[Exclusive]'Bloodhounds2' Casting Shock Swap.. Why Ji-hyeok Cho Re-auditioned [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Ji-hyeok Cho has risen to become a 'global trendsetter.'

Recently, Ji-hyeok Cho conducted an interview at the StarNews office in Seorin-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, following the conclusion of the Netflix original series 'Bloodhounds' Season 2 (hereinafter 'Bloodhounds2').

'Bloodhounds2' is a sequel to 'Bloodhounds' Season 1, released in June 2023. It follows Geon-woo (played by Woo Do-hwan) and Woo-jin (played by Lee Sang), who took down a ruthless gang of illegal loan sharks, as they deliver another exhilarating straight hook against a global illegal boxing league dominated by money and violence.

In the series, Ji-hyeok Cho portrayed Police Officer Woo-jeong, a junior and ally of Police Officer Kang Yong (played by Choi Young-joon). Woo-jeong is a character with a delicate and passionate personality who not only supports Geon-woo and Woo-jin's group but also contributes to uncovering crucial information related to the case, injecting vitality into the production.

Notably, 'Bloodhounds2' reached the second spot on Netflix's Global Top 10 Non-English TV Shows just three days after its release, once again driving global popularity following Season 1.

"I still feel a bit dazed. It's amazing to see my SNS follower count keep rising steadily. I'm grateful for all the attention and would like to work even harder in the future. Before 'Bloodhounds2' was released, I had 10,000 followers, but now I have 80,000. I'm truly thankful that so many fans from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other regions are watching."

In fact, global fans are currently creating short-form content featuring Ji-hyeok Cho's scenes from 'Bloodhounds2' across various SNS platforms, making his popularity even more tangible. Ji-hyeok Cho stated, "Fans send me DMs and posts with hashtags. I can't reply to each one individually, but I always feel grateful for their support."

Ji-hyeok Cho joined 'Bloodhounds2' after auditioning. However, the role he was initially offered was not that of Woo-jeong. He explained, "I was originally auditioning for the role of the main team leader at a hotel Gyeong Ho (Team Lead) and was in the process. Somehow, the role of Woo-jeong became vacant. The director saw my energy of pursuing integrity and uprightness, so he decided to re-audition me. I was asked to record and send a video remotely, so I quickly memorized the lines in the practice room, filmed it, and sent it. I felt quite dazed. It was my first time changing roles in a project I had already committed to, so it was a strange experience. I told the director, 'I'm grateful just for being given the opportunity.' I didn't want to let the production down, so I practiced and prepared with great diligence."

"The director said, 'I'd like to see some external changes,' so I also lost weight to express a gradually sharper image. However, since there were no scenes requiring extreme weight loss, I was careful not to look too puffy. Still, I lost about 2 to 3 kilograms. In the early part of the series, I had an image like an honor student, but in the latter half, I wanted to show a clear transformation when Woo-jeong wears a leather jacket, slicks back his hair, and aims a pistol. I put a lot of thought and preparation into portraying Woo-jeong's growth and awakening."

Additionally, Ji-hyeok Cho sought advice from a police acquaintance. He said, "I wanted to know how to handle suspects, the proper way to hold a pistol, exactly how to read Miranda rights, and various details that come up in daily life, so I asked many questions," showcasing his unique passion.

The filming set was filled with warm bromances with actors such as Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang, and Jung Ji-hoon (B.I). Ji-hyeok Cho remarked, "Among the seniors I've met, he was the most laid-back. There were many action scenes, and many scenes where we had to remove our tops. So, after seeing each other play around shirtless, it felt awkward when we met fully clothed. They are like good neighborhood older brothers."

Ji-hyeok Cho expressed his gratitude specifically toward Park Hoon. Having received much advice from Park Hoon, Ji-hyeok Cho said, "Not only did he give me advice on acting, but he also shared heartwarming words about how to live as an actor and as a young person in a generation that wanders and worries. Whenever I felt the urge to do better on set, he made me feel more at ease." He smiled while sharing this.

To be continued in Interview ②.

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*This content was translated by AI.