Kang Tae-oh Reflects on 'The Moon Flows Over the River' and His Journey Back to the Spotlight

"Just in case, I jokingly told myself not to count my chickens before they hatch (laughs). But awards are special, and I would be thrilled to receive any."

Kang Tae-oh shared these thoughts during a recent interview at a café in Gangnam, discussing the conclusion of 'The Moon Flows Over the River' (hereafter 'The Moon Flows'). Debuting in 2013 with the web drama 'After School: Lucky or Not', Kang has consistently worked on various projects. He made a mark in the historical genre with his role as Cha Yul-mu in the 2019 drama 'The Tale of Nokdu', and in 2022, he gained massive popularity as Park Eun-bin's counterpart in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo', earning the nickname 'Mr. Disappointed' for his memorable line, "I'm disappointed."

At the peak of his career, Kang Tae-oh took a hiatus for mandatory military service. Returning after three years, he starred in the romantic comedy 'Potato Research Institute', which garnered attention as his comeback project. However, mixed reviews on its direction led to a disappointing 1% viewership rating, and it concluded in early April. Despite the setback, Kang returned to the historical genre in the latter half of the year, where he had previously been recognized for his talent.

This year, MBC faced low ratings with dramas like 'Bunny and the Oppas', 'Mary Kills People', and 'To the Moon'. Amidst this, 'The Moon Flows', starring Kang Tae-oh, was MBC's final Friday-Saturday drama of the year. As it marked Kang's return after three years and MBC's struggle with low ratings, the drama drew significant attention. Once again, Kang proved his unique value as an actor through a historical drama.

'The Moon Flows' is a romance fantasy historical drama about a crown prince who loses his smile and a merchant who loses his memory, whose souls are swapped. Kang Tae-oh plays the role of Crown Prince Lee Kang, who appears prickly and self-centered but harbors deep wounds from losing his beloved consort, played by Kim Se-jeong.

When asked about his thoughts on working with Kim Se-jeong, who is two years younger, Kang said, "I thought she fit the image of the character perfectly. I had heard many good things about Se-jeong, and I was excited about the prospect of working together, expecting a fun set."

"And indeed, it was great. I'm usually quite shy, but thanks to Se-jeong, I was able to become comfortable quickly. Her positive energy and sunny disposition were contagious, making it a joy to work together on set."

The '2025 MBC Drama Awards' will be held on the 30th at 8:50 PM. Kang Tae-oh and Kim Se-jeong are nominated for the Best Couple Award. When asked if he is hopeful, Kang said, "Many people around me have been saying that we might win an award. In the group chat for 'The Moon Flows', the cast and director have been exchanging positive feedback."

"It would be nice to win, but I'm not overly fixated on it."

He added, "The significance of an award is immense, and it would be meaningful. However, even without winning, the positive feedback in our group chat makes me feel loved. I've received a lot of good reactions while working on this project, and I'm very grateful."

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr