Director Lee Jun-ik's first short drama: Kang Hyung-seok truly makes his presence felt in 'Father's Home-cooked Meal'

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kang Hyung-seok made a strong impression in director Lee Jun-ik's first short drama, "Father's Home-cooked Meal."

Kang played the role of young Go Ha-eung in "Father's Home-cooked Meal," which premiered in theaters on the 9th as the first vertical-format short drama to be released in cinemas.

"Father's Home-cooked Meal" tells the story of father Go Ha-eung (played by Jung Jin-young), who has been craving home-cooked meals from "Three Meals a Day" for 40 years, stepping into the kitchen for the first time in his life to care for his wife Ahn Soon-ae (played by Lee Jeong-eun), who suffers from "cooking amnesia." This is the first short-form content project undertaken by Lee Jun-ik, South Korea's representative director known for films such as "The King and the Clown," "Sado," and "Dongju: The Poet of Revolution."

Kang portrayed the young Go Ha-eung in his 20s and 30s. Having moved from Gyeongsang Province to Seoul, Go Ha-eung makes a living by repairing shoes. Though he has little material wealth, he sustains himself through his craft, nurtures love with Soon-ae, and lives fiercely to fulfill his responsibilities as a family man.

Kang meticulously built up the character's emotional and temporal shifts, adding credibility to the role. In particular, Kang brought out the rough yet sincere charm of young Go Ha-eung through natural Gyeongsang dialect and his unique acting style filled with everyday realism. From portraying youthful romance with the young Ahn Soon-ae (played by Park Jeong-yoon) to depicting a father shouldering family responsibilities after marriage, Kang conveyed a wide range of emotions, heightening the audience's immersion in the story. Later, as Go Ha-eung kneels and works tirelessly to protect his family and provide for them, Kang deeply expressed the weight of being a father and the unspoken inner struggles, instantly shifting the film's atmosphere.

Having played both past and present versions of the same character alongside actor Jung Jin-young in "Father's Home-cooked Meal," Kang stated, "Since different actors portrayed the character's past and present, I thought deeply about how to connect the current Go Ha-eung with his younger self." He added, "I watched many videos of my senior's younger years and films he appeared in. Being personally invited to his studio, where we shared meals, went for walks, and drank coffee while exchanging stories, was a great help." Kang continued, "My senior told me, 'Don't think you're playing my past or my younger self; just faithfully portray Go Ha-eung as he was then, and naturally, we will appear as one character.' Those words were a great comfort and source of strength for me."

Additionally, Kang focused on the growing sense of responsibility that Go Ha-eung felt after marriage and having children. He explained the character by saying, "I believe his sense of responsibility to care for and provide for his family must have grown even stronger after getting married and having a child. He likely didn't want to show or talk about how hard he worked outside."

Regarding the work completed in vertical format, Kang highlighted that it allows the actors' emotions to be conveyed more closely. He added, "While there wasn't much difference in acting on set compared to other formats, when I reviewed the footage, the characters filled the vertical screen completely, making their eyes clearer and giving a greater sense of emotional expression and depth."

Finally, regarding the message he hoped to convey through the work, Kang said, "Through the theme of home-cooked meals prepared by mothers, which we often take for granted, I realized how ordinary daily lives are actually filled with extraordinary moments and how grateful we should be for them." He concluded, "It was a great honor and happiness to film alongside long-time fans and respected directors like Lee Jun-ik and other seniors. After watching the video, my heart felt warm and fuzzy. I hope many viewers will watch it with their families and once again reflect on the preciousness of everyday moments they might have overlooked, filling their hearts with warmth."

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*This content was translated by AI.