Yoo Ji-tae Reflects on Reunion with Yoo Hae-jin in 'The Man Who Lives with the King'

Actor Yoo Ji-tae reminisces about reuniting with Yoo Hae-jin through the film 'The Man Who Lives with the King' and expresses hopes for its success.

Recently, Yoo Ji-tae, who stars in 'The Man Who Lives with the King,' was interviewed at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

'The Man Who Lives with the King' tells the story of a young dethroned king in exile and a village chief who volunteers to accompany him, gradually forming a bond. Yoo Ji-tae plays Han Myeong-hoe, the most powerful figure of the era.

Yoo Ji-tae reunites with Yoo Hae-jin in this film after their previous collaboration in 'Attack the Gas Station' (1999). He expressed gratitude, saying, "I am thankful to share this flourishing period with Hae-jin." He continued, "We first met during 'Attack the Gas Station,' and now we meet again in entirely different positions. Hae-jin is now a leading actor, a box-office star, and a top actor. His achievements are remarkable."

Yoo Ji-tae believes that Yoo Hae-jin's strengths are fully showcased in this film. He stated, "Every actor has strengths and weaknesses, but this film was crafted to highlight Hae-jin's strengths, leading to a truly flourishing period." He added, "I am delighted to be part of his flourishing period."

At a recent press screening, director Jang Hang-jun mentioned, "I don't mind if the actors shave their heads," hinting at expectations for the film's success. In response, Yoo Ji-tae joked, "Everyone has upcoming projects, so a promise like shaving heads might be difficult. It could lead to lawsuits." He added, "I haven't been in a film that reached ten million viewers yet. The best I've done is around five million," expressing his wish for the film's success.

Now 50 years old, Yoo Ji-tae is considering a melodrama for his next project. He mentioned, "There are talks about melodramas these days," and "I'm receiving various scripts, not just villain roles." However, he cautiously added, "It's hard to say anything specific at this stage because the market can change."

'The Man Who Lives with the King' is set to release on February 4.

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