Actor Kim Do-wan Reflects on His Journey and Challenges in 'ONE: High School Heroes'

"The most liberating moment is when the camera rolls on set. As an actor, you can do things you can't in real life. That's why I keep acting."

Celebrating his 8th year in the industry, actor Kim Do-wan candidly shared his reasons for acting. On the 11th, we met Kim Do-wan at the Post Tower in Yeouido, Seoul. He plays the role of Yoon-gi in the Wavve original drama 'ONE: High School Heroes' (hereafter 'Heroes'). Throughout the interview, he carefully considered each sentence, reflecting a persona both similar and different from his character Yoon-gi.

'Heroes' is a drama about the top student Ui-gyeom (played by Lee Jung-ha) and Yoon-gi, who uses his natural fighting talent to form a masked hero group to overturn the school's bullying hierarchy. It's based on the webtoon 'ONE' by writer Lee Eun-jae, which has surpassed 65 million views and is hailed as a legend in school action genres.

Kim Do-wan, who began his acting career in 2017, has made a mark with unique roles in various works such as 'Start-Up', 'My Roommate Is a Gumiho', and 'Doona!'. Known for playing witty and cheerful characters, taking on the proactive role of Yoon-gi was a challenge for him.

"When I first got the role of Yoon-gi, I was worried about whether I could portray it well. It was challenging because the character is proactive and assertive. I had to deliver the lines well and ensure I didn't damage the original character. I built the character through many discussions with the director."

In reality, Kim Do-wan is quite different from his character Yoon-gi. He shyly admitted, "I'm actually quite reserved and introverted," and shared that he feels more comfortable being alone. For Kim Do-wan, playing Yoon-gi might have meant more than just acting. He put a lot of effort into each scene, especially the action scenes.

"To perform the action scenes well, I practically lived at the action school. Given the nature of action scenes, even a small mistake could injure me or my co-actor, so I worked hard. There were scenes we shot intensely for 3-4 days, like the one where I take off my mask and run away, which left a lasting impression."

When asked to rate his action performance, Kim Do-wan said, "I'd give myself 60 points." He added, "I always feel a bit regretful when I watch my action scenes. Fortunately, the director edited them well, so they turned out great in the final product." His lingering regret is a testament to his sincerity. Despite being in his 8th year, he remains strict with himself.

"I'm quite hard on myself. I believe that attitude is necessary for growth. Diligence is a skill, too. Even when I'm resting, I think about work and strive to become a better person. I still don't know what kind of acting I'm best at. Instead, I want to focus on accurately portraying any role I take on."

Perhaps due to this attitude, Kim Do-wan learned responsibility through this project. He said, "Playing a character that leads the story taught me a lot. This project instilled in me a sense of responsibility and the will to work harder." He expressed his anticipation for a second season, saying, "If there's a season 2, I'd be grateful and happy. I wouldn't mind wearing a school uniform again. Even in my 30s, I'll wear it as much as I can while I still can," he said with a laugh.

When asked about his role model, he gave a unique answer. Kim Do-wan said, "I respect many senior actors, but right now, my role model is myself in 5 or 10 years. I'm acting in a way that I won't be ashamed of in the future," he said with a sparkle in his eyes. He is painting his future in this way.

Discussing his goals as an actor, Kim Do-wan said, "The last two episodes of 'Heroes' will be released this Friday. Please look forward to the grand action scenes that will help you forget the summer heat."

"Rather than having a specific goal, I want to build a broad spectrum and accumulate various filmographies. I believe that by diligently playing diverse characters, I can become an actor I'm not ashamed of. I want to be an actor who always leaves people curious about what I'll do next."

By Se-yoon Jung, TenAsia Reporter yoon@tenasia.co.kr