"I Fell for Ahn Hyo-seop" 'Sold Out on You' Director Reveals Candid Behind-the-Scenes Stories

Director Ahn Jong-yeon of ‘Sold Out on You’ is raising anticipation, sharing heartfelt admiration for the drama and its cast.

Set to premiere Wednesday, April 22, SBS’s new Wed-Thu drama ‘Sold Out on You’ (written by Jin Seung-hee, directed by Ahn Jong-yeon) follows a perfectionist farmer, Matthew Lee (Ahn Hyo-seop), and a “sold-out queen” home shopping host, Dam Ye-jin (Chae Won-bin), whose lives collide day and night in a slow-burn romance.

Calling the series “healing,” director Ahn explained, “A woman who’s been sprinting like a racehorse learns to slow down after meeting a man from the countryside. And that man begins to heal his own wounds as he grows closer to her. I hope viewers feel at ease as they watch our characters’ healing process.”

He pinpointed the show’s biggest strength as its sense of certainty: “When we show the leads’ pain, we go deep and stay serious. I didn’t want it to feel flimsy just because it’s a rom-com. And when it’s time to laugh, we really go for it. We kept adding more comedy―enough to call it a ‘comedy romance’ rather than a ‘romantic comedy.’”

Known for warm, buoyant comedic direction in ‘Gangmaegang,’ Ahn also broke down his approach on set. “I don’t have a secret weapon, but I always try to create a comfortable environment. When actors feel truly at ease, they can maximize their natural charm and clear the big mountain called comedy. The exact shots or editing rhythm come after that,” he noted, emphasizing set atmosphere above all.

He added that the rom-com genre lets an actor’s personal charm shine: “If you look back at the many classics that made viewers laugh and cry, what sticks with you are the lovable, magnetic characters. To achieve that, you have to capture the actor’s human appeal as-is.”

Ahn’s affection extended to the leads―Ahn Hyo-seop (Matthew Lee), Chae Won-bin (Dam Ye-jin), and Kim Beom (Seo Eric)―hinting at a warm, collaborative set. “In ‘Sold Out on You,’ the sync rate between character and actor is over 90%. I always aim to preserve the actor’s real self, and in that sense, we succeeded,” he said, piquing curiosity.

On Ahn Hyo-seop, who’s earning global buzz through ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ the director shared, “I fell for Ahn Hyo-seop while making this drama. He has great character, and behind that seriousness, he’s surprisingly funny. I hope you discover a new side of him here―as an actor fully ready for comedy.”

As for what to watch for, Ahn summed it up: “We poured care into every character―from our cute, lovable leads to our adorable, love-filled supporting cast. I hope you enjoy each and every character.” The comments only heighten excitement for the premiere of ‘Sold Out on You.’

Crafted with director Ahn Jong-yeon’s warmth and care, SBS’s new WedThu drama ‘Sold Out on You’ will premiere Friday, April 22 at 9 p.m.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)