[Interview②] Kang Dong-won "Different Path? Just Adapting as Times Change"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Kang Dong-won expressed exceptional confidence in 'Peninsula,' which is being released worldwide.

On the 10th, Kang Dong-won shared various stories about the film during an interview held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of the movie 'Peninsula' (director Yeon Sang-ho).

'Peninsula' is an action blockbuster film depicting the final battle of those left on the ruined land four years after 'Train to Busan.' It stars Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re, and Lee Ye-won. Following 'Train to Busan,' 'Peninsula' was officially invited to the 2020 Cannes International Film Festival, marking the first domestic case where works sharing a single universe were consecutively invited to Cannes.

On this day, Kang Dong-won said, “I was drawn to the story of people living with hope in a city without hope.” He emphasized that 'Peninsula' is the first film to be released worldwide and expressed anticipation, saying, “I heard that Singapore reopened theaters to coincide with the release of 'Peninsula.' Asian friends are also very much looking forward to the film.”

He continued, “I hope 'Peninsula' will be a source of strength for theaters struggling due to COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection). I hope everyone watches safely. Since it is a film released worldwide, it is receiving a lot of support. So I hope it does well,” adding with a hint of bitterness, “We have come to an era where we have to seriously consider going to bars with friends.”

Recently, Kang Dong-won appeared on the online YouTube variety show 'Civilization Express' ahead of the release of 'Peninsula.' Although he has communicated through his SNS channels, his appearance on a web variety show was seen as a new move. He gave a cool response, saying, “I have never thought of it as showing a different side. It's just adapting and living as the times change.”

When asked if he feels any changes as an actor, Kang Dong-won replied, “With the introduction of the 52-hour workweek system, filming finishes faster. In the past, a lot of time was spent training before filming, but now technology has advanced, and many scenes are created with special effects (CG) considering safety issues.”

'Peninsula' expands its setting from a running train to the heart of a ruined city, showcasing a larger scale and overwhelming visuals. It is the first post-apocalyptic universe film set in South Korea. Four years after the disaster, the number of zombies has become uncontrollable, and their senses have become more developed. The zombies' appearances have changed over time, and their movements have become faster. The film contains the post-apocalyptic universe from Incheon Port to Seoul, featuring survivors who endured an unprecedented disaster. Jung-seok (played by Kang Dong-won) returns to the land he escaped from after four years.

Kang Dong-won said, “I felt that domestic technology has really advanced a lot. The CG team was on site and worked immediately to show us. It was amazing how flames and spaces were created and drawn with CG right away,” adding, “Sometimes we filmed in front of a green screen after creating the space in advance to match it.”

Additionally, Kang Dong-won expressed satisfaction with the car chase scenes in the film. He said, “I felt pride that we could shoot such car chases. Fans who liked 'Train to Busan' probably won't be disappointed at least,” and confidently added, “Korean zombies have become quite famous these days. There will be fun in seeing various characters.”

Regarding the flashy gun action, Kang Dong-won revealed, “We used real guns but did not use live bullets, only blanks. There were also action guns, but when actually shooting, I held real guns and acted,” sharing behind-the-scenes details, “We did not use guns with strong recoil, and for close-range shooting, I acted holding gas guns.”

When asked if the somewhat intense action scenes were difficult, Kang Dong-won laughed and said, “I turned forty this year. Physically, it has been tough for a while. Recovery doesn't come easily.” He added, “When not filming, I work out 2-3 times a week, and when I need to get in shape, 4-5 times. I prefer running or playing ball games. Lifting heavy things is hard,” jokingly.

Earlier, Kang Dong-won expressed his passion for acting by saying, “I want to act until I die.” Regarding this, he said, “I enjoy the process of creating a world. I'm not the type to be crushed by pressure. Rather, I enjoy it. Acting is always fun. Most people I meet through film work are passionate and comrades,” showing his affection.

Kang Dong-won has been focusing on films continuously since the 2004 drama 'Magic.' When asked if he intentionally excludes drama appearances, he replied, “I don't refuse on purpose.” He added, “Recently, the boundaries between TV and the screen are breaking down, which is good. Sometimes, filmmakers talk about whether a work should be made not as a 2-hour film but as a 6-hour one. For example, wouldn't you be curious about the story of the past four years in 'Peninsula'? I always have a desire to make it a series,” leaving the possibility open.

'Peninsula' opens on July 15.

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