Cha Seung-won "I got the most works"

"Isn't my prime already over? The word 'prime' means that there has to be something that will continue to attract people's attention, but I think I'm past that age. Even if there's nothing to create a buzz, I want to continue doing this without making anyone uncomfortable."

Cha Seung-won, born in 1970, who met with Ten Asia at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th, said, "I like the present where I can act with satisfaction without anything special happening," adding,

Disney+ original series 'Tyrant' starring Cha Seung-won is a chase action film about people who gather together for different purposes to obtain the last sample of the 'Tyrant Program' after it disappears in a delivery accident. 'Tyrant' has garnered attention as the first drama directed by Park Hoon-jung, who has been recognized for his directing skills with 'New World' and 'The Witch'.

Cha Seung-won plays the role of Im Sang, a retired former agent and cleaner who tries to remove obstacles related to the tyrant program. He delivers a killer performance with a unique personality that goes back and forth between cool and quirky.

He said about his current situation, "I'm not thinking about 'what should I do next?' right now. Rather, I think there are more works than before. It's not my prime, but it's not bad right now. I'm the busiest I've ever been. I also have filming to do. I'm really thankful for that."

Cha Seung-won, who is about to release 'Tyrant', said, "It's much less burdensome than when a movie is released. Before a movie is released, the ratings are determined and a certain amount of expected figures are available. The pressure from that is very intense. OTT is less burdensome than the pressure of releasing a movie in theaters."

Cha Seung-won said that the action scenes with Jo Yoon-soo were impressive. He praised him, saying, "I practiced for two weeks just for that scene. It wasn't easy because of the big height difference. There was a high risk of injury because the gun action scenes were done up close. Although Yoon-soo practiced a lot, it was his first time doing action scenes in a confined space. Yoon-soo got hurt a lot while acting. I was very worried. It was hard, but he put his passion into it."

He continued, "I could feel Yoon-soo's earnest heart. It was a really hard time. I hope he gets compensated well. I felt very sad. When I saw him smiling brightly at the production conference, I thought about how lonely he must have been on set," he said with a heavy expression.

Regarding his styling in 'Tyrant', he said, "I wanted to cut my beard." Cha Seung-won said, "I did a test shoot, and Yoon-soo and I were standing there, and the director commented that it would be better if the age difference was bigger. That's why I grew my beard."

Following "Tyrant," Cha Seung-won expressed his special affection for the entertainment show "Three Meals a Day." He said, "I talked to Yoo Hae-jin about it, but entertainment shows like "Three Meals a Day" are special works for us. I don't want to categorize them into entertainment, dramas, and movies. I know that some people don't watch it that way and that there are likes and dislikes. However, I don't think that entertainment activities are an obstacle to my acting career. I don't have any intention of holding back."

He said solemnly, "There are tens of thousands of emotions that I felt while doing 'Three Meals a Day.' Actors are people who study people. They have emotions and use them, so I'm honored to be able to meet 'Three Meals a Day.' The program is full of joy, sorrow, and pleasure. Many people have high expectations and affection for 'Three Meals a Day.' I think I was chosen."

He also did not forget to praise Lim Young-woong, whom he met on 'Three Meals a Day'. He described Lim Young-woong as "a friend who is bound to do well. He has a lot of things. He is very simple-minded." He continued, "There are two types of people: those who try too hard and those who can't keep their wits about them. But Lim Young-woong doesn't try to do more or less. When you're with him, you forget that he's 'Lim Young-woong'", drawing attention.

Cha Seung-won emphasized, "When considering the direction and essence of the program, 'Three Meals a Day' is a textbook entertainment show to me. I want to continue doing it as long as I can. I don't want to stop. It has a lot to suggest."

Cha Seung-won also showed his enthusiasm for the romantic comedy (hereinafter referred to as 'romantic comedy') genre. He said, "I want to do it before it's too late. I've lost weight. I think I'll do well if I do it," and acted coquettishly. Cha Seung-won previously gained great popularity by playing the role of Dokgo Jin in the drama 'The Greatest Love' that aired in 2011.

He confidently said, "I have my own 'romantic comedy' weapon. I can show it when a project comes in. I really want to do a 'romantic comedy'. I can act by interpreting the character to the level of decomposition."

Finally, when asked what kind of actor he wants to become, Cha Seung-won said, "It feels good to be chosen by directors I haven't worked with before. I want to be an actor who constantly receives calls from directors I have no previous contact with. I hope they find a new side to me." He added, "I want to be an actor who can finish a project with a good feeling."

'Tyrant' was released simultaneously in four parts on Disney+ on the 14th.

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr