“I thought a lot about what kind of killer I was.” Modest but greedy actor Jang Dong-yoon

"I don't think I'm working hard after filming a lot of works in particular. These days, everyone seems to be working hard. Office workers go to work every day. Is it because there are many office workers around me? I think I have the mindset of an office worker to some extent."

Actor Jang Dong-yoon, who debuted for 8 years, still showed a humble appearance. In 2015, while studying at Hanyang University, he made his debut through a news story appearing after robbing a convenience store.

For him, '2023' is a meaningful year. It is because he took on the debut 'first villain' as the killer 'Jin-hyeok' in 'Devils' and showed his potential as a director by screening his first directed film 'Be My Ear' at the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

On the 29th, I was able to meet and talk with actor Jang Dong-yoon at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. It was the first 'villain' role in his life, and also the role of a 'serial killer', so he must have been very anxious because it was different from the characters he had played so far.

“There was no sense of insecurity. The director clearly had a concept for the character. At first, I thought a lot about what kind of killer Jinhyeok was. There was a lot of this, but I think the more I filmed, the more my anxiety disappeared.”

Jang Dong-yoon expressed his strong will, saying that he wanted to try various genres and characters evenly beyond anxiety.

“I want to play villain roles again and again. I think I’ve pioneered my own path. I’ve done it, so if there are good works in the future, I want to do more.”

Jang Dong-yoon said that he put more effort into acting as a killer because of his innocent appearance.

“It was the same with ‘Wolf Hunt’, and (directors) said that the part they were concerned about was my bright eyes and my human face. That’s why I became more greedy for genres. It's the same and unsatisfying. Even during this shoot, there is a limit to changing the physical appearance, so the makeup team and the costume team put a lot of effort in style. I feel comfortable talking and acting in areas such as the eyes and voice tone, and Jinhyuk I was always giving strength because I wanted to show the madness of a murderer with my eyes because I didn’t think the character would live.”

When asked if he suffered a lot of disadvantages because of his mild impression, he smirked, saying that he actually received a lot of benefits while talking about the difficulties he had experienced.

“People have a lot of greed for things they don’t have. If you get to know me, I’m a strong person. It must be a common worry for people who have a mild impression. "When I was in school, when I was in school, other people quarreled a lot. Even when I was with my friends, they only quarreled with me. That's why there were a lot of unfair things. That was normal. But there were good points (laughs)"

Jang Dong-yoon also screened his first directed film, 'Be My Ear' at the 27th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.

“I originally wrote poems and screenplays since I was in high school. I liked observing people, creating them, and expressing them. We got closer. It was really difficult to appear while directing. Because the monitor didn't work.

At the same time, he replied that he would like to dream of directing a feature film if given the opportunity.

"'Be My Ear' was a movie I shot with my own money of 7 million won. It was in a poor environment, but my acquaintances helped me a lot. It was my first time directing, so it was really awkward and clumsy, so it was very difficult. My first priority is my main job as an actor. It was my first time filming, but the next time N: I think I can do better. Under the premise that I’m good at my main job, I want to direct a feature film (if conditions permit).”

Lastly, Jang Dong-yoon expressed his simple desire, saying, "I think staying happy and healthy is the most important thing," saying that he wanted to give small happiness rather than great joy.

In 2023, actor Jang Dong-yoon, who said he did not think he was 'working hard', said he had a 'worker's mind', had a more challenging year than ever, from his debut 'first villain' to 'first production'. We look forward to his challenge of dreaming of 'rebirth' beyond the 'first'.

'Devils' is a body-changing action thriller depicting the confrontation between the murderer 'Jin-hyeok' (Jang Dong-yoon) and the detective 'Jae-hwan' (Oh Dae-hwan), who switched bodies the moment they were arrested.

It will be released on July 5th.

Reporter Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr