Korea’s sweetheart goes for the big laugh

Girls’ Generation member Yoona looks dead-set on channeling her inner Stooge with her latest television series, KBS’ “Premier and I” (working title).

In the upcoming rom-com, which is slated to start airing next week, Yoona plays Nam Da-jeong, a gossip rag journalist who ends up posing as the prime minister’s girlfriend.

The premise is straight-up fiction, a plot that gives the 23-year old K-pop idol plenty of room to exercise her funny bone.

Judging from the teaser that ran at the drama’s press conference in Seoul on Wednesday, Yoona seems to have a natural flair for comedy, rolling out the gags and going for pure unabashed slapstick as her heroine fumbles in her newfound second gig as the prime minister’s gal.

“At first glance, she looks smart, but once you get to know her you realize she is pretty clumsy,” Yoona revealed of her heroine at the press event.

Yoona went on to confess that this is probably the silliest and most comedic role she has played to date.

“She is by far the most clutzy heroine I have portrayed,” she said, before admitting that she actually sees many similarities between herself and the drama’s heroine.

“So I feel comfortable portraying her,” she added.

“This character possesses a lot of Yoona-like qualities, especially when compared to previous characters I have played,” she elaborated.

Fans may be hoping that her turn as Nam Da-jeong in the “Premier and I” will fare better ratings-wise than her last two series, where she starred opposite Hallyu stars Jang Keun-suk and Kwon Sang-woo in “Loverain” and “Cinderella Man,” respectively.

This time around, Yoona will be teaming up with veteran actor Lee Bum-soo, who will be playing Kwon Yool, the drama’s prime minister.

Lee has already proven his mettle for comedy in a slew of movies and television series like “My Wife is a Gangster III.”

In short, he is more than well-equipped to play the serious and grave Hardy to Yoona’s accident-prone Laurel.

At the press event, Lee fielded a question regarding the 20-year age gap between him and his co-star and of how he feels playing her love interest.

“She is very cute and a great co-star,” Lee, 43, said. “As for the kiss scenes, that is acting and we haven’t had one yet.”

Lee then turned to Yoona and said, in half jest, “We haven’t touched lips yet, right?”

To which Yoona nodded and replied, “No.”

Lee then praised his co-star, calling her “energetic, bright and well-mannered,” and a “colleague” that he could trust.

While Lee will be playing the main love interest to Yoona’s heroine, “Bread, Love and Dreams” star Yoon Si-yoon will be joining in on the fun as an elite government officer who also finds himself falling for Nam Da-jeong.

“He is Nam Da-jeong’s guardian angel,” the 27-year old actor said.

“Premier and I” starts airing Jan. 9 Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on KBS 2 TV.

By Jean Oh (oh_jean@heraldcorp.com)