Actor Moon Yu-gang shared his thoughts on participating in the Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' through a question-and-answer session.
As the heated excitement for the Netflix series 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' continues, Moon Yu-gang, who plays the role of Boo Oh-seong, the son of Boo Sang-gil (played by Choi Dae-hoon), is also receiving much attention from viewers.
In the story, Boo Oh-seong is a character that has caught attention despite his short appearance. Although Park Young-ran (played by Jang Hye-jin) is not his biological mother, he expresses a desire to live with Young-ran if Sang-gil divorces her, and he often scolds his irresponsible younger sister Boo Hyun-sook (played by Lee Soo-kyung), perfectly portraying the caring son and the taciturn, intimidating older brother.
In particular, Boo Oh-seong's support for Young-ran, who has been busy taking care of her sons and daughters, has drawn viewers' reactions such as, 'It's fortunate that Oh-seong is there for Young-ran,' 'Boo Oh-seong was a son who understood Young-ran's loneliness,' 'I thought he would be just like Boo Sang-gil, but the son turned out well,' and 'I can't believe a son like that came from the Hak family.'
- Below is the full question-and-answer session with actor Moon Yu-gang.
Q. What are your thoughts on participating in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'?
I was honored to work on a good project with directors, writers, and seniors I respect. I feel very happy that a project made with love by everyone is receiving a lot of affection.
Q. How did you perceive and portray the character Boo Oh-seong?
I wanted him to seem like a 'guy you would see in the neighborhood.' He looks intimidating, but in a way, he also appears cool. I thought of Boo Oh-seong as a character who has a sense of responsibility. I believe that getting angry at Hyun-sook was also due to his sense of responsibility, and telling his mother to consider separating was similar. Although it wasn't a scene I directly filmed, the information revealed through Eun-myeong and Hyun-sook's conversation helped me a lot in creating the character of Boo Oh-seong.
Q. What were your feelings regarding your mother and Hyun-sook?
I thought this point was crucial in expressing Boo Oh-seong. I hoped to show that his actions stemmed not merely from a rough or coarse annoyance, but from genuine concern and frustration for someone.
Q. How did you feel when you saw Boo Sang-gil alone at home after some time?
Seeing my father's unchanged state felt bittersweet, making him more unlikable. During rehearsal, while standing outside the door of the set house and trying to open the door, I could hear my father's voice. I'm not sure if he was with someone or alone, but hearing that 'whiny tone mixed with self-justifying complaints' I have heard all my life made it hard to open the door, and I thought about leaving quickly. I found it somewhat pathetic, but when I actually saw my father, I couldn't speak prettily.
Q. How was the harmony among the actors? What was the atmosphere like on set?
The director provided very detailed instructions during rehearsals, making it a fun shoot. As always, there are things waiting for me that I hadn't anticipated. When placed in a new environment, I tried to adapt quickly and express the familiar history I have with the characters, space, and objects. The director explained everything in detail, providing a lot of help and learning opportunities. Although there weren't many filming sessions, there were times when everything felt a bit unfamiliar, but the director engaged in many conversations which helped me feel comfortable quickly.
Q. Do you have any memorable episodes?
Dae-hoon is not only a senior from school but someone I have admired in various works for a long time. I had the opportunity to greet him just before filming at a wedding, before I was cast. I remember how pleased I was to see that I would be playing the role of Oh-seong's father during the script reading.
Q. What is the scene that stands out to you personally?
I remember the scene where I get angry at my father for bothering my mother while drunk. When I went to the set, I was surprised to see Dae-hoon. I was amazed by his perfect makeup, but his mannerisms and movements were not what I had known. I was quite surprised to see the gestures and speech of a drunken man.
Q. How do you think Boo Oh-seong lived?
As I mentioned earlier, I believe Boo Oh-seong is a person with a sense of responsibility. As the eldest son, he likely had things he carried with him over the years. I want to believe that he managed his family with responsibility, vigor, and integrity.
Q. If you were Moon Yu-gang in real life, what kind of son do you think you would be in the 'Boo family'?
I think I would be quite similar. However, on the other hand, I feel that I would have made a bit more effort with my father than Oh-seong did. My actual personality is a bit more affectionate than Oh-seong's.
Q. What are your future activities?
I am currently performing in the musical 'Dorian Gray' and appearing in the recently released movie 'Lobby.' I would like to greet many people in various forms in different places. Thank you for your interest in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' and Boo Oh-seong.
[Photo] Workhouse Company, Netflix
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