Kim Young-kwang Shines in Dual Role for Netflix's 'Trigger'

Kim Young-kwang has prepared a true gift set of performances, showcasing his layered charm as Moon Baek in Netflix's 'Trigger'.

Recently, Kim Young-kwang was spotted at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where he appeared in a casual all-black outfit, sans hair styling and makeup, embodying a relaxed vibe.

'Trigger' is a gun disaster action thriller set in South Korea, where illegal firearms are mysteriously delivered, leading to a series of gun-related incidents. The story follows two men who take up arms for their own reasons. Moon Baek, played by Kim Young-kwang, is a free-spirited character who unpredictably collaborates with Lee Do, portrayed by Kim Nam-gil.

Initially, Moon Baek is depicted as a playful and loyal friend, but as the story unfolds, his true identity is revealed. He is the one responsible for bringing firearms into South Korea, sparking the gun delivery incidents. Additionally, Moon Baek is battling terminal cancer with only six months to live, and his deteriorating condition is evident as the story progresses.

Kim Young-kwang shared, "As the story progresses, I lost weight to appear more emaciated. My eyes looked sunken, and I tried to appear physically weak. I exercised while fasting," he explained. "The makeup became progressively heavier, and I even drew dark circles to show that Moon Baek's time was running out." He added, "I naturally have a lot of gray hair, so I usually dye it. For this role, I dyed it more to emphasize his frailty."

Moon Baek's transformation is not only in his appearance but also in his styling. Before his identity is revealed, he wears casual outfits like hoodies and jeans. Afterward, he dons a striking all-white suit with a deep neckline to showcase his chest tattoo.

Kim Young-kwang recalled, "The deep neckline was to reveal the large tattoo on my chest. I also had a massive eye tattoo on my back, but it wasn't shown in the series. Since they were tattoo stickers, it wasn't too troublesome."

To portray Moon Baek, who was adopted overseas as a child, Kim Young-kwang took English lessons. "Moon Baek lived abroad, but I imagined he learned English in a rough manner due to his tough upbringing," he said. "I worked hard on my pronunciation with my teacher, but it was challenging since I'm used to speaking Korean."

Moon Baek is as skilled with firearms as Lee Do, the world's top sniper. Kim Young-kwang explained, "I was trained by former special forces on how to handle guns. Lee Do is an elite sniper, so his posture and movements had to be precise. In contrast, I had more freedom. The director said I didn't have to hit the target every time, just shoot freely."

Kim Young-kwang has delivered a multifaceted performance in 'Trigger', showcasing duality, stylish gun action, and striking fashion. The highlight for him after the show's release was the praise from his sister, who is as introverted as he is. She rarely gives compliments, but she was impressed this time.

"The best part was my sister's positive feedback on the show. She and her husband watched it from start to finish and said I looked great. They've already binge-watched it and are now watching it in reverse from episode 10," he laughed.

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