[Interview①] Im Ha-ryong "Challenging Musical After 17 Years, Excited to Meet Audience"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] From comedian, talent, film actor to musical actor, there are many words to describe Im Ha-ryong. He began his acting career in 1976 with the musical 'Porgy and Bess' at the theater company Gagyo, and debuted as a comedian in 1981 through KBS's 'Joyful Saturday.' He started his life as a comedic actor. His ability to delight the public with sincere acting shone brightly, and he was called one of the four kings of KBS comedy along with Shim Hyung-rae, Choi Yang-rak, and the late Kim Hyung-gon. He appeared as the teacher in the legendary 'Bongsunga Academy' segment of 'Gag Concert' until the end of 2000. Afterward, he turned his attention to Chungmuro and took on another challenge. In director Jang Jin's film 'Welcome to Dongmakgol' (2005), he expanded his range with a vivid performance as North Korean soldier sergeant Jang Young-hee.

On the 4th, Im Ha-ryong shared various stories in an interview with our publication at a cafe in Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the opening of the musical 'Broadway 42nd Street.'

Currently busy rehearsing for the musical, Im Ha-ryong revealed his exceptional determination, saying that managing his stamina is key. He will be returning to the stage after 17 years since 'The Full Monty' in 2003. When asked why it took so long?long enough for the landscape to change twice?he smiled sheepishly and said, "I really wanted to do musicals because I like them, but my schedule in other fields didn't align well. It was also not easy to find a role that suited me well."

'Broadway 42nd Street' is set in Broadway, the birthplace of musicals, and depicts the process of an unknown chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer, becoming a star, accompanied by dazzling tap dance ensemble numbers. It premiered in 1980 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York and won the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Choreography. It was first staged in Korea in 1996 and will return to the stage on June 20. Im Ha-ryong plays Abner Dillon, an investor who provides capital for the show to win Dorothy's heart and is an innocent romantic.

"I am acting while recalling the feelings of a crush I had in middle and high school. He has a pure heart but is ultimately betrayed, which is really fun. He plays a central role that changes the flow of the story. It's been a long time since I breathed with the audience on stage, so I'm excited. Especially since many events that happen in the entertainment industry are woven into the play, I am enjoying acting."

Im Ha-ryong shared about his musical rehearsals. He joked, "I'm upset because I can't do many ad-libs." Then he added, "There are set agreements on stage, right? Within that, analyzing details like walking style is fun. The role also has comedic elements, so I am trying to shine within that."

When asked if it is difficult to get on stage at nearly seventy years old, Im Ha-ryong said, "I'm relatively healthy, but recently I have been taking the subway to manage my stamina. Still, I can't lose weight. (laughs) If I worked like an ensemble, I think I would lose a lot of weight. The real stars of our show are the ensemble actors. Ensembles who have gone through 'Broadway 42nd Street' can handle most musical productions," he laughed.

Im Ha-ryong also expressed his special affection for the stage. He said, "I empty my mind a lot. Isn't it a collaborative work?" He continued, "Having lived life, I realized that when you reach the top, you eventually have to come down. There was a time when I wanted to go higher and had big dreams, but not anymore. I like building up collaborative work. Of course, when you are young, it's true that you have to strive fiercely to climb up. But at this age, I think all that is meaningless. Now I think about my posthumous reputation. If you lose your health, you lose everything."

He added, "I hope to be remembered as someone who got along well and had fun," and smiled, saying, "Isn't it better to get along well and have fun? What's the point of sitting around frowning and nitpicking?" Then he said, "Life is like a picnic. I want to live happily laughing while alive. Isn't it enough to live without harming others and have fun?"

Im Ha-ryong has lived as a versatile all-rounder, moving through various genres from comedic acting to drama, film, and musicals. Some have had prejudices about comedians and comedic actors challenging serious roles in the past, but Im Ha-ryong is the one who broke those barriers. He is a versatile talent who immerses himself in roles with delicate acting, removing the comedic elements.

"In the past, comedians did a lot of films when there was no broadcast comedy. One day, teachers Seo Young-chun and Gu Bong-seo asked me, 'Are you only doing films now?' So I said, 'Isn't it you who did more films?' (laughs) Comedians are comedic actors. People who perform comedy. I hope people see it that way."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.