Kim young-kwang takes on a double life as Moon-baek in 'Trigger'; shares reflections on gun violence
In the gripping
action thriller
Trigger,
Kim Young-kwang
plays Moon-baek, a man who seems fun and lighthearted at first-a quirky, almost childish companion-but soon reveals a dark and complex side. The story kicks off with the chaos unleashed by illegal firearms hitting the streets.
Moon-baek starts off friendly and even helpful to the main character, police officer Lee Do (played by
Kim Nam-gil
). But as the story twists and turns, Moon-baek's true identity and intentions come out. Kim Young-kwang was drawn to this role because of its fresh, dual-layered character and found it fun to act out both the goofy and threatening sides of Moon-baek.
This split identity was important in a story heavy with social themes. To balance the dark mood, Moon-baek's character brings some light-hearted moments. He wanted audiences to find Moon-baek entertaining so they could catch a breath amid the tension. Yet, once the guns come into play, Moon-baek's belief that firearms make the world equal is chilling-and Kim Young-kwang deliberately avoided justifying this dangerous idea in his acting.
Action-packed charisma with a strong anti-gun message
Despite his outstanding gunman scenes, including a standout moment where his towering 190cm frame unleashes a volley of BB pellets, Kim Young-kwang firmly opposes gun use off-screen. A self-declared "no guns" advocate, he said in interviews that if he ever received a gun, he would immediately report it instead of using it himself.
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He trained with a former special forces instructor to get his moves right but kept his real stance clear: guns are too dangerous to handle casually. Moon-baek's free-shooting style in the series was pure acting-and Kim Young-kwang's real-life stance is one of strict gun control.
Moon-baek's increasingly flashy style in the later episodes also tells a story. As this terminally ill character struggles with his fate, his makeup grows wearier but his clothes become more dazzling-hiding pain behind glamour. Kim Young-kwang even let his real gray hair show to add authenticity.
Stories of pain and a trigger for reflection
Trigger is also notable for highlighting the lives of society's most vulnerable: a law student, a victim of school violence, an overworked nurse, a grieving father, and others pushed to the edge. Each episode underscores how desperation can lead to dangerous choices-but the show's message is clear: No matter the pain, guns are not the answer.
Kim Young-kwang echoed this through Moon-baek, emphasizing that violence isn't justified by hardship. The finale leaves viewers with a powerful ethical question as Lee Do chooses responsibility over guns, highlighting how firearm access can awaken human violence.
Kim Young-kwang appreciated the show ending with this thought-provoking message over simple action thrills, and he hopes for a sequel to explore these themes further.
Beyond Trigger
After the success of
Trigger
, Kim Young-kwang is diving into a variety of roles-romance, comedy, even fantasy. He looks forward to projects like the KBS drama Eunsoo's Good Day in September and the movie First Ride in October, plus an upcoming series Recharge Me.
Known for his love of romance genres, he lightheartedly said romantic scenes always make him smile. He also dreams of fantasy roles involving elaborate makeup and motion capture, inspired by movies like Planet of the Apes.
Trigger holds a special place for him beyond acting: during filming, he adopted two cats named Moon-i and Baek-i, after his character. He cherishes these memories and imagines spending his remaining time traveling with them if life were short-showcasing a tender side behind the tough character.
Kim Young-kwang's portrayal of Moon-baek in Trigger blends thrilling action, complex morality, and
social commentary
, wrapped up in style and heartfelt humanity. It's a must-watch series that's as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.
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