Lee Gyu-lee is a business writer at The Korea Times, focusing primarily on IT & telecommunications, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and KOTRA. Prior to this, she has covered a wide range of cultural news, from film, television and K-pop to lifestyle and fashion.
INTERVIEW Song Kang-ho, Byun Yo-han proud of 'Uncle Samsik' despite disappointing reception
Actors Byun Yo-han, left, and Song Kang-ho play lead characters in Disney+ Korean original series “Uncle Samsik." Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
By Lee Gyu-lee
Disney+'s latest Korean original series, "Uncle Samsik," generated considerable excitement ahead of its release, because it marked the first series role for veteran actor Song Kang-ho since his debut, and had an impressive budget of 40 billion won ($28.8 million).
Actor Song Kang-ho / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
However, despite the initial hype, the series struggled to generate significant interest among K-drama fans upon its release on the streaming platform last month, falling short of winning over a global audience.
The 16-part period series, set during the turbulent times of the late 1950s to early 1960s in Korea, follows the fictional character Park Doo-chill (Song), known as Uncle Samsik. The story unfolds against the backdrop of real-life historical events, such as the 1960 presidential election and the subsequent protests.
Park is a fixer who works closely with politicians to secure his place in the upper echelons of society. However, his life takes a turn when he meets Kim San (Byun Yo-han), an ambitious elite idealist determined to reshape the country’s fortunes. Park persuades Kim to join forces, promising to help make his dream a reality.
Despite some criticisms of the series for its dialogue-heavy and slow-paced story with a complex plot structure, lead actors Song and Byun expressed satisfaction with the series. They noted that it brought a fresh perspective to the streaming service scene.
“The story was set in the 1950s era that Koreans know but haven’t experienced. This historical context may have posed a barrier for viewers from other countries,” Song said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Jongno District, Seoul, Monday.
“Although there are some regrets, amid the current flood of stimulating and visually graphic streaming content, 'Uncle Samsik' stands out as a series with a serious and weighty plot that is worthy of binge-watching. While it may lack quick thrills, it offers a depth rarely seen in other series.”
A scene from the series “Uncle Samsik" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
Byun added that he believes the story of "Uncle Samsik" will continue to resonate with viewers even as time passes.
“I joined the series because I really liked the script. Each country has a different history, but depicting Korea’s modern history is what only Korean actors can do. In that sense I was thankful and honored to take part,” he said.
“It will keep streaming on Disney+, so I am very proud that it’s a series you can watch 10 or 20 years from now even in different eras. Not necessarily in terms of eventual success, but I am confident that it will remain a meaningful work. This series is like a book on a shelf, and I believe it will shine more and more as time goes by.”
Actor Byun Yo-han / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea
Song plays an enigmatic character whose intentions appear ambiguous, whether he is truly assisting Kim or acting as an antagonist to his dream, thereby maintaining tension between Park and Kim. The actor expressed his interest in portraying such a complex character.
“The series is a fictional story with fictional characters set in the 1950s, but it was refreshing that it reflects on our lives today. The character of Park and Kim, along with others, can exist anywhere in our present-day lives, allowing us to reflect on ourselves,” Song said.
“Park seems like a bad person, but also has a warm heart, making it hard to read his mind. These aspects were challenging yet also appealed to me. I felt if such a character had been clear-cut from the start, it wouldn’t have been interesting."
He added that his first experience working on the series has broadened his horizons, allowing him to delve deeper into the character he portrayed.
“It was truly a blessing to be reminded of the mindset of a novice actor and to approach acting with such an attitude. A series, in comparison to a movie, has more time to delve into a person's narrative more deeply. It also has the capacity to encompass more characters and showcase the stories that unfold from the conflicts between these diverse characters,” Song said, explaining that he also learned something from younger actors.
"Since it was my first series, I was intimidated and didn't know how to balance the long pace. But, I was amazed by the fearless acting of the younger actors. I realized that the actors in the series are truly fearless. Watching them perform like that, I felt encouraged by their performances."
Byun also praised Song, sharing that he strived to learn from the veteran actor's attitude toward acting.
“(Song) was so devoted and I could see how much he truly loved being on the set. It made me think he must’ve been this consistent for over 30 years. And I endeavored to emulate that attitude and learned a lot in the process,” he said.
“Even after he finished his scenes, he would observe co-actors' performances, applaud, encourage, and comfort them, which I admired … I felt that he was genuinely focused and dedicated to acting.”