Actor Yoo Ji-tae expressed his satisfaction with portraying a new version of the character Han Myeong-hoe in the film 'The King and the Man'.
Recently, Yoo Ji-tae was interviewed at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where he discussed his role in the film.
'The King and the Man' tells the story of a young dethroned king in exile and a village chief who volunteers to join him, depicting their growing bond. Yoo Ji-tae plays Han Myeong-hoe, the most powerful figure of the era.
Yoo Ji-tae felt relieved by the audience's positive reaction at the pre-release screening. He said, "The response to Han Myeong-hoe was better than I expected," with a smile. He added, "I played the role of the axis of evil. Although my role isn't large, I focused on fulfilling my part diligently."
In this film, Han Myeong-hoe is portrayed as charismatic and cunning, contrasting with previous depictions of him as small and sly. Yoo Ji-tae explained, "I've portrayed many real-life figures, often facing questions about political issues or evaluations of the actual person. However, my Han Myeong-hoe is the one in 'The King and the Man'. What mattered most to me was what Han Myeong-hoe needed to do within the storyline."
Director Jang Hang-jun also persuaded Yoo Ji-tae with the idea of a 'new Han Myeong-hoe'. Yoo Ji-tae shared, "The director wanted to depict a new Han Myeong-hoe, different from the existing ones. I saw it as a new opportunity and a chance for reinvention."
Having previously played intense villains in films like 'Oldboy', 'Midnight FM', and 'Svaha: The Sixth Finger', Yoo Ji-tae reflected, "As someone who has played many villain roles, I had to think about how to bring something new to this role. I believe this film allowed me to showcase a wider range of characters."
Despite not having a large role, Yoo Ji-tae felt the presence of Han Myeong-hoe. He stated, "Han Myeong-hoe may not appear in many scenes, but he is a character that permeates the entire film. The intense mental battles are palpable." He added, "Han Myeong-hoe is the central axis in this script, and I described it as the spine that needs to stand firm." To embody the physical weight of Han Myeong-hoe, Yoo Ji-tae even gained weight to reach 100kg.
Yoo Ji-tae shared his unique approach to playing villains. He said, "When I play a villain, I 'embrace' the character. By embracing and building up the character, I believe a powerful energy emanates from the body, stronger than words. That's what I consider true acting." He emphasized that 'true acting' is "acting that can be heard without speaking, read without seeing, and felt without expression."
'The King and the Man' is set to release on February 4th.
By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr