The writer for the upcoming drama “The Winning Try” has shared her thoughts on the drama’s message and cast!
“The Winning Try” tells the story of Joo Ga Ram (Yoon Kye Sang), a former rugby star who falls from grace due to a doping scandal. After he returns to his alma mater as the new coach of its bottom-ranked high school rugby team, he leads the underdog squad on a quest to win the National Sports Festival.
Ahead of the premiere, writer Lim Jin Ah shared her thoughts in an interview. She explained her choice of rugby as the focus of the story, saying, “The rule that you can’t pass the ball forward was very appealing to me.” She added, “Rugby is the roughest, yet most human, sport. It was impressive that even as players crash into each other, they constantly have to watch where their teammates are. It’s a sport that absolutely depends on teamwork.”
She also spoke about the preparation process, saying, “I was grateful to have the opportunity to visit a real physical education high school for research. The Rugby Association also offered a lot of support, which was a big help.”
The writer named Joo Ga Ram as her favorite character in the drama. She explained, “Joo Ga Ram is funny, pitiful, and a little sad, but he also represents the kind of ‘good adult’ I’ve always dreamed of. He knows how to admit when he’s wrong, learns what the right path is, and teaches it well to his juniors. He’s the kind of adult I hope to become myself.”
Writer Lim Jin Ah recalled her reaction to the casting, saying, “I was so happy when I found out. Especially the moment Yoon Kye Sang walked into the meeting room, I immediately thought, ‘That’s Joo Ga Ram.’ With a sincere expression and youthful eyes, he was Joo Ga Ram.”
She continued, “I’m a big fan of actress Im Se Mi, so I initially met her with a bit of a fan’s heart. But the moment we started talking about the character Bae Yi Ji, I thought, ‘Is Yi Ji speaking right now?’ That’s how perfectly she fit the role. Actor Kim Yo Han was the essence of youth. He captured the anxiety, passion, and freshness of Yoon Sung Joon so well. I was truly thankful and happy to have him.”
The writer also shared her deep affection for the drama’s rugby team, saying, “Our rugby club members! Every single one of them brought such lovable characters to life.” The writer added she is most looking forward to the chemistry between Joo Ga Ram and the rugby team, sharing, “I heard their teamwork grew stronger as they trained together for the rugby scenes, and that connection really came through on set.”
She continued, “I also hope viewers will look forward to the chemistry among Bae Yi Ji, Seo Woo Jin (Park Jung Yeon), and Na Seol Hyun (Sung Zi Young) of the shooting team, whose strong, powerful friendship is brought to life through these awesome young women.”
Above all, writer Lim Jin Ah shared the message she hopes to convey through the drama, saying, “I wanted to talk about ‘moving forward despite everything.’ In life, everyone faces countless tackles. We may stumble, fall, or struggle to get back up right away. But even so, continuing to move forward without giving up—I think that’s how we play the game of life.”
Finally, the writer shared a heartfelt message, saying, “You’ll see many different sides of youth. As you follow their journeys and watch them grow in their own ways, you’ll laugh and cry with them. These funny and bittersweet characters are waiting for you, so I truly hope you’ll join us.”
“The Winning Try” premieres on July 25 at 9:50 p.m. KST.
In the meantime, watch Yoon Kye Sang in “Spiritwalker” on Viki here:
And watch Kim Yo Han in “School 2021” here:
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