[On the Record] Ryu Seung-ryong: "In Comedy, Immersion Breaks the Moment You Lie"

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong Interview

Netflix Series 'Dakgangjeong' Dad Choi Seon-man Role
"Director Lee Byung-hun, I Thought He Was Joking at First
Meditated and Held Back Laughter with Sad Thoughts on Set"

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong [Photo by Netflix]

A father and his daughter's secret admirer step up to bring back his daughter who has turned into Dakgangjeong (Korean fried chicken). At first glance, one might wonder what kind of story this is. But when actor Ryu Seung-ryong (53) breathes life into this quirky and novel situation, it takes on a whole new flavor.

The Netflix original series "Dakgangjeong" was released on the 15th and has been generating various memes online, gaining support from Generation Z (Zen-G, born from the late 1990s to early 2010s). It reunites the duo of Ryu Seung-ryong and director Lee Byeong-heon, who attracted 16.26 million viewers with the comedy film "Extreme Job" (2019). Having moved the stage to a new platform, they are determined to make people laugh.

Meeting Ryu Seung-ryong at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he recalled, "When I first heard the plot of 'Dakgangjeong,' I thought the director was joking." He added, "I read the original webtoon and found it fresh. I was excited and eager to take on the challenge."

He said he found himself reading the lines aloud unintentionally while going through the "Dakgangjeong" script. Reflecting on a similar impression he had during "Extreme Job," Ryu Seung-ryong said, "Back then, I naturally read the line 'There has never been a taste like this before,' and this time, the lines flowed smoothly as well. I felt, 'This is the intention behind the writing.' It was a challenging task, but since it was my second collaboration with the director, it went smoothly."

Dakgangjeong still image [Photo by Netflix]

Dakgangjeong still image [Photo by Netflix]

"Clenching my teeth and thinking sadly" ? A comedy performed with genuine immersion

Ryu Seung-ryong’s character, Choi Seon-man, struggles to bring back his daughter Mina (Kim Yoo-jung), who has turned into Dakgangjeong. The scene where the Dakgangjeong (daughter) is thrown onto the floor and he screams with a face as if he has lost the world brings laughter. He said he acted while recalling Liam Neeson in the movie "Taken" (2008). Choi Seon-man is a character created with genuine immersion, seeing through the entire story.

"It was an acting role that required tremendous meditation and sincerity. I believed that the moment I performed even a little fake acting, the immersion would break. I truly concentrated, thinking that my daughter was really trapped inside the Dakgangjeong. I acted with sincerity just like in other works. At first, I was confused and surprised, but as it progressed, I seriously engaged in the struggle."

In scenes where Ryu Seung-ryong meets actors Ahn Jae-hong, Kim Nam-hee, and Yoo Seung-mok, laughter bursts out without fail. He recalled that during filming, to avoid calling out NGs (no good takes) due to the actors’ comic performances, they unexpectedly held a "laugh-holding challenge." He said, "'Hek! I almost did a BTS impression' was an ad-lib. During filming, I was so focused that I didn’t even realize I said that line. I was surprised when I found out later. In that scene, I looked at Lava (Yoo Seung-mok) and was so amused that I was shocked. His daughter is about to get married, but seeing him stretch his neck and become Lava, I clenched my teeth and thought sadly," he laughed.

By expressing dramatic situations with dramatic acting, he helped viewers immerse themselves. The breathing and skills he built on the theater stage early in his career shone through. Ryu Seung-ryong said, "It felt familiar," adding, "I acted like a fish in water, as if I had returned to my hometown."

He recalled, "I remember when I first stepped onto the theater stage. Nowadays, technology has advanced and the performance environment is good, but back then, the sound had to reach the back of medium and large auditoriums, so I acted with exaggerated vocalization and excessive gestures. Later, when moving to other media, it was hard to erase the theatrical acting habits ingrained in me. With 'Dakgangjeong,' I indulged in theatrical vocalization without restraint and felt exhilarated. I think young viewers might find that fresh. I believe it approached them as a new taste."

"I can’t watch cruel things. I also feel hormonal changes these days. (laughs) I originally couldn’t eat spicy food, but since others enjoyed it, I gathered courage and tried it once, and it was delicious. 'Dakgangjeong' is the same. At first, it feels strange, but once you overcome the entry barrier, it becomes addictive. If you laugh without thinking, your stress will be relieved, and your fixed ideas will be broken."

"I will take a break from comedy for a while"

Ryu Seung-ryong declared that he will not do comedy until he turns sixty. He said, "I plan to take a comedy sabbatical for a while." He added, "Since my upcoming work 'Amazon Hwal-myeong-su' is also a comedy, I want to take a break from this genre for now. When the public wants to see Ryu Seung-ryong make them laugh again, I will appear with a 'ta-da' moment."

Actor Ryu Seung-ryong [Photo by Netflix]

Following last year’s OTT hit "Moving," "Dakgangjeong" is another work that has gained tremendous popularity among Generation Z. Thanks to this, he has built high recognition among teenagers and people in their twenties. Ryu Seung-ryong said, "I feel a strong sense of challenge and curiosity toward ingenious works."

He said, "I want to play villains in the future and also show a serious side in dramatic roles. I plan to keep various possibilities open. However, there is a genre that makes me feel, 'If not now, then never,' and 'Dakgangjeong' was that for me." He added, "An actor is a chosen profession. They are chosen by the audience, viewers, directors, and producers. I want to live as a blank canvas-like actor. That’s why I want to participate in more diverse works."