Fashion magazine Harper's Bazaar Korea revealed a photoshoot with Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, and Park Hae-joon from the movie 'The Underground' which premiered on April 16. The styling showcased a rough and distinctive look that corresponded with the characters of a broker, prosecutor, and detective in a drug-related plot.
'The Underground' is a slang term referring to drug brokers. When asked about the uniqueness that 'The Underground' possesses as a film about drug crime, Kang Ha-neul, who plays the role of Lee Kang-soo, noted, "I naturally thought it was a film about politics, but it was completely different. The first impression was very strong. There are many works that tell the story of those who use drugs and those who catch them, but there isn't a character that connects the two. I found it interesting to maintain a tone that doesn't purely give off a sense of trust when playing Lee Kang-soo, yet doesn't come off as unlikeable either. I think the many layers to the relationships will provide a different kind of enjoyment than the typical drug crime movie."
Yoo Hae-jin, who plays the ambitious prosecutor Koo Kwan-hee targeting the Central District Prosecutor's Office, stated, "Through this film, I learned about the existence of 'The Underground' for the first time. Koo Kwan-hee carries his ambitions very quietly and weightily, without boasting. Generally, people like that seem to have bigger ambitions. Since this is a story related to drug crime, I thought it would be provocative and, simply put, a colorful movie, so I decided to adopt a monotone approach while acting."
Park Hae-joon, who plays detective Oh Sang-jae known as 'The Jade Emperor' in the drug world, shared, "I drew inspiration from a real drug investigation officer nicknamed 'The Jade Emperor.' A detective in charge of drug crimes might dress extravagantly or wear accessories like earrings to blend in with real drug dealers. I thought I had to explore that aspect to create a character that is different from typical detective characters."
Meanwhile, when asked about the expectations surrounding the film's imminent release, Yoo Hae-jin replied, "Sometimes while acting, there are moments when I think, 'Why did that actor interpret this scene that way?' I've never had such thoughts while working on this piece. This means everyone was looking in the same direction, signaling that the film is going to be well-made. Our film revolves around interconnected relationships. If pursued roughly, it might fall apart, but if well-crafted, it could be a very cohesive film."
Finally, when asked about each actor's method to stay healthy in their acting careers, Kang Ha-neul shared, "When I was very young, I thought I was doing creative art. I was so busy pouring my heart and soul into every project, but looking back, I realized I wasn't happy at all. There was only pain while acting. When the pain became overwhelming, I decided that I needed to view acting as work. Now, my goal is to look only one day ahead and enjoy life on that day."
Park Hae-joon also mentioned, "Clearly defining acting as work seems to greatly help both physical and mental health. Focusing only on living well each day is also beneficial. It got better for me after I got married. Once I enter the house, I have children to think about, so I have no time to delve deeply into the project. Using space in a planned manner is also a method."
Yoo Hae-jin stated, "I worked very sensitively for quite a long time. The night before filming, I hardly slept as I pondered various scenarios for the scene we would shoot the next day. But in my late 30s, almost at 40, it suddenly struck me that while a life as an actor is important, a life of Yoo Hae-jin outside of acting is equally precious time. In the past, I would prepare three versions when going to set, but these days, I only prepare one and keep it a little open."
The photoshoot and interviews with Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, and Park Hae-joon can be found in the May issue of Harper's Bazaar and on its website.
[Photo] Photo Harper's BAZAAR Korea provided
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