Kang Yu-seok on 'Final Interview': "The weight of being the eldest, I took it upon myself to be the mood-maker" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Actor Kang Yu-seok shared his impressions of working with actors of similar age in the film 'Final Interview'.

On the 3rd, at a cafe on Samcheong-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, we met with actor Kang Yu-seok from the film 'Final Interview' to discuss the work.

'Final Interview' is a story about six candidates who gather for a final interview and discover mysterious envelopes containing each other's confessions, leading them to suspect one another and fall into confusion.

In the film, Kang Yu-seok plays 'Lee Hee-chan,' a natural mediator with composure, injecting vitality into the drama.

In this work, Kang Yu-seok worked alongside actors of similar age such as Shin Seung-ho, Gwak Dong-yeon, Jo I-hyun, Kim Jae-won, and Bae Gang-hee. In particular, as the oldest among the cast, he naturally took on the role of the eldest brother on set.

Kang Yu-seok said, "There was a bit of pressure from being the eldest, but it wasn't too heavy. Until then, I was mostly the youngest in the LINE on set, so it was comfortable, but this time I was the oldest among my peers." He added with a smile, "But since I'm only one year older than Shin Seung-ho, I was more like an eldest brother rather than a senior."

He continued, "Actually, in terms of debut year, Gwak Dong-yeon is my senior, but he helped me a lot on set. It felt good because we all cheered each other on as friends and filmed together." He revealed, "It's not common to have the opportunity to film with six actors of similar age, so it was truly enjoyable being able to do it with friends."

Previously, Jo I-hyun named Kang Yu-seok as the mood-maker on set, expressing gratitude for his efforts to look after his colleagues as the eldest brother.

In response, Kang Yu-seok explained, "Before we got close, I tried to take the initiative in starting conversations and easing the atmosphere." He added, "I believed that a good on-set atmosphere would allow each person's diverse acting to come out more richly. So I think I tried to create a slightly more comfortable environment."

Kang Yu-seok also showed affection for his co-actors. He praised them by saying, "Shin Seung-ho has great energy, and Bae Gang-hee's immersion is truly outstanding. Jo I-hyun, like her character in the drama, harmonizes well with the older and younger siblings." He continued, "Gwak Dong-yeon comes prepared a lot and is a very hardworking actor. Kim Jae-won is the youngest, so he can be cute at times, but sometimes he looks after those around him meticulously like an older brother."

He then said, "Not only while acting, but also during breaks, we talked together and got closer. We shared personal stories and concerns about acting, and there were moments when I newly realized, 'This person approaches acting in this way.' So I think our chemistry was even better because of that."

The actors went through several rehearsals and readings before filming to coordinate their timing. Kang Yu-seok revealed, "We moved around together like a theater rehearsal and matched our blocking before starting to film." He added, "There were scenes where we had to coordinate individually, and especially for the latter-half scenes, Jo I-hyun and I met separately to do readings and held meetings with the director."

He continued, "Including the director, the seven of us were truly sincere. We deliberated intensely and practiced because we wanted to create even slightly better scenes." He conveyed, "I think everyone had a strong desire and motivation to do well."

In particular, Kang Yu-seok emphasized that he drew great strength from working with his co-actors. He revealed affection by saying, "While filming, I thought, 'I'm really working with these friends.' I gained the belief that if I could accept my co-actors' performances well, my own acting would naturally follow." He added, "It was a set where I gained a lot of strength by trusting and relying on my friends. Thanks to the actors I worked with, I think I was able to show even better acting."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original