[Interview] Jang Dong-yoon "Actor = Office Worker, I Take the Subway and Don't Trade Stocks"

Interview with Jang Dong-yoon on the Movie 'Neukdae Sanyang'

Jang Dong-yoon / Photo by TCO Contents On Co., Ltd.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] A young man who became an actor after catching a robber at a convenience store during his time at Hanyang University and appearing on the news. Although he majored in economics and finance, actor Jang Dong-yoon (30), who doesn’t even have a common stock account or credit card, became more interesting the more we talked. He was humble and honest. Despite his neat appearance like a typical Seoul man, his charming Gyeongsang-do dialect subtly peeked through. He referred to himself as a "salaryman" and the filming site as his "workplace." This young man, who clearly distinguishes between ON and OFF modes, returns with the movie Wolf Hunt.

On the afternoon of the 23rd, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jang Dong-yoon said, "Wolf Hunt is a movie with intense and fresh action," adding, "I always want to challenge new works without setting limits."

Wolf Hunt is a hard-boiled survival action film depicting an extreme situation never seen before, where ruthless criminals must be transported from the Pacific Ocean to Korea. It was released on the 21st. The film was directed by Kim Hong-seon, who also directed The Conspirators (2012), The Technicians (2014), and Metamorphosis (2019).

Jang Dong-yoon, who played Do-il, an Interpol red notice criminal with numerous charges, said, "I expected it to be an interesting challenge," explaining his reason for appearing. Regarding the action scenes, he said, "We emphasized a strong and realistic feel," adding, "Instead of a choreographed feel, we created the scenes by coordinating on set." He also mentioned, "I built the character by referring to the backstory the director summarized on several A4 pages."

The film essentially alternates between Jong-doo and Do-il as the protagonists in the first and second halves, respectively. This was the director Kim Hong-seon’s intention. Jang Dong-yoon said, "I asked the director what kind of approach Do-il should take in the first half to have an impact in the latter half. He gave me a clear picture, and trusting the director who understands the entire work, I followed his intention. He even precisely guided the tone of my lines on set."

Wolf Hunt was invited to the Midnight Madness section of the 47th Toronto International Film Festival and premiered worldwide. Midnight Madness is a section similar to the Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival, where Bong Joon-ho’s The Host was invited in 2006. Jang Dong-yoon said, "All 1,200 seats in the theater were sold out. It was impressive to see the audience cheering and enjoying the film."

Director Kim previously said in an interview with Asia Economy, "Jang Dong-yoon is an actor who will become big," adding, "I look forward to his future." In response, Jang Dong-yoon said, "I relied on and trusted the director."

"I am an actor with many weaknesses and shortcomings. I’m not very tall or particularly noticeable. Then all I can do is work hard. I always act diligently. There are countless actors who are excellent externally. The director noticed my hard work on set," he said honestly.

He continued candidly. Jang Dong-yoon knows his strengths and weaknesses well. He said with a smile, "There are many actors who act well and are talented, but I’m confident in being quietly hardworking and diligent." He added, "Sometimes I complain and get stressed, but I think if I work harder than others, my shortcomings will be filled."

Known as a "church brother," Jang Dong-yoon said, "Both sides of my family have been Christian for generations," adding, "I was born with faith as a cradle Christian." He laughed, saying, "Living a faithful life makes you do fewer bad things." He also said, "I don’t smoke and drink a little."

When recalling the story of catching a robber at a convenience store before his debut and appearing on the news, Jang Dong-yoon shyly said, "I can’t stand injustice." He recalled, "I defended myself well and subdued the robber." He added, "Nowadays, I tend to solve problems wisely," and said, "If I witnessed a robbery again, I would make the same choice."

Jang Dong-yoon said he is currently filming two dramas simultaneously. He said, "I work with many people, so I don’t have time alone. I feel the preciousness of that time." He continued, "When I’m alone, I exercise and do various household chores busily." He added, "I like climbing, hiking, and boxing. I tend to do active outdoor exercises. I need sunlight to avoid stress," laughing.

"I usually dress casually, so my agency worries about me. On days without schedules, I take the subway. Shall I show you my transportation statement now? (laughs) When I leave the workplace (filming site), I live my own daily life. I also like meeting people and talking. I’m very simple. I don’t have a stock account or use credit cards because I’m afraid of complexity and stress. Nothing is solved by worrying. I want to live comfortably. I also enjoy cooking at home. I like it so much that my older brother gave me a chef’s knife as a gift," he said.

Jang Dong-yoon is the second son of Jang Hee-rak, the 26th principal of Ganggu Information High School in Yeongdeok, Gyeongbuk. In August, he donated 6 million won in scholarships to his father’s school. He expressed regret, saying, "I couldn’t attend the retirement ceremony." He added, "I respect my father who has had one profession for 40 years."

"My older brother, who is one year older, is getting married next year. Among my four close friends living in Daegu, three are married. I’ve recently been wanting to get married too. It’s not that I have a partner I want to marry (laughs). I like babies and want to have children. I definitely want to get married in my 30s. I hope my spouse shares the same religion."

He also shared his goals as an actor. Jang Dong-yoon said, "It’s important to walk properly in the right direction. Even if others don’t see it, you have to feel that you are growing. In that sense, I am happy and satisfied because I am growing."