INTERVIEW Park Hae-joon: 'I acted selfishly in Yadang: The Snitch'
Park Hae-joon says he usually acts selflessly, but took a deliberately selfish approach for his lead role in “Yadang: The Snitch.” Courtesy of Plus M Entertainment
Park says 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' helped him overcome acting slump
Park Hae-joon, now known as Korea’s “national dad,” has credited the popularity of the hit drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines” for the moniker, but revealed he was going through an acting slump while filming the show.
The drama’s widespread success made his character, Gwan-sik, a beloved figure, but it was Park’s performance that truly brought the role to life.
Riding the momentum of “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” Park is now returning to the big screen with the crime film “Yadang: The Snitch,” which premiered Wednesday. He sat down for an interview the day before at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, his face lit with a constant smile.
“Yadang: The Snitch” explores the world of drug trafficking through the tangled relationships between an undercover informant Kang-soo (Kang Ha-neul), narcotics detective Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon) and senior prosecutor Kwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin).
While the plot touches on familiar themes — the tension between police and prosecutors, the dark side of the elite and collusion between criminals and law enforcement — the unfamiliar slang term “yadang,” used for narcotics informers, adds an element of intrigue.
“I first read the script while filming ‘12.12: The Day’,” Park said. “The story had a great sense of momentum, and the characters were all really compelling," he said. “Yadang” was produced by Hive Media Corp., which also made “12.12: The Day.”
Park Hae-joon plays Sang-jae, a narcotics detective who overcomes obstacles to solve a case and seek revenge in “Yadang: The Snitch.” Courtesy of Plus M Entertainment
Park plays Sang-jae, a detective who acts before he speaks. Known in the drug world as the “Jade Emperor” for his impressive investigative skills, he finds himself sidelined after a major bust. When he’s falsely accused, he sets out to take revenge and to restore his reputation — a role that fits Park’s calm yet intense persona.
“To prepare, I watched lots of interviews with real narcotics officers and studied how they operate, including how they legally deal with criminals,” he said.
Park described his usual acting style as restrained. “I don’t try to stand out in my roles,” he said. “Instead of forcing my own style, I try to adapt to the director’s vision. I aim for selfless acting — like how Son Heung-min plays soccer.”
But for “Yadang,” he approached the role differently. “This time, I acted very selfishly on purpose,” he said. “I had to carry the film from my first appearance to the end. With age and experience, and now with bigger roles, it feels like the time has come for that.”
Park Hae-joon leaves a powerful impression in “Yadang: The Snitch.” Courtesy of Plus M Entertainment
'I started enjoying being on set again'
Park has built up a strong resume through dramas like “Incomplete Life” (2014), “My Mister” (2018), and “The World of the Married” (2020), becoming a household name.
But “When Life Gives You Tangerines” brought him a new level of popularity. “When I go to the local tteokbokki shop, they throw in free soondae and tempura,” he said with a smile. “Even my kids tell me their friends now call me ‘Yadang’ at school.”
Despite his reputation for effortlessly pulling off any role, Park confessed he went through a slump while filming both “When Life Gives You Tangerines” and “Yadang,” which had overlapping schedules.
“I was smiling and having fun on set, but every time I checked the monitor, I felt unsure,” he said. “Thoughts like ‘Is this all I can do?’ or ‘Why can’t I do better?’ would creep in. It was the first time in my career I felt that way. I think I was just burned out from not taking a break.”
He said a six-month hiatus helped him find his passion again. “After resting, I started to love being on set again,” he said. “The success of ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’ and the way ‘Yadang’ turned out — it feels like they’ve given me a huge source of strength.”
Park Hae-joon plays Yang Gwan-sik, a man devoted to his family, in the Netflix drama “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” earning him the nicknames “national dad” and “national husband.” Courtesy of Netflix
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.