The Stillness Before the Explosion... Do Kyungsoo Creates 'Tension in the Void' [Limelight]

The Face of Johan Shaped by Delayed Violence

Actor Do Kyungsoo [Provided by Walt Disney Company Korea]

"I acted as if a kindergartener was teasing a friend and tried to smile that way. I never knew I had such a sly laugh inside me (laughs)."

This is actor Do Kyungsoo's reflection on playing the character Johan in the Disney+ series 'Jogeokdosi.' Johan is a cold-blooded figure who searches for a 'scapegoat' to take the fall for the crimes of those in power and manipulates evidence in criminal cases. The protagonist Taejung (played by Ji Changwook) is sent to prison in this manner and is then toyed with by Johan as if he were nothing more than a plaything.

Do Kyungsoo portrayed Johan as someone who reacts simply. He explained, "Murder and evidence tampering are not the result of any particular decision," adding, "I saw them as actions that come naturally, like repeating something you enjoy."

The origin of Johan's violence was also not rooted in trauma or tragedy. Do Kyungsoo considered him a character who enjoys killing from birth. "If I tried to interpret him in a complicated way, I thought the character would end up feeling too explanatory," he said.

Behind this bold approach was the Netflix documentary 'Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer.' The crime documentary follows how internet users voluntarily tracked down a criminal after a brutal video circulated online. Do Kyungsoo shared, "There are quite a few people who live very differently from ordinary reality," and "Thinking that way helped me imagine Johan's own world."

Disney+ Series 'Piece City' Still Cut

Johan is closer to someone who observes and assembles crimes than to someone who commits them directly. In front of countless CCTV screens, he calculates the movements of Taejung and others, all while wearing an innocent expression. Even when organizing a brutal racing competition for criminals or swinging a longsword to kill assassins, he enjoys himself like a child engrossed in play.

This is a convincing portrayal. In child psychology, there is the concept of 'Callous-Unemotional traits.' This refers to a markedly low capacity for empathy and an almost complete lack of guilt over the suffering of others.

According to a comprehensive study published in 2014, such traits are heavily influenced by genetic factors and carry a higher risk of leading to more severe and persistent antisocial behavior than typical conduct disorders. Neuroscientific findings also show lower amygdala responses in situations that induce fear in others. The amygdala is the part of the brain that detects fear and threats, triggering immediate emotional responses and avoidance behaviors.

Do Kyungsoo embodied these traits in Johan's behavioral rhythm. When pressuring others, he would approach as if testing their reactions like a child, only moving on to the next action once he confirmed their emotions. By intentionally maintaining a numb attitude and a slightly delayed rhythm of violence, he made Johan an even more chilling presence.

"There are almost no scenes where Johan explodes with emotion right away," Do Kyungsoo said. "Even his anger maintains calmness before suddenly erupting. I deliberately inserted moments of stillness in between, and even when emotions rose during acting, I tried to suppress them and keep things flat. That was a crucial point in determining the rhythm and pacing of my performance," he explained.

Disney+ Series 'Jogeokdosi' Still Cut

Capturing those moments and adjusting the intensity of emotion was no easy task. Do Kyungsoo remarked, "How I controlled the concentration of emotions was the key to making Johan who he is," and added, "I struggled intensely to give the character credibility."

Even now, as an actor in his eleventh year, his approach has not changed. Do Kyungsoo said, "When I first debuted, I hesitated to express myself because I was afraid, but now I have a slightly broader range to focus on emotions. That difference has made my acting a bit more free."