[Interview] Kangpul "I Hoped Korean-style Heroes Would Connect with History"

Interview with Author Kang Full

Screenwriter for Disney+ Series 'Moving'
A Story of Good People Joining Forces
"I Want to Create a Work Like a Book That Lasts Long"

Author Kang Full [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

"I didn't even feel this way when drawing comics. I was very nervous before the release of 'Moving.' I couldn't sleep for two days. I was worried people would say, 'Why don't you just draw comics?' (laughs) The reactions from people around me were good, but I couldn't believe them either. When I opened my eyes, I searched for reactions and looked all day. Fortunately, I thought it wasn't bad, so now I just look forward to every Wednesday. When I was serializing, the week went by so fast, but now time seems to drag on."

Author Kang Full (48, real name Kang Do-young) sat down, starting with a sigh.

'Moving,' which was serialized on Kakao Webtoon eight years ago, was born as a series of the same name on the OTT platform Disney+. It was a large-scale project with a production budget of 50 billion won and attracted attention from the planning stage. The original author Kang Full also wrote the screenplay. It took four years to write.

Kang Full, whose position is so solid that he is called the ancestor of the webtoon industry, debuted as a rookie writer with 'Moving' (directed by Park In-je). Although several of his webtoons such as 'Pure Love Comics,' 'Fool' (2008), and 'I Love You' (2011) have been made into films, this is the first time he has taken up the pen himself.

Recently, Kang Full, whom we met at a cafe in Hwadong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "I wanted to tell a story where good people win."

'Moving' stills [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

Ancestor of the Webtoon Industry, Rookie Writer After 20 Years

Kang Full became a rookie writer again 20 years after gaining fame with his debut work 'Pure Love Comics' in 2003. It was curious why he, who is famous for not getting involved as the original author during the film adaptation process of his works, took on the writing himself. We first asked why he wrote the screenplay personally.

"During the development process, I gave opinions about the direction, saying 'It should go this way.' During that process, the production team asked, 'How about writing it yourself?' Since I don't trust easily, I said, 'Then I'll write it, so please watch it and judge.' After that, it was approved. It was planned for 16 episodes, but I said I would write it if they let me do 20."

The video adaptation of 'Moving' was announced in 2015. Kang Full said, "When it was serialized, it wasn't the OTT era yet, but as the world changed, OTT gained power, and I thought a drama would be suitable. I was also ambitious. I wanted to expand the narrative that I couldn't fully depict in the comic."

Kang Full recalled, "I used to think that movies adapted from original works weren't mine but the director's. So I always said, 'Do as you please.'"

"I couldn't sleep, worried people would say, 'Why don't you just draw comics? You're making a fuss.' The pressure was intense. There was even a saying that the biggest enemy of Kang Full movies is the fact that they are based on Kang Full's originals. I also felt an obsession that something had to be different when I wrote. Still, I decided to take on the challenge."

Kang Full, who used to draw comics alone, said he discovered new joy through 'Moving.' He laughed, saying, "Watching the difficult process until the release, at first, I thought being a comic artist was better." He added, "I realized the logic of capital is important. I also got stressed in other ways." However, the joy outweighed the burden through collaboration.

"For the first time, I had someone to trust and rely on. When drawing comics, I made decisions alone, but now I had someone to ask for opinions. I felt the joy of creating together while talking about the work. It felt really good to trust each other, listen carefully, and create together."

The World of Storyteller Kang Full

The world changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. The content market also changed rapidly. Kang Full said, "I feel like an old man carving a bat."

"I'm almost 50, and I guess I can be active for about 10 more years? That doesn't mean I plan to retire, but I worried I might fall behind the times someday. I'm not interested in directing. A director needs at least three years including preparing and shooting their own work. I want to live solely as a storyteller, within the realm of text."

When asked about plans for a sequel season of 'Moving,' Kang Full laughed and said, "Please ask me again after the final episode is released on September 20." He added, "I'm thinking of taking a sabbatical for the first time. After the release is over, I want to rest for about two months without any thoughts. Then my next steps will probably be decided," he said cautiously.

When persistently asked about his plans, Kang Full laughed, saying, "I said I would do 'Hidden' before, but I've become a liar for four years." He then confessed, "I'm keeping the possibility open. I've come to enjoy writing screenplays." He added, "'Moving' did well, but I don't think I should say I'll write screenplays just because of that. I still have affection for comics."

"I think the public no longer cares about narratives. Content is consumed at double speed and in short forms, and people look for what they want to see rather than the storyline. In 'Moving,' I wanted to show people deeply and broadly, and to do that, I had to complete a solid narrative. I worried, 'Is this really right?' 'Is this a risk?' I want to create a work like a book that sits on a bookshelf, not something consumed fragmentarily. I want to be a person who writes story narratives. Fortunately, with 'Moving,' I crossed the mountain, but will I be able to do it again?"

'Moving' stills [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

People Fighting to Protect Their Families = Heroes

Kang Full described 'Moving' as "a hero story, not about superheroes." He laughed, saying, "At first, I insisted it was a 'Korean-style hero,' and now I'm grateful that people accept it."

"I don't even know what a Korean-style hero is. (laughs) But I hoped it would be connected to our country's history. People who were swept away by the times regardless of their will. I wanted them to be people who fight not to win but to protect. I wanted to depict people fighting to protect their family, son, husband, or wife. I thought moms and dads are the heroes of this era, so I expanded on that. I saw family as the very Korean-style hero."

Kang Full said, "I like stories where good people win." He said, "I'm a writer but also the first reader. I don't want to see pessimistic stories. The stories I like are those where good people win and good people unite."

Author Kang Full [Photo by Walt Disney Company Korea]

For storyteller Kang Full, the most important thing is 'fun.' He said, "Fun is more important than meaning. I wanted it to be absolutely fun for viewers. I worried the most about 'What if only I find it fun?'"

Kang Full's works always feature ordinary citizens. When asked why he tells stories about people you can see anywhere around us, he laughed heartily, saying, "That's all I can do."

He continued, "I find story material around me. I write stories that could happen nearby. I'm not interested in scaling up. I want to focus solely on showing people. It was the same in 'Moving.' Superpowered people are those who find it hard to keep their feet on the ground. To make it relatable, they had to be people I know," he said.

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