Jang Dong-gun Discusses His Role as a 'Friend-like Father'

Jang Dong-gun has revealed that he considers himself a 'friend-like father' to his children.

On the 26th, Jang Dong-gun, the lead actor of the film 'A Normal Family,' was interviewed at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul.

'A Normal Family' is a suspense film that portrays the collapse of a family after they witness their children's involvement in a crime through CCTV footage. The film is based on Herman Koch's novel 'The Dinner.' Jang Dong-gun plays Jae-gyu, a compassionate pediatrician who values principles and does not shy away from difficult tasks to save lives.

The film features three key dining scenes that gradually reveal the changing emotions and positions of the four main characters. They grapple with the 'moral right' and 'parental stance' regarding their children's criminal actions. Actors Seol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Soo-hyun spent considerable time filming these scenes around the dining table.

Jang Dong-gun shared, "Even when filming the same scene, we would change sets, so the actors would chat and discuss various incidents in between. Since we are all parents, we talked a lot about parenting and our children." He added, "Naturally, we wondered, 'What would we do in such a situation?' No one had a definitive answer. The correct answer is clear, but when faced with the actual situation, I am not sure what decision I would make."

Jang Dong-gun married fellow actor Ko So-young in 2010, and they have a son born in 2010 and a daughter born in 2014.

When asked what kind of father he is in real life, Jang Dong-gun laughed and said, "Like any parent, I want to teach my children only good things and hope they grow up well, but it doesn't always go as planned." He continued, "There is a bit of a difference between how I was when my children were younger and how I am now. The sternness and authority as a father have faded, but I think it's better this way. I used to oppose the idea of being a friend-like father, thinking 'a father should be a father, not a friend,' but now I don't think it's a bad thing." He also mentioned, "My son is in the second year of middle school, and my daughter is in the fourth grade of elementary school. My son seems to be entering puberty, but we get along well without major conflicts. I have a lot of fun with my daughter. She is witty and has a good sense of humor, so she responds well to jokes. I genuinely enjoy spending time with her."

'A Normal Family' is set to be released on October 16.

By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr