'True Education' Chooses Kim Mu-yeol: "It Feels Disrespectful to Mention Kim Nam-gil's Casting; I Apologize to His Fans" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kim Mu-yeol revealed the reason he decided to appear in 'True Education'.

On the 12th, I met with Kim Mu-yeol, an actor in Netflix's 'True Education', at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and had various conversations.

'True Education' is a Netflix series depicting the bold activities of the School Authority Protection Bureau, which stands on the side of victims to correct schools. Kim Mu-yeol plays the role of Na Hwa-jin, a sharp-witted inspector from the School Authority Protection Bureau.

'True Education' recorded 6.4 million viewers (calculated by dividing total viewing time by the show's total runtime) within three days of its release on the 5th, topping the global TOP 10 non-English shows.

Regarding the global popularity of 'True Education', Kim Mu-yeol stated, "I am first and foremost very happy and grateful, but I am also thinking about it heavily and seriously. I am reflecting once again on the stories we wanted to tell."

He also shared memorable reactions. He said, "Shortly after the release, a teacher from Malaysia sent me a direct message. They expressed that they resonated with the content and felt moved and comforted. They also said they really hope there will be a second season. I was surprised when I saw that message early on. We started with the hope that we would create it carefully and diligently so that people could enjoy it, but it was surprising that it resonated even across borders. I was especially happy that someone in the teaching profession showed a positive response."

Regarding the reason he decided to appear in 'True Education', Kim Mu-yeol said that his trust in director Hong Jong-chan, with whom he worked on 'The Boy Next Door', played a major role. He said, "I liked how they presented a difficult story in a way that anyone could watch without difficulty. Above all, my trust in Director Hong Jong-chan was great."

He added, "While working on 'The Boy Next Door', I became interested in juvenile crime. Previously, I may have viewed it from a somewhat distant perspective, but through the work, it became an opportunity to look more closely at that reality."

He recalled, "When preparing for 'The Boy Next Door', I personally observed trials and watched the trial process unfold. I also interviewed juvenile court judges, which was a great learning experience as an actor. In the process of dealing with juvenile crime, the director approached the subject very carefully and sensitively, and I was deeply impressed by their effort not to miss even the subtle emotional lines of the characters."

He then revealed, "I thought I really wanted to work with the director again, and I believed that if we worked together, we could solve difficult problems well."

He also said, "Since 'True Education' is a work that covers 10 episodes, I had a desire to include stories that were more sensitive and deeper than my previous work. The director also shared the same passion. There were moments during the filming process when I felt tired or doubtful, but every time, seeing the director's unwavering passion, I was able to follow along happily."

Finally, he added, "I would like to take this opportunity to thank the director. The production team that worked on 'The Boy Next Door' participated as is, which further strengthened my trust."

'True Education' is a drama based on a webtoon of the same name. The webtoon faced controversy from the production stage for glorifying corporal punishment and violence in schools and using racist and hateful expressions.

In particular, news of Kim Nam-gil's casting was announced during the production of 'True Education'. At the time, he publicly stated that he would not appear in the work, saying, "I think that if many people feel uncomfortable, it is right not to make such a work." This has continued to be mentioned since the work's release.

In response, Kim Mu-yeol said, "The fact that (Kim) Nam-gil's name keeps being mentioned itself feels disrespectful, so I feel cautious and sorry. Although we only exchanged greetings in private, even then, I felt their support, consideration, and respect. His character and acting in 'The Unjust' gave me great inspiration. Even when working on this project, I was such a fan that I referred to his acting in 'The Unjust'."

He continued, "The fact that this story keeps coming up is uncomfortable. Such things are not uncommon in the casting process. I have been far more often not the first choice for casting, and many times I was the second or third candidate. This work is no different."

He then added, "Rather, the worried and concerned gaze surrounding the work became an opportunity for the director and the production team to keep reminding themselves and contemplating from before the start. Even during the filming process, we tried hard not to lose our way, and the director also said that he always worked carefully throughout the filming and editing process."

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*This content was translated by AI.