Netflix series 'The Apothecary Diaries' has garnered global viewership with major production staff sharing Q&A sessions and providing directing behind-the-scenes insights.
'The Apothecary Diaries,' released on the 17th, follows Gu Cheon played by Nam Joo-hyuk, who has the ability to traverse between the human and spirit worlds, and palace maid Saengang played by Noh Yoon-seo, who harbors secrets, as they are summoned by the king played by Cho Seung-woo to uncover the curse that haunts the palace. The series has received acclaim for its mysterious narrative and worldbuilding that spans between reality and the spirit realm. Production behind-the-scenes insights have been organized through Q&A sessions by each director.
Park Jeong-hoon, Director of Photography
Director of Photography Park Jeong-hoon expressed his interest in expressing the spirit world as distinctly twisted from reality when he first encountered the script. For the real world, he employed a straightforward approach faithful to Korean aesthetics and static beauty, using organized wide shots and bust shots suited to the narrative, while for the spirit world, he maximized entertainment value through high-speed cinematography and camera techniques. Tight collaboration between the art, CG, and special effects teams, combined with elements such as smog created by wind, produced highly refined visuals.
When capturing characters' emotions, cinematographer Kim Seung-gyu's weighty lighting direction reduced viewer fatigue and enhanced skin tones. Particularly for the king character portrayed by Cho Seung-woo, side shots were boldly utilized to reveal dignity and mystery. For action scenes, different colors and concepts were assigned to each spirit entity, with emphasis placed on bust shots containing characters' emotions. Memorable scenes included the confrontation between actress Lee Hong-nae, who plays the blind shaman, and Nam Joo-hyuk playing Gu Cheon, as well as action sequences with salt mine palace maid ghosts. The intense acting rivalry between Cho Seung-woo and Jang Young-nam was highlighted as a key viewing point.
Kim Seung-gyu, Cinematographer
Cinematographer Kim Seung-gyu revealed that he found appeal in expressing characters' psychology through light and shadow in a structure where multiple genres—mystery, thriller, and fantasy—coexist based on historical drama. Unlike the real world, which maintains a natural historical drama tone through blue-toned lighting, the spirit world emphasizes sequential color timing aligned with the 'red moon' symbol, creating intense red and complementary color contrasts.
He paid careful attention to tone adjustment according to space. Interior palace spaces were expressed in low, cool colors to convey mystery and suppressed tension, while the spaces where Gu Cheon and Saengang reside were created with warmth using light and smog. He conveyed that constant light adjustment during outdoor location shoots, where unexpected climate changes were frequent, was his greatest concern, and recommended the flow of characters' emotional lines and lighting as viewing points.
Yi Mok-won, Production Designer
Production Designer Yi Mok-won aimed for a subtle and restrained art direction that naturally permeates rather than exaggerated fantasy. The two worlds were distinguished through texture, air quality, and light tone changes rather than external form. Particularly for the spirit world, diversity was given—Jeong Yeo-woo's ghost utilized wind and fabric movement, the crown prince's ghost used water and wet textures, and the two-headed creature utilized darkness itself, each connecting to the spirits' emotions.
The most labor-intensive palace maid ghosts' temple set had its pillars and walls carved out and charred traces applied before LED lighting was installed inside to directly create the texture of flames. Attention was also paid to the depiction of water, which serves as a medium for transitioning from reality to the spirit world. Breaking away from typical overseas creature film conventions, Production Designer Yi Mok-won revitalized traditional imagery from Korean folklore with contemporary sensibilities, asking viewers to appreciate the atmosphere and texture of the spaces together.
Netflix series 'The Apothecary Diaries' is exclusively streaming on Netflix.
