, and Kim HyungSeo join the cast. SungJoon, aware of the success of the first season, stated, “The first season was a huge hit. I enjoyed it so much, and being part of the second season made me ponder how I could bring something new, especially with such strong villains from the previous season.”
Seo HyunWoo commented, “It was a hot topic among actors. I envied the actors who took part in it and wanted to join. Getting the offer after five years was a joyous surprise, and I took on the role with excitement and responsibility.”
Kim HyungSeo remarked, “I began with ambition, but filming with laughter felt like salvation. I’m grateful to be a part of this project.”
Addressing the changes in season two, Kim NamGil mentioned, “We aimed to meet the evolved expectations of viewers over the past five years. Instead of focusing solely on the message, we wanted to create a drama that could be enjoyed lightheartedly. While the first season began with the death of Father Lee Young-jun and unfolded into intense action, season two distinguishes itself by incorporating humor and various emotions into the action. The fun lies in watching this unfold.”
Kim SungKyun, who experiences a character development, said with a laugh, “In season one, I was a powerless detective facing a colleague’s death. Now, I’ve awakened and my combat abilities have increased, though I haven’t lost my weightiness.”
Kim NamGil, who previously won the Grand Prize at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards for ‘The Fiery Priest,’ addressed the expectations of winning again with season two, saying, “Jokingly, I’d say the Grand Prize is mine alone, but I don’t have such thoughts. I’m just thrilled to be part of season two. If the ratings from the first episode are favorable, we can dare to expect more. Although surpassing the previous ratings is challenging, especially considering the current landscape, I hope we can achieve over 20% and focus on making viewers happy.”
He also addressed the controversy surrounding his potential appearance in the drama ‘True Education,’ based on a Naver webtoon, which faced backlash for racial issues. Kim NamGil clarified, “I received the offer, but I’m focused solely on ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ now. I had turned down ‘True Education’ once due to its negative issues. I am interested in education, but it’s complicated, and I’m not in a position to consider it now.”
Kim NamGil concluded, “There would be a lie if I said there was no pressure in following ‘The Fiery Priest 1,’ but I believe it’s a work that can bring joy and laughter in these suffocating times.”
Meanwhile, ‘The Fiery Priest 2’ is set to premiere its first episode on SBS at 10 PM KST on November 8th.
