Kang Ha-neul Discusses His Approach to Noisy Neighbors and Reflects on Social Issues in '84 Square Meters'

How would actor Kang Ha-neul handle a noisy neighbor situation?

On the 21st, an interview with Kang Ha-neul, who plays No Woo-sung in Netflix's '84 Square Meters', was conducted at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Kang appeared embodying the free-spirited character of No Woo-sung, dressed in a loose shirt, stylish baseball cap, and glasses without lenses.

'84 Square Meters' is an unpredictable thriller about Woo-sung (played by Kang Ha-neul), who finally achieves his dream of owning an apartment, only to be tormented by mysterious noise from the upstairs neighbors. As the noise becomes unbearable, Woo-sung's mental state deteriorates.

During the interview, Kang Ha-neul shared, "If it were me, I would just move out. I don't want to confront anyone and make things uncomfortable for both parties. I prefer peace of mind." He added, "I've never lived in an apartment. I've mostly lived in villas, no higher than the fourth floor. Currently, I reside in a low-rise commercial building."

While the film centers on the theme of noise pollution, it also touches on timely social issues such as cryptocurrency and poorly constructed apartments. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Sampoong Department Store collapse, and the film includes scenes depicting an apartment collapse due to shoddy construction.

Kang Ha-neul expressed his condolences to the victims of the Sampoong tragedy, stating, "It's regrettable," and offered his sympathies to the families. He admitted, "I wasn't aware this year marks the 30th anniversary, but it's truly a tragic event that should never have happened."

Meanwhile, '84 Square Meters' is currently streaming on Netflix.

By Yeji Ryu, TenAsia Reporter, ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr