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Korea Herald
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Interview: Kang Ha-neul takes an obnoxious turn
Korea's beloved good guy transformed into an insufferable streamer in high-octane thriller 'Streaming' In an industry where reputations are meticulously cultivated, Kang Ha-neul stands apart. Stories of his kindness border on the mythical — the actor reportedly memorizes the names of every crew member, lavishes staff with thoughtful gifts and apologizes profusely to fans he cannot accommodate. His roles have largely aligned with this personality: The earnest professional Jang Baek-ki in "Misaeng" (2014), endearing police officer Hwang Yong-sik in "When the Camellia Blooms" (2019) and the goofy, good-natured Dae-ho in the second season of "Squid Game." But in "Streaming," opening Friday, Kang ditches virtue entirely. With slicked-back hair, flashy suits, ice on his wrist and showy arm tattoos, his character Woo-sang is a true creature of the attention economy. As Korea's top livestreamer focused on crime stories, Woo-sang operates in a ruthless ecosystem where only the highest-ranked creator pockets all sponsorship earnings. When he stumbles upon a clue to the notorious serial killer case, Woo-sang scrambles to reclaim his top position, broadcasting his investigation in real time — only to discover the killer has been watching his stream all along. "Honestly, I couldn't relate to Woo-sang at all," Kang tells reporters at a cafe in Seoul's Samcheong-dong, with the easy warmth of someone chatting with old friends. "But I get why someone would lose their mind over that kind of cash. If billions of won were suddenly flowing in, a guy like Woo-sang might absolutely crack. It just shows how hollow he is inside." The character's exaggerated bravado was largely Kang's invention. The original screenplay portrayed a more subdued, conventional figure, but Kang pushed for something bolder. "The Woo-sang in the initial script wasn't nearly this obnoxious," he says. "During test shoots, I played him as the director originally envisioned — ordinary hair, black suit with white shirt and black tie. But I realized viewers would be watching this character for the entire film, and I thought giving him stronger characteristics might make things more interesting. So I started thinking: 'How can we turn it up a notch?'" After mid-production discussions with the crew, Kang cranked up the sleaze factor, a gutsy choice that more or less pays off for a film hell-bent on exposing the raw underbelly of internet culture. The 91-minute thriller hinges almost entirely on Kang's portrayal of a fame-hungry clout chaser. He dominates the screen for roughly 90 percent of the runtime, offering what amounts to a bona fide one-man show. While its premise as a thriller doesn't quite stick the landing, the film does offer formal innovations worth noting. Particularly it uses extended one-take shots to capture the immediacy of livestreaming. For most actors, such prolonged sequences with dense dialogue would prove daunting, but Kang, a seasoned theater performer, found himself in familiar territory. "Film and TV scripts typically have short dialogue exchanges — four or five lines at most," he says. "But when I received this script, it was just 'Woo-sang, Woo-sang, Woo-sang' filling the pages. Reading it felt like studying a play script. Since I've done theater and musicals regularly, it occurred to me that I could approach this film like a stage performance." The primary challenge, naturally, was conveying the immediacy of the livestream format. Kang shared how he reveled in playing with the temporal differences between theater and film. "Ten minutes on stage is nothing, but 10 minutes on camera is entirely different," he says. "In film, if there's no dialogue for just three seconds, it feels like something's gone wrong. It creates discomfort because viewers aren't used to it. "I thought I should maybe make use of those uncomfortable moments — adding extra dialogue in some places, intentional silence in others. I believe the tension and liveness of streaming flows from that discomfort." Worlds away from the clout chaser he portrays, Kang is a self-proclaimed super-introvert who barely leaves his home. He doesn't have a social media account and rarely touches his phone once he gets home. Even his appearance in the second season of the global phenomenon "Squid Game" has left him largely untouched. "I honestly haven't felt any change," he says when asked about his rising international profile. "I rarely leave my house, so I wouldn't know. People occasionally tell me they enjoyed 'Squid Game,' but that's about it." Despite his success, Kang sometimes feels his celebrity status rests awkwardly on his shoulders. "It's not exactly pressure or stress," he reflects. "But I often think this might not be the perfect fit for me. Especially during the 'Squid Game' promotions with all those people and cameras — it felt as if every camera in Korea was there. That's when I thought this isn't quite my ideal outfit." He offers a simple philosophy that cuts through his star status: "I just want to live naturally. If I can't find my own happiness, I won't be happy no matter what important work I'm doing. My happiness and peace of mind come first."
