INTERVIEW 'I wanted to tell stories of people abused by those in power'

Actor Gang Dong-won poses prior to an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in central Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of YG Entertainment

Gang talks about latest film, Hollywood debut

By Park Jin-hai

Gang Dong-won is living the busiest and probably the most important year in his 15 year acting career this year.

Following a thriller “Golden Slumber,” which hit local theaters last Wednesday, the 37-year-old actor is currently shooting a sci-fi action thriller “In-rang,” directed by Kim Jee-woon, and will soon start filming his Hollywood debut “Tsunami LA.”

For his latest release “Golden Slumber,” it was Gang who suggested the film adaptation of Japanese author Isaka Kotaro’s novel of the same name. It ranked as the third most seen film at the local box office during this Lunar New Year holidays from Feb. 15 to 17, following “Black Panther” and “Detective K: Secret of the Bloodsucking Demon,” which proves Gang’s discerning eye.

The actor says he feels a certain responsibility for the film’s box office performance as he was the one who suggested its production, but he believes that it has a message worth being told.

Keen on social and political issues, Gang said, “I thought its plot and the message it delivers are worth telling. I wanted to tell the stories of people being framed and falsely accused by those in power,” during an interview with The Korea Times, at a cafe in Seoul, Wednesday.

He takes on the role of delivery man Kim Geon-woo, a kind-hearted and sincere person who gets involved in the assassination of an influential presidential candidate and becomes wanted by the police as the prime suspect in the film.

“We all know that there are such people in the real world. Some victims even after receiving compensation from the government had to cough up some money later with interest added, which made their lives economically more difficult. I felt the urge to remind people of this subject.”

Prior to the film’s release, the explosion scene shot in Gwanghwamun square for the first time grabbed people’s attention. “Local filmmakers have has never been allowed to use this place. Because it was in the middle of the candlelit protests that unseated former President Park Geun-hye, getting a filming permit was harder. After the initial permission was canceled two days before the day of shooting, we had to shoot the bombing and chase scenes in just the four hours that we were allowed to use it,” said the actor.

Yet, the film is not all about conspiracies and a “superhero” singlehandedly defeating all evils. “What I liked about this film is the point that Kim manages to get through with the help of others. In the end, the film tells of humanism,” he said.

In order to complete the gullible and ordinary looking delivery man character, Gang gained eight kilograms and had his hair unfashionably permed. “I have a lot in common with my character, I think. This character says ‘What’s wrong with giving more and taking less in return?’ and it is what I often say in my life, too.”

The model-turned-actor, who had his acting debut in the 2003 drama “Country Princess,” will start shooting a Hollywood blockbuster next month. He is cast as a surfer who works at an aquarium in the upcoming disaster action flick “Tsunami LA,” directed by Simon West, whose previous projects include blockbuster action films “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Con Air.”

The movie is currently in pre-production in the United Kingdom and is stated to be released in 2019.

Gang has always thought of acting for international audiences, but it was only from early 2016 that he started applying for auditions for Hollywood movies. “When I was staying in the States, I applied for an audition and had some positive responses, which assured me that I could have a good chance (of winning a role),” said Gang.

He said more actors should look for chances overseas, which can actually help local films.

“If Korean films only target local audiences, we cannot expect big progress. In Korea, a 10 billion won budget film is called a blockbuster, but still its production environment, often understaffed, is hard. If I get good results in Hollywood, that means I can help Korean films get bigger budgets when I join them, because bigger casts attract bigger investments,” he said. “I think shooting the Hollywood film will be a great experience and a lot of fun. In many ways, it is something that I have to do as an actor.”