'Donggung' Kwak Dong-yeon: "The blood makeup these days is amazing... they even added Earl Grey scent to the coffee mix taste" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kwak Dong-yeon shared his thoughts directly regarding 'Donggung'.

On the morning of the 24th, Kwak Dong-yeon met with StarNews at a café on Hak-dong-ro in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for an interview about the Netflix original series 'Donggung'.

'Donggung' tells the story of Goo Cheon (played by Nam Joo-hyuk), who has the ability to cross between the world of humans and spirits, 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 that haunts Donggung Palace. The script was written by Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, known for 'Entourage', 'The Guest', and 'Bulgasal'. Direction was handled by Choi Jeong-gyu, who directed 'Red Moon Blue Sun' and 'Judge from Hell'.

'Donggung' has become a global hit. Since its release on the 17th, it recorded 4.9 million views (calculated by dividing total viewing time by the series' total runtime) within three days, ranking second among the top 10 non-English shows globally. It consistently held the number one spot in Netflix's 'Top 10 Series in South Korea Today' since its release and climbed into the top 10 lists across 27 countries including Hong Kong, Thailand, the Philippines, and India. Additionally, according to Good Data Corporation's official platform FUNdex, 'Donggung' topped the TV/OTT drama buzz index for the third week of July, while lead actor Nam Joo-hyuk secured the number one spot 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 for centuries, he became the origin of a mystery that sent shockwaves through the entire palace from his first appearance. Kwak Dong-yeon organically connected the gentle demeanor 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 a vengeful evil spirit filled with deep resentment shocked many viewers.

Kwak Dong-yeon made his debut in 2012 with KBS 2TV's 'You Are My Destiny'. He has since appeared in 'Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo', 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty', 'Revenge of the Beauty', 'Vincenzo', and 'Queen of Tears'. In April, he signed an exclusive contract with Double Black Label.

-What are your thoughts now that 'Donggung' has been released?

▶From the beginning of filming, I was aware that my character's very existence could be a spoiler, so I became increasingly cautious as the release date approached. A still photo was released the day before the premiere, which left me bewildered. (laughs) Fans asked what I was doing during filming, but I couldn't tell them, which was frustrating.

-How did you feel when you first received the offer to join the project?

▶I wasn't sure what form my character would take within a historical drama, but since I had a close relationship with the director from Showrunner's production company, I felt confident in trusting him.

-Wasn't your character in 'Donggung' one of the most difficult and challenging roles to portray?

▶There are three directors at Showrunner's production company, but working with Director Choi Jeong-gyu felt like a masterclass. I was curious about collaborating with him, and he explained things so well that it sparked my sense of challenge.

-You received praise for your 'acting duel' with Jo Seung-woo in the series.

▶Actually, that was the only scene where I acted with a normal face. (laughs) That day of filming was simply enjoyable. It was the first and last time I met my senior actor.

-What were the difficulties with the special makeup?

▶The scene where my hair turned white was the most difficult. Everything was made of rubber, and wearing contact lenses made it hard to see clearly, so I felt restricted in my ability to express myself through acting. As filming progressed, I gradually adapted. Since there were large-scale action sequences, I decided that if I couldn't use my face, I would focus on using my body effectively.

-The makeup involving blood also seemed quite challenging.

▶What was truly impressive about the 'Donggung' makeup team was that they prepared various types of fake blood. It had a sweet taste like coffee mix, and they even added an Earl Grey flavor at times.

-The director also said that the Crown Prince is the true protagonist of 'Donggung'.

▶I haven't heard that before. (laughs) Given that my character could be the mastermind behind the events, I suppose it was indeed an important role.

-Are there any behind-the-scenes stories about the action scenes?

▶The set was quite hectic, but the Action School seniors came to ensure everything was filmed safely. I used a lot of wires, but I trusted them and acted accordingly.

-Have you checked viewer reactions to 'Donggung'?

▶As someone from an older generation, when dramas were released, I used to check real-time search trends and news to gauge reactions. Now, I'm not sure where to look anymore. SNS reactions come through algorithms, so I can't fully trust them. In the past, articles had 'dislike' buttons that gave me an intuitive sense of public opinion, but nowadays it's unclear.

-Is there any particular reaction from those around you that stands out?

▶I thought there were no truly scary scenes in 'Donggung', but some acquaintances said they found certain parts frightening. I realized such reactions could happen.

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*This content was translated by AI.