Kang Ha-neul Shines in Fifth Project of the Year with Netflix Thriller '84 Square Meters'

Kang Ha-neul has been on a roll this year, starring in five projects already. Starting with 'Streaming' in March, followed by 'Opposition' in April, 'Your Taste' in May, 'Squid Game' in June, and now '84 Square Meters' in July.

On the 21st, we met Kang Ha-neul at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss his latest Netflix thriller, '84 Square Meters'. The film follows No Woo-sung, played by Kang, who finally achieves his dream of owning an apartment, only to be tormented by mysterious noise from the floor above. As the noise becomes unbearable, Woo-sung's mental state begins to unravel.

Kang Ha-neul arrived embodying the free-spirited No Woo-sung, dressed in a loose shirt, stylish baseball cap, and glasses without lenses. Despite having released five projects in the first half of the year, Kang greeted the press with a mix of embarrassment and warmth.

When a reporter jokingly mentioned skipping Jo Jung-suk's new film 'Zombie Daughter' to attend the interview, Kang expressed his support for Jo's project, saying, "I hope 'Zombie Daughter' does well. Go Jo Jung-suk! I think it might surpass 5 million viewers." The interview coincided with the press screening of 'Zombie Daughter', starring Jo Jung-suk.

Regarding the release of '84 Square Meters', Kang commented, "It feels like we just finished filming. Unlike 'Streaming', which took a while to release, this one feels fresh. It's been less than a year since we shot it." He added that while he hasn't personally experienced severe noise issues, he believes the film can help viewers understand this social issue.

Though the film centers on noise issues, it also touches on timely topics like cryptocurrency and poorly constructed apartments. Kang admitted, "I didn't know much about real estate or stocks, but I learned a bit while working on this project." He humorously recalled asking, "Can you really buy something just by clicking this?"

Kang shared that his cousin had experiences similar to Woo-sung's, having lost money in cryptocurrency and dealt with noise issues. "He said it was suffocating and tough," Kang recalled.

Despite his laid-back demeanor, Kang admitted to feeling anxious before a film's release. "I try to face that anxiety head-on and hope the release day comes quickly," he said.

Kang Ha-neul has consistently delivered solid performances, despite his concerns. "It's just a coincidence that all these projects were released at once. I'm grateful for the love and consider myself lucky," he said. "I just followed the directors' and writers' instructions."

Reflecting on his prolific career, Kang noted, "As I get older, the memories of being on set become more important than the success or audience numbers. I focus on enjoying each scene and project, despite the inevitable anxiety."

Reported by Ryu Ye-ji, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr