[On the Record] How Did "No Compromise" Ahn Jae-hong Swallow Joo Onam?

Actor Ahn Jae-hong Interview

Netflix Series 'Mask Girl' as Joo Onam
Erasing Cartoonish Traits to Portray a Realistic Character
"Did Not Expect Such a Strong Reaction... Remembering My Original Intentions"

Ahn Jae-hong Photo by Netflix

Following a neat parting, the scalp is starkly exposed in white. Wrinkled forehead with thinning hair, a bulky belly wrapped by a square belt catches the eye. Actor Ahn Jae-hong (37) became Joo Onam like that. He appeared for just 2 seconds in the recently released online streaming service (OTT) series 'Mask Girl' trailer, becoming the center of attention. Office worker Joo Onam, whose only joy after work is watching internet broadcasts, grows an obsession and delusion about BJ Mask Girl Kim Momi.

Meeting Ahn Jae-hong recently at a cafe in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, he said, "The moment Joo Onam tries to dance in the hallway scene in the trailer flashed briefly and became a hot topic. I didn't expect such a passionate response." Before the intense physical transformation, he was also mentally prepared. He said with a smile, "It required a firm mindset."

Ahn Jae-hong said, "I wanted to express the new character steadily without wavering." At the same time, he added, "As an actor, I didn't compromise by saying 'let's just do this much.' It was most important to vividly portray Joo Onam in the script."

According to the Netflix Top 10 website on the 30th, 'Mask Girl' recorded 7.4 million views and ranked first in Netflix's global top (non-English) category.

"How did you do your hair?"

After 'Mask Girl' was released, this was the message Ahn Jae-hong received most from fellow actors. He said, "Many people were curious about how Joo Onam's appearance was created."

Ahn Jae-hong explained, "I didn't pluck my hair but wore a wig to create the bald makeup. It could have looked awkward, so the makeup was connected to the wrinkled forehead line. The skin was also made to look flushed and red."

'Mask Girl' Filming Site Scene [Photo by Netflix]

Before the main filming, several makeup tests were conducted to complete Joo Onam's appearance. Ahn Jae-hong recalled the moment he first saw himself in the mirror after makeup. He laughed, saying, "I looked in the mirror and wondered if this was right; I was embarrassed."

He said, "I took selfies but couldn't bring myself to post them. As a character, I had a feeling 'this might work.' It was my first time filming with special makeup, and I got into Joo Onam's mindset. I wanted to wear thick glasses to distort my eyes, but I couldn't. Instead, I applied fingerprints and lotion on the lenses to create a foggy effect."

The protruding belly was also makeup. Although he actually gained weight, the intense appearance was completed through special makeup. After finishing 'Mask Girl' filming, he immediately started shooting the movie 'Rebound.' Before that, he gained 10kg. Both roles required weight gain. Ahn Jae-hong joked, "Isn't that ironic?" with a laugh.

Ahn Jae-hong gained 10kg in just one week. He said, "I gained weight before filming 'Mask Girl,' maintained it throughout, and then started filming 'Rebound.' Joo Onam was a character who needed to look bigger in silhouette, so special makeup was added to enhance that."

"I didn't expect Joo Onam to become such a hot topic. I'm grateful and happy. Rather than feeling elated, I feel clearer. As an actor, I want to do better and walk the right path. But I must say that Joo Onam is the work of makeup director Song Jong-hee. Thanks to her, we could complete a realistic Joo Onam."

Ahn Jae-hong Photo by Netflix

Joo Onam doesn't come across as just a fictional character but someone who could be living somewhere in reality. That makes him more unpleasant and draws viewers deeper into the story. Ahn Jae-hong said, "Although he is an unusual character, I wanted to give a feeling that he could exist somewhere. There must be his own world, and I imagined how Joo Onam would exist within it."

He added, "After reading the webtoon, I felt Joo Onam was a cartoonish figure, but I wanted to bring him into the drama as someone who could exist somewhere in reality. I thought that would evoke certain emotions. I wanted to express what lies at the end of his inner self?the abyss."

He continued, "I thought about his speech, gaze, and expressions. How would he change in very private moments? Since he hardly speaks to others, his voice would always be hoarse. At work, he tries not to stand out, but after work, he reveals himself."

Ahn Jae-hong is an actor with the power to breathe life into roles. In fact, he is long remembered as Jeong Bong in 'Reply 1988' (2015), Gapdeok in the movie 'The Great Wish' (2016), Jangho in 'Time to Hunt' (2020), and Yangheon in 'Rebound.' He is an actor who leaves a stronger impression with the character's name than his own.

He said, "My biggest desire is to show the character itself." He emphasized, "When approaching a work, I want the character to live within the drama and sincerely express emotions."

"I enjoy the thrill of radical stories and new characters, but I also like very everyday and relatable genre works grounded in reality. I always wonder how I can express myself as an actor within endless stories. I want to keep acting in ways that fit the work and its emotions. It's not that I always aim to challenge difficult and tough roles. I want to feel newness through acting."

Ahn Jae-hong [Photo by Netflix]

After the success of 'Reply 1988,' Ahn Jae-hong went to Africa. It was a trip taken after being 'kidnapped' (concept) for the variety show 'Youth Over Flowers' (2016). The four friends from Ssangmun-dong who went backpacking together?Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, and Go Kyung-pyo?are now leading figures in the film and content market in their 30s. Recalling those days, Ahn Jae-hong reflected on his original mindset.

"Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Bo-gum, and Go Kyung-pyo feel like hometown friends. We made names together and even went to Africa together. The trip was so amazing. It was special. Back then, we kept shouting 'thankful' like a slogan, and that feels like my original mindset. My heart is still the same. Being thankful and wanting to act better is my honest reason for continuing acting. Thinking back on those times makes me pull myself together even more."