MOVIE
Actor Jung Sung-il Praises Kang Dong-won's Charisma in Netflix Film 'Uprising'
In a recent interview at a café in Anguk-dong, Seoul, Jung Sung-il discussed his role in the Netflix movie 'Uprising'.
Set against the backdrop of the Imjin War, 'Uprising' tells the story of Jong-ryeo (played by Park Jung-min), the son of the most prestigious military family in Joseon, and Cheon-young (played by Kang Dong-won), a servant who becomes a close military aide to King Seonjo (played by Cha Seung-won) and a volunteer soldier, respectively, as they meet again as adversaries. Jung Sung-il plays the role of Kenshin, the vanguard of the Japanese army.
The film features a star-studded cast including Kang Dong-won, Park Jung-min, Cha Seung-won, Kim Shin-rok, and Jin Sun-kyu. Jung Sung-il expressed his initial hesitation about joining such a stellar cast, saying, "I felt like a commoner among the Avengers. With director Park Chan-wook producing and director Kim Sang-man at the helm, it wasn't a matter of 'why shouldn't I join?' but rather 'can I join?' But it was a great opportunity." He added, "I just wanted to make sure I didn't cause any trouble. I wasn't looking to stand out; participating itself was a great opportunity."
After the success of 'The Glory', Jung Sung-il received numerous offers but ultimately chose 'Uprising' as his next project. He stated, "It was worth the wait. I turned down several projects and waited, and I got to work with such great people. It was also selected as the opening film for the Busan International Film Festival. It was my first time attending the Busan Film Festival, and to go with the opening film was a great experience. Although it's a Netflix film, I got to attend the premiere and stage greetings. The feedback has been positive, and I'm grateful to everyone involved."
Jung Sung-il praised the chemistry with his fellow actors. He recalled, "When I first met Dong-won on set, it was awkward. He seemed like someone from a different world. I thought, 'Wow, he's a celebrity. It's Kang Dong-won.'" He laughed, adding, "We became close surprisingly quickly. We had common interests. We traveled to the provinces and played golf together. As we became friends off set, we talked about acting and the project on set. He's great at swordplay, so I just had to match his rhythm, which made it easy for me." He continued, "Dong-won has a way of drawing you in. It's not just his appearance; he gives great energy when acting. It's not about drawing a line and 'acting'; it's about naturally blending in. I think he's a great actor."
Jung Sung-il also shared his admiration for Park Jung-min, saying, "I met Jung-min later in the filming process. When I first saw him, I thought, 'Wow, it's Park Jung-min.' I was excited to work with actors I admired." He added, "Jung-min is a passionate actor. His immersion and energy on set are incredible. I realized why Park Jung-min can do so much. Even though he's younger, there's a lot to learn from him."
Jung Sung-il shared a personal anecdote about Kang Dong-won's charm, recalling, "We went to an island to play golf and then went to a restaurant with a sea view. We spent about 6-7 hours there in the evening, and the time flew by even though we didn't talk much." He continued, "I told him, 'You seem amazing. Just being in that position for so long is incredible.' We talked about life and other things. Dong-won also shared various stories with me. The time just flew by." He added, "He's a bit strange. He has a unique charm. He looks uncomfortable, but he makes people feel at ease. He's a good friend."
'Uprising' was released on Netflix on the 11th and ranked 3rd in the Netflix Global TOP 10 Films (Non-English) category in its second week, recording a total of 8.3 million views (calculated by dividing the total viewing hours by the film's runtime) from the 14th to the 20th. It ranked 1st in seven countries, including Korea, Qatar, and Taiwan, and made it to the TOP 10 in 74 countries.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
