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[INTERVIEW] 'D.P.' actor Koo Kyo-hwan speaks about prolific career
- September 07, 2021 | Broadcasting
[INTERVIEW] 'D.P.' actor Koo Kyo-hwan speaks about prolific career
Updated : 2021-09-03 09:06
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Actor Koo Kyo-hwan has truly come a long way since his breakthrough performance in the 2018 film "Jane." His portrayal of a free-spirited transgender woman in the independent drama film earned him the Best New Actor award at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, and since then has garnered industry recognition.
Aside from acting, he directed short films, including "Love Docu" (2015) and "Flow to the Sky" (2015), and produced the comedy-mystery film "Maggie" (2019).
Koo left a lasting impression on audiences with his villainous, yet charming character in the zombie film "Peninsula" (2020). This year, he has already starred in three hit projects ― he appeared as North Korean diplomat Tae Joon-ki in the action blockbuster "Escape from Mogadishu" and the leader of Pajeowi tribe Aidagan in Netflix's drama "Kingdom: Ashin of the North."
In his latest drama "D.P.," Koo plays Corporal Han Ho-yul, a member of the military police who tracks down deserters with newly assigned Ahn Joon-ho (Jung Hae-in).
Although the story is based on webcomic "D.P: Dog Days," written by Kim Bo-tong, Ho-yul's character was newly created during the film adaptation by director Han Jun-hee, best known for directing the hit film "Coin Locker Girl."
"I didn't feel any pressure about playing a character that didn't exist in the original story. I was rather deeply relieved because I was able to participate in building a humorous, yet heartfelt character," Koo said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Thursday.
"Director Han and I have known each other well before collaborating on this project. I think he offered the role to me because he saw a resemblance between me and Ho-yul's character. For instance, Ho-yul and I share the same sense of humor."
The 39-year-old actor revealed that he received a lot of help from his road manager, who used to be part of the D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) team in the military.
"After talking to my road manager, I came to a conclusion that D.P. members aren't special people. They are just normal people who we meet every day. So I didn't approach my character as someone with special privilege. Instead, I thought of him as my friend," he said.
On starring alongside Jung, well-known for his roles in romance dramas such as JTBC's "Something in the Rain" and MBC's "One Spring Night," Koo said he couldn't ask for a better scene partner.
"I was always excited to come to the set. It was so exciting to even contemplate, 'How am I going to shoot this scene?' I'm really glad that I got to work with my amazing co-stars. I'm a shy person, but somehow, I've become intimate with them in a very short time," he said.
Koo expressed his desire to focus on acting rather than appearing in reality shows. The late bloomer stressed he wants to star in a melodrama in the future.
"I want to be an actor who quickly familiarizes himself with the circumstances surrounding each scene and act naturally like he existed there before the camera rolls," he said.
"People keep telling me that I've grown popular, but honestly, I'm still not sure if I can continue to lead my life as a professional actor. I still have a long way to go."
The six-episode series "D.P." is currently screening on Netflix.
Actor Koo Kyo-hwan has truly come a long way since his breakthrough performance in the 2018 film "Jane." His portrayal of a free-spirited transgender woman in the independent drama film earned him the Best New Actor award at the 54th Baeksang Arts Awards, and since then has garnered industry recognition.
Aside from acting, he directed short films, including "Love Docu" (2015) and "Flow to the Sky" (2015), and produced the comedy-mystery film "Maggie" (2019).
Koo left a lasting impression on audiences with his villainous, yet charming character in the zombie film "Peninsula" (2020). This year, he has already starred in three hit projects ― he appeared as North Korean diplomat Tae Joon-ki in the action blockbuster "Escape from Mogadishu" and the leader of Pajeowi tribe Aidagan in Netflix's drama "Kingdom: Ashin of the North."
In his latest drama "D.P.," Koo plays Corporal Han Ho-yul, a member of the military police who tracks down deserters with newly assigned Ahn Joon-ho (Jung Hae-in).
Although the story is based on webcomic "D.P: Dog Days," written by Kim Bo-tong, Ho-yul's character was newly created during the film adaptation by director Han Jun-hee, best known for directing the hit film "Coin Locker Girl."
"I didn't feel any pressure about playing a character that didn't exist in the original story. I was rather deeply relieved because I was able to participate in building a humorous, yet heartfelt character," Koo said during an interview with The Korea Times via Zoom, Thursday.
"Director Han and I have known each other well before collaborating on this project. I think he offered the role to me because he saw a resemblance between me and Ho-yul's character. For instance, Ho-yul and I share the same sense of humor."
The 39-year-old actor revealed that he received a lot of help from his road manager, who used to be part of the D.P. (Deserter Pursuit) team in the military.
"After talking to my road manager, I came to a conclusion that D.P. members aren't special people. They are just normal people who we meet every day. So I didn't approach my character as someone with special privilege. Instead, I thought of him as my friend," he said.
On starring alongside Jung, well-known for his roles in romance dramas such as JTBC's "Something in the Rain" and MBC's "One Spring Night," Koo said he couldn't ask for a better scene partner.
"I was always excited to come to the set. It was so exciting to even contemplate, 'How am I going to shoot this scene?' I'm really glad that I got to work with my amazing co-stars. I'm a shy person, but somehow, I've become intimate with them in a very short time," he said.
Koo expressed his desire to focus on acting rather than appearing in reality shows. The late bloomer stressed he wants to star in a melodrama in the future.
"I want to be an actor who quickly familiarizes himself with the circumstances surrounding each scene and act naturally like he existed there before the camera rolls," he said.
"People keep telling me that I've grown popular, but honestly, I'm still not sure if I can continue to lead my life as a professional actor. I still have a long way to go."
The six-episode series "D.P." is currently screening on Netflix.
Reporter : yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr
