Park Bo-young breaks from 'honest' image in thriller 'Gold Land'

Park Bo-young, right, and Kim Sung-cheol pose during a press conference for Disney+ crime thriller "Gold Land" at Conrad Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

What choices would people make if they suddenly came into possession of 150 billion won ($102 million) worth of gold bars? The upcoming Disney+ original series "Gold Land" seeks to answer that question.

Written by Hwang Jo-yoon — the screenwriter behind Park Chan-wook’s 2003 masterpiece "Oldboy" — the series is a survival thriller that follows Hee-ju (Park Bo-young), a young woman who finds herself embroiled in a chaotic web of greed and betrayal after discovering a massive stash of smuggled gold, fighting to keep the fortune for herself.

Beyond the heart-pounding suspense, the series promises a deep dive into the complexities of human nature and the fragility of relationships.

Park takes on her first role in a crime series as a customs officer whose desires are awakened by the accidental discovery.

"I was looking for a genre challenge," Park said during a press conference at Conrad Seoul, Monday.

"The director noted that most people see me as the type of person who would return found gold. He suggested that seeing someone with that 'honest' image make the opposite choice would trigger a unique reaction from the audience. That perspective is what ultimately won me over."

Shifting away from her bright onscreen persona, Park leaned into the character’s grim background through a physical transformation. "To express Hee-ju’s sense of lack, I lost weight and minimized my makeup as the production went on," she said.

Park Bo-young in a scene from Disney+ thriller "Gold Land" / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company Korea

Director Kim Sung-hoon, the filmmaker behind "Confidential Assignment" (2017) and "Rampant" (2018), characterized the series as a thriller fueled by "the suspense of internal desire." Kim lauded Park’s dedication to the gritty role, noting her willingness to embrace the character's mental and physical unraveling. "She completely shed her public persona to disappear into the role of Kim Hee-ju," he said.

Joining the cast is Kim Sung-cheol as Woo-gi, a debt collector and the first to discover Hee-ju’s secret stash. Seeking to bring a raw energy to the screen, Kim noted that his character’s straightforwardness is what makes him so unpredictable. "I felt that Woo-gi’s blunt honesty could, ironically, make him feel quite mysterious," the actor said.

Lee Hyun-wook portrays Do-kyung, an airline co-pilot and Hee-ju’s boyfriend who is burdened by massive gambling debt. "I personally felt Do-kyung was the most realistic character, so I focused on finding the most grounded reactions for every moment," Lee said.

Lee Kwang-soo adds tension to the drama as the ruthless head of the Geumsung Gang, relentlessly pursuing Hee-ju to recover the missing gold. His gold tooth — intended to emphasize his eccentric and greedy nature — generated significant buzz even before the show's release.

"Since the script didn't dive deep into his back story, I wanted to explain the character through visuals," Lee explained. "I suggested the gold tooth to the director to show his obsession with gold. I wanted the makeup to be so transformative that people wouldn't even recognize me."

As the gold fractures the relationships between these characters, their subtle psychological shifts serve as the series’ narrative backbone.

"I don't think there are clear-cut heroes or villains in our story," Park said. "I believe it’s a work that will leave viewers asking themselves, 'What would I do in that situation?'"

Kim described "Gold Land" as the project reflecting his own tastes and sensibilities, more than any other work he has done.

"When Bo-young was still weighing the role, I told her I wanted to create a project that would serve as a milestone in my career and asked for her help. I’ve done my absolute best to ensure that wasn't an empty promise," he said.

"The cast and crew were truly exceptional during production, and I believe that energy is captured on screen. I think that alone will make it a rewarding experience for the audience," he added.

The 10-episode series premieres on April 29.