[Limelight] Slyly 'Annoying'... Huh, Why Does It Suit So Well?

Movie 'Dogul' Kang Dong-gu Role by Lee Je-hoon
Shedding Calm Image, Virtually First Comedy Acting
"Unpredictable Audience Laughter Brings a Strange Pleasure"

Kang Dong-gu in the movie Dokul is cocky and sly. He is a tomb raider who skillfully smuggles out relics. His bold personality makes him fearless of any danger. Even when surrounded by gangsters, he leans back on the sofa and chews gum nonchalantly. With gentle hands, he takes out a Buddha statue and smiles brightly. The gangster boss lets out a chuckle, amused and bewildered.

"Where did you get this?" "I bought it at the mart." "How much would it take to sever your bond with the Buddha?" "We’re as close as a married couple." "There’s always separation, like death, to break a couple’s bond, right?" "Ah, death! I never thought of that."

Kang Dong-gu feigns surprise. Sensing the gangsters’ guard is down, he escapes. His face as he dashes into the alley is not frantic but rather lively and spirited, evoking laughter from the audience. This is actor Lee Je-hoon’s first real comedic performance.

Dokul is a caper movie but doesn’t rely on meticulous plans or teamwork. It targets relics like the Hwangyeongsa Gilt-bronze Buddha, Goguryeo tomb murals, and Seoul’s Seolleung with ease, which makes the plot somewhat flat. Instead of thrilling suspense, the focus is on the charm of the characters. The film drives forward powered by the actors’ distinctive performances. At the center is Lee Je-hoon, who consistently creates a comedic atmosphere, injecting vitality into the otherwise monotonous story.

Kang Dong-gu resembles Danny Ocean (George Clooney) from Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and Choi Chang-hyuk (Park Shin-yang) from Reconstruction of a Crime (2004). He assembles experts from various fields for an ambitious tomb raiding plan, including Dr. Jones (Jo Woo-jin) and Sapdari (Im Won-hee). Each is portrayed by actors full of personality. Within this familiar setup, Lee Je-hoon adds a distinct color to his role. He amplifies the exaggerated expressions seen in Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Disappeared Village (2016) and Park Yeol (2017), creating a lively rhythm. Portraying the typical face of a slick con artist who chatters incessantly yet escapes cleverly, he forms a love-hate relationship with the audience, dominating the film.

- You portrayed Kang Dong-gu’s annoyingly smug attitude very effectively…

▲ Even I felt like slapping his cheek because he was so arrogant. When acting out the scene where he gets beaten by the gangster boss Gwang-cheol (Lee Sung-wook) at the fishing spot, it made sense. Even when facing the risk of drowning, he keeps babbling nonstop. While expressing that, I thought, "He can’t help but get hit" (laughs).

- More than half of the movie shows him in spiteful and mischievous scenes. It must have been difficult to maximize that while also conveying sympathy…

▲ I didn’t worry much. I believed that maintaining a cheerful tone would be enough to show his charm. I focused on creating fun with a natural expression. Since those scenes dominate, I was a bit concerned it might get boring. I think I adjusted the pacing with the mindset of pushing and pulling with the audience.

- Was it difficult to perform with an excited face and voice every time on set?

▲ My physical condition varied day by day, so there were some tough moments. But I never forced my voice tone higher or forced a smile. The script’s flow was consistent, and the lines and directions were interesting, so I easily immersed myself in Kang Dong-gu. Acting like that sometimes gave me good energy and I felt like my emotional wounds were healed.

- You seem more cheerful than before in real life.

▲ People around me say so too. Filming a fun movie, I got caught up in the lively atmosphere and energy. I talk a bit more now (laughs). Since I often lighten the mood on set, I think I even developed some leadership.

- Jo Woo-jin and Im Won-hee, who acted alongside you, are actors with strong personalities. You must have anticipated what kind of acting exchanges you would have before filming…

▲ They are seniors already proven in comedy acting. I thought simply. We decided to focus on reactions so that unique expressions could stand out in dialogue scenes. Even passive acting naturally made people laugh. There was no need to add anything extra. Just natural responses created great synergy.

- Kang Dong-gu has a hidden motive behind the tomb raiding, an important reason that could overturn the whole plan, but it somewhat gets buried in the consistent comedic flow. This is also why the tension at the climax feels low.

▲ There wasn’t much room to portray a serious face. A few past scenes are inserted around the middle of the film. I was a bit worried but thought it would be difficult to handle that in the same vein. Kang Dong-gu is a character with a clear goal. He never gets confused or worried in any situation. If that weakness were exposed, the cheerful and fast pace might break. Though it’s regrettable, I think it was a choice better suited for an entertainment film.

- Audiences might get confused distinguishing Kang Dong-gu’s true face…

▲ I hoped viewers would watch with that curiosity. The ambiguity of not knowing what’s real and what’s fake can lead to deeper immersion. But I tried not to give the impression that we were deceiving the audience.

- Did you realize the saying that comedy acting is the hardest?

▲ Absolutely. I could feel it watching audience reactions in the theater. When the audience laughs at scenes where I felt no emotion while acting, it gave me a strange feeling. It seems like an unpredictable issue. It’s a lighthearted movie with no seriousness. I want to share that joy.