‘The Glory’ Ha Do-young Actor Jung Sung-il Interview
"Focused on the Duality of the Nice Bastard Ha Do-young"
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People walking the pilgrimage path develop their own walking techniques. Their big toes, the outer edges of their soles, and heels become tougher from the dozens of blisters that form, burst, and harden, gaining the driving force to move forward. Some may dismiss him as an overnight star who easily handled the 'nice gaeXX' mentioned by Choi Hye-jung, but his steady journey of walking the same path for 21 years closely resembled the footwork of a pilgrim. And one day, the work he happened to encounter, The Glory, became a powerful turning point in his long journey.
Recently, at a cafe located in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jeong Seong-il shared his thoughts on The Glory, saying, “I had been informed about the role a year before filming and waited for the opportunity. Even until the first reading, I was anxious, so I practiced like crazy.”
Writer Kim Eun-sook said she had her eyes on Jeong Seong-il for the role of Ha Do-young since seeing him in Secret Forest 2. Watching her close friend actress Yoon Se-a, Kim noticed Jeong, who played Executive Director Park, and had already marked him for the role, though he himself didn’t quite believe it at first. “During filming, I had a chance to ask the writer who she had in mind when creating the character Ha Do-young. She said, ‘It was you from the start,’ which really surprised me. Why me? She said she saw me in Secret Forest 2. This is how acting is. If you work hard, even if it takes a long time, there will come a moment when you shine. I lived diligently and gave my best, waiting for the chance to come someday. Even now, there are many talented actors who haven’t caught their break yet. That’s why this moment is even more precious and I’m grateful.”
Jeong Seong-il said he studied the script to find the answer to Ha Do-young and started with the clue ‘nice gaeXX’ mentioned by Choi Hye-jung. “I focused on Ha Do-young’s duality. The scene that best showed this was when he gives wine to the driver. His condescending attitude toward the person he commands was just a habit, not meant to be disrespectful. Depending on the viewer, he could be seen as nice or a gaeXX, and I tried to express that well.”
Jung Sung-il expressed his gratitude to Song Hye-kyo and Lim Ji-yeon, with whom he worked closely on "The Glory." [Photo by Netflix]
He mentioned that the help of Song Hye-kyo and Im Ji-yeon, who worked closely with him, was significant in creating and immersing himself in the character Ha Do-young. He focused on why Ha Do-young wavered toward Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo). “I didn’t think he was shaken by Dong-eun’s appearance. While searching for the reason, everything was resolved in the prayer scene. The director wanted the atmosphere, nuance, and gaze to be clear like Tony Leung in In the Mood for Love. I tried my best, but there are moments in acting when you feel suffocated. The synergy built through exchanging emotions and acting, the tension and mysterious aura in that scene, which aroused Ha Do-young’s curiosity, was entirely thanks to actress Song Hye-kyo.”
In the drama, Ha Do-young shows strong responsibility for his wife Yeon-jin (Im Ji-yeon), protecting and enduring her because of his choices. However, Yeon-jin’s past and her arrogant attitude eventually change his decision. “Ji-yeon acted so well that even exchanging lines made me irritated. How could she turn people’s hearts so well? In the scene where she says she’s disappointed in Ha Do-young, I thought, ‘She’s really good.’ In the final prison weather scene, I even got choked up. Of course, Yeon-jin deserves it, but Im Ji-yeon, who brings out such emotions, was perfect.”
The success of The Glory brought many changes. He said, “My seven-year-old son told me his kindergarten teacher asked for my autograph, and calls from hometown friends and acquaintances have been pouring in, so I feel many things have changed,” but quickly added, “I’m not at an age to get a celebrity complex, and my lifestyle and mindset remain the same.” He still takes care of his child, does the dishes, and takes walks with his family in the neighborhood, only now more people recognize him, and he calmly expressed his gratitude.
He has received more scripts and has a wider range of choices, but Jeong Seong-il immediately returned to the stage. Currently appearing in the play Beautiful Sunday and the musical Interview, he emphasized, “The stage is my home base where I recharge my energy and study.”
Having appeared in countless works, he once felt proud in his early 30s when people praised his acting, but after opening the lid, he quickly realized he was nothing. He said he wants to be remembered as an actor who acts really well, moving forward carefully without impatience. “There are so many good-looking people. I want to be recognized for ‘really good acting’ rather than looks. My mother once told me, ‘Seong-il, even if no one sees it, if you clean first and live diligently without showing off, someday someone will recognize you.’ That became my life’s direction. I know the current attention and buzz will fade quickly. So I will continue to do my best and keep trying as I have until now.”
As Paulo Coelho said, extraordinary lives are always on the paths of ordinary people, Jeong Seong-il, who shines like a flash and is surrounded by public attention, quietly returns to his own path and continues to walk forward today.
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