Korea Herald
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Most Korean yet most universal: 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' makes you laugh and cry
IU, Park Bo-gum explore parental devotion, romance in hit series Transcending cultural boundaries, "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is perhaps the most Korean yet universally relatable series — portraying the lives and loves of characters from the 1960s to contemporary times in Korea in a way that stirs both laughter and tears in viewers. The 16-part Netflix original series follows the lives of Ae-sun (played by Lee Ji-eun, or also known as singer IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), spanning decades from the 1960s to 2025. Netflix Korea takes a fresh approach with this release, unveiling four episodes per week over four weeks — an intentional pacing designed to let viewers "savor it slowly, like picking and enjoying dried persimmons one by one," according to the director. Each set of four episodes represents a season in the protagonists' lives, beginning with "spring," where young love blossoms and Ae-sun and Gwan-sik navigate their early years and marriage. The first four-hour stretch, which debuted at No. 8 worldwide in Netflix's TV show category the day after its release on March 7, is at the same time a tearjerker and a laugh-inducer, seamlessly blending humor with heartbreak. At its core, the series explores universal themes of love, sacrifice, gender roles in the 1960s, as well as generational struggles. One of the most compelling narratives unfolds through Gwang-rye (Yum Hye-ran), a mother determined to keep her daughter from becoming a "haenyeo" (female diver) while continuing to dive herself despite a debilitating lung condition — an act of self-sacrifice that underscores the drama's exploration of parental devotion. Meanwhile, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik's unwavering love in the face of opposition also evokes deep reflections on family, romance and personal dreams. Celebrated screenwriter Lim Sang-chun ("When the Camellia Blooms," "Fight for My Way") once again showcases her signature wit and emotional depth. The series is filled with profoundly moving lines, such as: "Parents only remember what they regret, while children only remember their disappointments." Such poignant lines strike a chord with anyone who has ever grappled with the complexities of familial relationships. Beyond its gripping narrative, the casts also deliver stellar performances. Lee takes on the dual roles as Ae-sun and her daughter Geum-myeong, showcasing a remarkable range as vastly different characters living through different times. Park also perfectly embodies Gwan-sik's lovely, steadfast charm, creating an undeniable on-screen chemistry with Lee. Director Kim Won-seok, known for his nuanced storytelling, described the drama as both "a tribute to the generations of grandmothers, grandfathers, fathers and mothers who have lived fiercely, and a song of encouragement for the daughters and sons who will navigate the world ahead." "When Life Gives You Tangerines" is just that ― a series that salutes and cheers on viewers as they navigate life. yoonseo.3348@
South China Morning Post
07-03-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Netflix K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines: IU, Park Bo-gum juggle love and hardship
Lead cast: IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri, Park Hae-joon Advertisement Despite its explosive global success and surging budgets, the Korean drama industry has struggled to produce prestige dramatic fare in between its bright and colourful romantic dramas and pricey genre tentpoles. That gap has finally been bridged with the rich and evocative drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, a stirring period romance that builds something more rich and ambitious than what we are used to seeing with the traditional building blocks of K-drama. The series is the latest from writer Lim Sang-choon, who previously penned the acclaimed dramas Fight for My Way and When the Camellia Blooms, while experienced director Kim Won-suk (Signal, Arthdal Chronicles ) confidently helms. Lee Ji-eun, better known under her K-pop name IU (Hotel Del Luna) and Park Bo-gum (Record of Youth), both returning to K-dramas following lengthy absences, play youths Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, who are born on Jeju Island in the 1950s, grow up and, over the years, fall in love.
