[Interview] 'Hellbound' Kim Do-yoon: "I Intended the Madman's Arrowhead... Yeon Sang-ho Is My Benefactor"

Netflix 'Jigok' Kim Do-yoon Interview

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Kim Doyoon was not in "Hell." After watching for a while, I realized that the leader of the Arrowhead, whose face was covered in fluorescent paint, was none other than him. It was fascinating. His calm and gentle appearance was nowhere to be found, replaced only by a blind rampaging madman. It was a perfect casting choice by director Yeon Sang-ho, who recognized his potential early on.

In a video interview held on the afternoon of the 8th, Kim Doyoon said, "Before the release of 'Hell,' I felt like I was waiting for a demonstration after being sentenced to hell."

Released on the online streaming service (OTT) Netflix on the 19th of last month, "Hell" depicts a supernatural phenomenon where people receive death sentences to hell from the sudden appearance of hell's messengers. Amid this chaos, the religious group Saejinrihoe, which has flourished, and those trying to uncover the truth of the incident become entangled in the story.

Kim Doyoon leaves a strong impression as Lee Dongwook, the leader of Arrowhead, who fervently follows Saejinrihoe, preaching that the chaos sweeping the world is a message from God. His frenzied appearance while broadcasting online and acting as a loudspeaker is chilling.

He recalled, "When I first read the script, I couldn't even breathe. It was interesting but uncomfortable at the same time, and it gave me more and more to think about."

After the release of "Hell," various reactions from viewers were posted on social networking services (SNS). Kim Doyoon laughed, saying, "I remember comments like 'I want to hit him if he’s next to me' and 'I want to sew his mouth shut.'"

"The visual realization of the webtoon images emphasized the external aspects more, which might have caused divided opinions. It was a reaction that could happen. Some even said, 'I stopped watching because of you,' which hurt my heart. If there really are such people, I hope they watch until the end. I take the reactions of annoyance as compliments."

The Arrowhead leader Lee Dongwook digs into the identities of those sentenced to hell, randomly exposing their sins and personally punishing them, becoming engulfed in madness. Kim Doyoon completed a distinctive character by painting his face with vivid colors and wearing animal bones on his head.

He said, "It wasn’t typical human behavior or makeup, and I even changed my voice. I expected it to evoke unpleasant and uncomfortable feelings, but it was a necessary choice. It was a thorough intention, and if you endure that appearance just a little, you can discover another side of the work."

He continued, "Acting out dramatic situations was not easy," adding, "I adjusted the intensity while consulting with director Yeon Sang-ho. We could have gone further, but some scenes were expressed with a lighter tone." He also recalled, "The director said that Dongwook’s hat was a gift from his family after an overseas trip. I imagined why he started broadcasting wearing that hat and expressed it accordingly."

He added, "I saw Dongwook as an ordinary person you could meet around us when he wasn’t broadcasting. He’s a common person, but when he broadcasts, he acts as someone whose beliefs come first."

Lee Dongwook covers his eyes and runs like a madman for his beliefs, which comes across as terrifying. Meanwhile, Min Hyejin (Kim Hyun-joo) and Bae Youngjae (Park Jung-min) also run to the end without giving up for the right beliefs. When mentioning this, he laughed, likening himself to "a reed."

"I don’t think I have ever acted while firmly holding onto one belief until the end. Watching 'Hell' pierced my heart in that regard. If I were in such a situation, would I be different from them? Could I keep my beliefs? Would I be someone who stands with the majority? I asked myself these questions and felt uncomfortable."

"Hell" was directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who presented "Seoul Station," "Train to Busan" (2016), "Peninsula," and "The Cursed: Dead Man’s Prey" (2020). It was reported that Kim Doyoon worked with director Yeon for the third time with "Hell," following "Peninsula" and "The Cursed," but in fact, including "Psychokinesis," it was their fourth collaboration.

In a previous interview about "Peninsula," director Yeon revealed, "Kim Doyoon played an important role in 'Psychokinesis,' but it was edited out during post-production," and expressed strong trust, saying, "I saw that he acted really well on set. I want to continue working with him in several projects."

When this was mentioned, he laughed and said, "I personally have the desire to appear in all works directed by director Yeon Sang-ho."

Kim Doyoon said, "Working with the director is always good. He draws a clear picture and comes to the set after considerable planning, but he doesn’t restrict actors’ imagination or acting and blends it appropriately," adding, "He creates a set where all staff and actors can work happily."

Regarding director Yeon Sang-ho, he said, "I personally feel grateful. The director is a benefactor to me," and clasped his hands, saying, "Even when I wasn’t a well-known or famous actor during 'Peninsula,' he courageously cast me. I’m also thankful for his courage with 'Hell.'"

He added, "I respect him as a director," and said, "He is a courageous and awe-inspiring director."

Finally, Kim Doyoon pledged to be more active in the future. He said, "I had many things to be thankful for this year, but I try not to be swayed by ups and downs," and promised, "I think I will be able to show another side of myself in works next year. I will work hard to become someone who strives for better acting."

Photo = Just Entertainment, Netflix