‘Military hiatus neither regretted nor feared,’ Kang Tae-oh of K-drama 'Moon River' says

Kang Tae-ho / Courtesy of Man of Creation

Actor Kang Tae-oh has once again delivered what many are calling a career-defining role, captivating not only domestic viewers but also global audiences through the historical drama “Moon River,” his first in six years.

The MBC Friday–Saturday series aired its final episode on Dec. 20, posting a nationwide viewership rating of 6.8 percent — its highest to date, according to Nielsen Korea. The drama follows Crown Prince Lee Gang, played by Kang, and itinerant merchant Park Dali, played by Kim Se-jeong, whose souls suddenly switch bodies, sparking a perilous royal survival story intertwined with romance. By combining a traditional historical setting with a soul-switching premise, the series drew attention for its fresh pacing and strong on-screen chemistry between its two leads.

Meeting with Hankook Ilbo at a café in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Kang said he felt significant pressure returning to a historical drama after such a long break. “It had been a while since I last did a sageuk (historical drama), so I was worried,” he said. “I felt I needed to show better acting than before, and I wanted to meet the expectations of fans.”

The drama also gained strong traction overseas. With its visual style rooted in K-historical aesthetics and the fast rhythm of a romantic comedy, the series drew interest from international viewers shortly after its release. It proved especially popular in Indonesia and Thailand, while attention also followed in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Kang said he could feel how much the atmosphere had changed. “It really feels like a global era,” he said. “I’m grateful that international viewers now have easier access to Korean productions, and it felt meaningful to show the beauty of our traditions through a historical drama.”

“Moon River” marks Kang’s return to the genre since his 2019 KBS2 drama “The Tale of Nokdu,” in which he gained wide recognition for his role as Cha Yul-mu. Returning to sageuk after six years, he once again earned praise for how well historical dramas suit him. Kang said he rewatched clips from “The Tale of Nokdu” before filming, adding that having such a clear point of comparison made him worry whether he could live up to expectations.

Asked why he ultimately chose the project, Kang said the title itself drew him in. “I liked it from the start. The narrative felt deep and lingering,” he said. “The soul-switching element added to a historical drama made it even more interesting.” He added that while filming was not easy, the genre has a distinct charm, noting the power of elaborate sets and the rare opportunity to wear traditional attire.

Kang Tae-ho / Courtesy of Man of Creation

To portray the body-switch convincingly, Kang and Kim closely observed each other’s performances and communicated frequently. Kang said the most challenging part was clearly differentiating between Lee Gang and Dali. “Even on days without filming, we would call or message each other, record lines and send them back and forth,” he said. He added that Kim even sought advice directly from Ha Ji-won, who starred in “Secret Garden,” another well-known body-swap drama.

Kang’s ability to shift seamlessly between the two characters became one of the drama’s key highlights. He said that early on, he sometimes slipped into Dali’s dialect while playing Lee Gang, but later found Dali’s character more comfortable to portray. He also explained how he studied Kim’s expressive eye acting and incorporated subtle movements to convey the physicality of a Joseon-era woman.

The chemistry between Kang and Kim has been widely praised, with the pair mentioned as potential nominees for Best Couple at the 2025 MBC Drama Awards. Kang said he would be happy if nominated, but did not want to get ahead of himself. “I’m already grateful that viewers loved Lee Gang and Dali,” he said. He described Kim as an energetic and passionate actor who genuinely loves her work and characters, adding that he learned a great deal from working alongside her.

Kang rose to prominence in 2022 through the ENA series “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” before enlisting for mandatory military service. Reflecting on that period, he said he did not personally feel regret or fear about the hiatus. “I was asked a lot whether it was disappointing, but I didn’t dwell on the gap,” he said. “I believed that if I worked hard, another opportunity would come, and thankfully, I met a project soon after my discharge.”

Speaking about his postmilitary comeback drama “The Potato Lab” on tvN, Kang said the experience mattered more than ratings. “It was a project that showed me how fortunate I am with people,” he said. “The process mattered more than the outcome, and it helped me grow.”

Asked about the significance of “Moon River” for his career, Kang reflected on his decade-long journey as an actor. He said he was reminded that not only acting skills but also one’s attitude and conduct on set greatly influence a production. “The time when I was called Lee Gang rather than Kang Tae-oh is precious to me,” he said. “I want to continue being remembered through my characters.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.