Actor Lee Moo-saeng expressed gratitude to Jeon So-ni, Lee Yu-mi and Jang Seung-jo for their acting chemistry.
Lee Moo-saeng gave an interview about the Netflix series As You Stood By at a café in Yongsan District, Seoul, on the 20th.
As You Stood By is the story of two women who decide to kill in the face of a reality they cannot escape unless they die or kill, and who become embroiled in an unexpected incident, and it entered the top 10 in 22 countries worldwide, including Korea, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, within three days of its release, receiving rave reviews at home and abroad.
In the drama, Lee Moo-saeng played Jin So-baek, the owner of the large food supplier Jin Gang Sanghoe and a reliable supporter of Eun-su (Jeon So-ni) and Hee-su (Lee Yu-mi), delivering a powerful presence that dominated the screen. Lee Moo-saeng emitted an unapproachable aura with an unwavering expression and firm gaze in any situation, but he offered comfort to Eun-su and Hee-su in his own way and remained like a dependable pillar, portraying the true image of an adult, and proved his versatile acting with perfect character interpretation.
Lee Moo-saeng, who often appears to audiences as a supportive character, said of often showing that kind of role, I did not intentionally take on roles that serve as a fence or are not at the forefront but enable characters to move forward, but I have done a lot of them. I also have a family and meet people, and while it is good for someone to stand in front and speak or act, I think there is also a sense of stability that comes when you help, embrace and act as a fence from the side. I think that aspect touches reality, he said.
This time Lee Moo-saeng's fence included Jeon So-ni and Lee Yu-mi. About Jeon So-ni, Lee Moo-saeng said, Lee Yu-mi, too, was like that, but I was excited and scared even before meeting her. I went in not knowing how I would act. I had the mindset of colliding on set. I thought Jin So-baek would be realized on set, but when Jeon So-ni met Jin So-baek, I actually saw her feel the terror yet try not to collapse. The synchronization with what I saw in the script was so perfect I was surprised. She made it possible to focus. She showed a solid Eun-su who trembles but does not break, and I was more inspired. And because Jin So-baek is realized on set, I trusted the on-set process, and I was so grateful that Jeon So-ni gave action and reaction on set.
On his chemistry with Lee Yu-mi, he said, Lee Yu-mi cannot be left out of this conversation. I was cautious. The role itself is precarious, isn't it? I was so careful with every word that I could hardly start a conversation, so I don't know how she felt, but she was an actor with a clear on-off. I felt she was a real pro. I wondered what process she had gone through to become like that. As a fellow actor, I appreciated that need even more. If she is struggling, people around her become concerned, so Lee Yu-mi, who has a professional mindset, clearly separated on and off. I felt she was a really admirable friend. The distinction was clear and when she had to do something she did it perfectly, so I felt sincerity. Eun-su was 'Cheongun' and Hee-su was 'Manma'. I was able to learn more from them, he said.
He also spoke about villain Jang Seung-jo, who drew much scorn in As You Stood By but helped viewers immerse themselves. Lee Moo-saeng said, I am an actor and Jang Seung-jo is an actor, so I think there were moments we felt without saying much. From the perspective of someone who has played a villain, the emotional toll is indescribable. So on set I didn't talk much with Jang Seung-jo and just patted his shoulder. Having done it ourselves, we comforted each other with our eyes. We talked about maintaining the emotional line when taking on a villain role and formed a mutual understanding. He did it so well, and he perfectly played two roles. In that regard, based on his professionalism, he didn't show signs of strain, he said.
Lee Moo-saeng also expressed gratitude to everyone who participated in As You Stood By, including Jeon So-ni, Lee Yu-mi and Jang Seung-jo. He said, I want to take this opportunity to tell Jang Seung-jo that he worked hard and was great. I am grateful as a viewer that Jeon So-ni and Lee Yu-mi participated in a work that conveys such a message, knowing how difficult these characters are, and that they took the courage to appear. And I am grateful to the director who embraced everything. It was not an easy story to tell, but the set was really fun.
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