[On the Record] Jang Ryul "I Can't Go Straight in Love, I Learned How to Be Brave"

Actor Jang Ryul Interview

Netflix's 'Morning Comes to the Psychiatric Ward' as Dr. Hwang
"Aiming for diverse roles and genres... hoping to meet a life-changing work"

"I wish someone like Hwang-ssam was by my side."

Actor Jang Ryul (34) plays psychiatrist Hwang Yeo-hwan in the Netflix OTT series Morning Comes to the Psychiatric Ward (directed by Lee Jae-gyu), and this is the reaction many viewers have sent. A competent and flawless doctor, he shows perfection at work but becomes awkward in front of the person he likes. He persistently stays close, caring tenderly to win a woman’s heart. Sometimes his cluelessness is cute, and his sincerity warmly resonates. The bloodied, wild-eyed image from his previous work is nowhere to be found. He is a fantasy character in a romance that viewers want to watch again and again.

Jang Ryul [Photo by Management mmm]

On the 16th, Jang Ryul met with Asia Economy at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "It was interesting to see Yeo-hwan, a third-year fellow, grow as a doctor. He grew as a human being by learning how to love while loving one person."

Morning Comes to the Psychiatric Ward (hereafter Psych Ward), released on Netflix on the 3rd, depicts the world and heart-wrenching stories of various people that nurse Da-eun encounters inside the psychiatric ward, where she starts working in mental health for the first time.

Jang Ryul prepared for the role by consulting with doctors and nurses at Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital in Gangnam, with the help of the production team. He recalled having a strong desire to delicately express the posture of a doctor. He confessed, "At first, I thought I had to be trustworthy and composed like a doctor."

He said the episode featuring PTSD patient Choi Jun-gi (played by Kim Dae-jun) in episode 7 deeply touched his heart. He recalled crying for seven hours after reading the script for that episode.

"I was sad reading the story. My heart hurt, and I cried a lot. I cried endlessly and kept telling myself, 'Ryul, pull yourself together. You have to act this role.' I barely pulled myself out. I was so exhausted from crying that I called the doctor who was advising me. I said, 'As a doctor, I have to deal with patients like this, but it’s upsetting and painful. I’m crying, but can I cry in front of the patient? Because showing emotions might be hard for the patient.' The doctor said, 'If you’re hurt and upset, it’s okay to cry.' At that moment, I felt courage and thought, 'Right. Before being a doctor, I’m an actor expressing a person. The perspective I feel as an actor and the heart looking at the character, the human side?I want to capture that well.'"

Throughout the interview, Jang Ryul often said, "My 33-year-old self (at the time of filming)." It was a phrase that helped ease his worries and burdens. He confessed that he had a strong obsession with being perfectly prepared and performing well on set. For an actor, a "perfectionist" tendency is both professional and a huge burden. He said he learned to soothe that while filming.

"I’m the type who wonders, 'What would this person do at this moment?' and tries to find detailed and accurate emotions. I was always a driven actor. While filming Psych Ward, I was anxious and worried if I was acting well. Even if I was lacking and clumsy, I wanted to think, 'This is the perspective of my 33-year-old self right now,' and praise myself."

Jang Ryul [Photo by Management mmm]

Hwang Yeo-hwan persistently pursues the heart of nurse Deul-le (played by Lee Idam) in the same ward. The "Ice Bucket Challenge" confession scene also drew attention. His pure expression of his true feelings received positive reactions.

"He really, really likes Deul-le. Because he loves her. It’s like he wants to show his feelings courageously. He seems like a clumsy, immature guy, but it’s a moment where he opens his heart by showing his true self in front of this person. At first, I didn’t understand Deul-le’s line, 'If you meet me, you step on poop,' but as I got to know her, I understood the situation the character is in and where her defense mechanism started. But Deul-le is a shining, wonderful person, so why is she like that? Does she think you and I are different? It’s frustrating. Maybe courage comes from that frustration."

Through Psych Ward, Jang Ryul acted in his first-ever kissing scene. Recalling the moment, he covered his face with both hands. Then he laughed, saying, "I couldn’t even practice, so I was at a loss."

"On set, I kept saying, 'This is my first kissing scene.' I was in a 'Please help me' mode. (laughs) It was clumsy, but since it was also the first kiss for the characters in the drama, I hoped it would feel tender. The sunlight shining on the rooftop room that day was beautiful. The warmth of the sun was well captured on camera."

'Morning Comes to the Psychiatric Ward' Still Photo [Photo by Netflix]

Jang Ryul closely observed Lee Idam on set. About Lee Idam, who played Deul-le, he said, "She’s a wonderful actress." He said, "She was bright and laughed a lot on set." He added, "Her personality is cheerful. She’s a bright person when she smiles. Watching her laugh heartily while talking with other actors on set, I thought Deul-le would have that side too. I also thought Yeo-hwan might want to make Deul-le smile."

Female viewers responded strongly to Hwang-ssam’s pure-hearted image. How similar is it to Jang Ryul’s real self? He laughed and said, "Hwang Yeo-hwan is straightforward with the person he loves, but Jang Ryul is cautious. I can’t honestly express my feelings like Yeo-hwan." He continued, "In that sense, I learned a lot. Although clumsy in love, I felt that having courage is important. I also learned an attitude toward living life."

Jang Ryul revealed that he is the type who needs time to get close to others. He is cautious and careful in relationships. He recalled a magical experience of opening his heart instantly through Yeon Woo-jin.

"I had to create a real friend-like feeling with Yeon Woo-jin. I asked, 'Hyung, what should we do?' He said, 'Let’s walk around the set.' We walked slowly, and he put his arm around my shoulder and said, 'Isn’t this it?' At that moment, I felt the warmth that one physical gesture gives more than a hundred words. I felt I could do anything. I got courage."

He added, "From then on, I felt I could tell Yeon Woo-jin anything. Isn’t that what a real friend is? It became warm. The burden disappeared, and my heart opened. I experienced that moment."

Jang Ryul [Photo by Management mmm]

"Psych Ward was released one year after filming ended. It feels like a gift to have met such a good work, like a blessing. As a human and as an actor, I received good influence. It made me think once again about how to love and look at people, and how to wait for and see them with what kind of perspective. I’m currently filming Spring Flower Love Story, and my mindset when going to the set has changed. Instead of pushing myself, I try to look around and spend time with people. I want to show various sides in various genres in the future. Also, I want to meet a 'life work' that accurately reflects Jang Ryul’s identity. If I continue working healthily with a good attitude, won’t I have opportunities to show various sides?"