Kwak Dong-yeon: "♥Park Bo-gum hyung was the first to suggest 'Let's leave something behind for the 10th anniversary of Goong,' as actors are naturally close" [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kwak Dong-yeon shared his thoughts on marking the 10th anniversary of his life-defining work, "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo."

On the morning of the 24th, Kwak Dong-yeon met with StarNews at a café in Hak-dong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for an interview related to the Netflix original series "Tale of the Nine Tailed."

"Tale of the Nine Tailed" tells the story of Goo Cheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), who has the ability to cross between the human and spirit worlds, and palace maid Saeng-gang (played by Noh Yoon-seo), who holds a secret. They answer the king's summons (played by Jo Seung-woo) and uncover the curse haunting the Eastern Palace. The screenplay was written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, known for "Entourage," "The Guest," and "Bulgasal." Direction was handled by Choi Jung-gyu, who directed "Red Moon, Blue Sun" and "Judge of Devils."

"Tale of the Nine Tailed" recorded 4.9 million views (calculated as total viewing time divided by the show's total runtime) within three days of its release on the 17th, ranking second among global top 10 non-English shows. Since its debut, it has consistently held the number one spot in "Today's Top 10 Series in Korea," and further climbed into the top 10 lists across 27 countries including Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, and India, establishing itself as a global hit. Additionally, according to Good Data Corporation's official platform FUNdex, the drama topped the TV/OTT drama buzz index for the third week of July, while lead actor Nam Joo-hyuk secured the number one position in actor buzz rankings.

Kwak Dong-yeon portrayed the crown prince, who finds himself at the center of a royal tragedy. The crown prince stands at the starting point of bizarre events that have engulfed the palace. By reopening the door to tragedies that shook the royal family over long years, he became the origin of a mystery that rattled the entire palace from his first appearance. Kwak Dong-yeon organically connected the gentle expression of the crown prince with the chilling aura of an evil spirit, bringing the character's complex emotions to life in three dimensions. Especially in the final scene of episode 4, his reappearance as an evil spirit consumed by deep resentment shocked many viewers.

Kwak Dong-yeon made his debut in 2012 with KBS 2TV's "You Who Rolled In Unexpectedly." Since then, he has appeared in "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo," "My ID is Gangnam Beauty," "Revenge of Others," "Vincenzo," and "Queen of Tears." In April, he signed an exclusive contract with Double Black Label.

-You are famous for being blessed with good luck when working with male co-stars. What kind of luck did you experience in "Tale of the Nine Tailed"?

▶I met an incredibly wonderful hyung again this time. Since the filming schedule was tight, we couldn't have many private conversations, but I had a mission in my heart. I knew someone among my acquaintances was a fan of Nam Joo-hyuk hyung, so I tried to get his autograph and eventually succeeded. There was an action scene where he fought me with an extremely long sword, and the martial arts team executed the desired moves perfectly.

-How did you feel seeing the final edited result of "Tale of the Nine Tailed"?

▶We used elaborate lighting on set, but when I saw the completed work, it seemed to be technically well-executed.

-How was your experience working with director Choi Jung-gyu?

▶Director Choi Jung-gyu often listened to actors' opinions and opened doors accordingly. He communicated a lot during production. Early on, I suggested that it would be great if the character bled from his nose while walking toward the pond, and he incorporated that idea.

-How was your acting chemistry with actress Noh Yoon-seo?

▶I filmed just as much alongside Noh Yoon-seo as I did with Nam Joo-hyuk hyung. Every time we shot, I could see her giving her all, and she showed great consideration for her co-stars. Sometimes when I felt awkward on set, she would approach me first. She never gave up until the end and seemed to have incredible stamina.

-It's been 10 years since "Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo," and this is your first historical drama since then with "Tale of the Nine Tailed."

▶When we filmed "Moon Lovers," working hours were much longer, so I'm glad that labor standards have improved over time.

-A special broadcast for the 10th anniversary of "Moon Lovers" is being prepared alongside filming in early August. Will you be able to participate with lead actors Kim Yoo-jung, Park Bo-gum, Jin Young, and Chae Soobin?

▶I have a more important responsibility (military enlistment), but I hope to participate as much as possible in the Bank of Korea event.

-How was the "Moon Lovers 10th Anniversary Reunion" organized?

▶It was hyung Bo-beom who proposed the idea. The discussion went like this: 'Since it's the 10th anniversary of Moon Lovers, we should leave something behind.' The five actors, the director, and the staff are all very close-knit.

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*This content was translated by AI.