The Artistry of a Defensive Midfielder:

I thought I hit the fast-forward button. In Parasyte: The Grey, Kang-woo (played by Koo Kyo-hwan) moves twice as fast as the sluggish or deliberate parasites (or humans) and speaks almost three times faster. Speeding through time and space, accelerating the pace of the story, Kang-woo comes alive even more when meeting actor Koo Kyo-hwan. Kang-woo has always been a fugitive, inevitably living a life of survival. However, as he embarks on a journey with a half-infected with the parasite human Su-in (played by Jeon So-nee), Kang-woo begins to run with a different mindset. To save the Su-in, to save the world. And perhaps, to save himself. 

-You decided to join a project written by director Yeon Sang-ho, following Peninsula and Monstrous. What draws you to Yeon Sang-ho's storytelling?

=Working on a project by director Yeon Sang-ho is simply fun. It feels like doing collaborative sculpting exercises in a workshop with friends while cracking jokes. Although the actual scale is always much larger than a workshop (laughs), we don't feel constrained when creating together as actors. So, I hope that the audience or viewers enjoy the work as much as we enjoy the time spent together on set. As it's been revealed, the director is someone who has roots in animation, and I'm a huge animation fan. Also, being a newbie who has recently taken an interest in figures, I discuss figure-related topics with the director. The balance is just right. In the process, I naturally find myself discussing the project with the director. I came to hear the reason for being cast in this project while talking with the director. It's because the character in Parasyte: The Grey matches my style. I think the director proceeds with casting based on the atmosphere the actors bring rather than favoring my personal character.

-It's been said that you were fond of the original comic.

=Is there anyone in our generation who doesn't like it? The line "we are one" uttered by the parasites stayed with me when I read the comic. The core of Parasyte: The Grey is also about unity. We are inevitably connected to each other, and even if we try to escape, we can't help but be together again. I'm glad that the essence of the original comic, which embodies the essence of being together, is preserved in Parasyte: The Grey this time as well.

- You've been showcasing your action acting skills in recent works such as Peninsula, Escape from Mogadishu, and Kill Boksoon. You're also taking on various action sequences in Parasyte: The Grey.

=After each action scene, there's a final touch that Kang-woo adds. Since Kang-woo is deeply immersed in his own charm, I added actions that he could take to his taste. Particularly, the motorcycle action sequence in the early part of Episode 2 is like that. After striking a blow to the opponent off the motorcycle and then getting back on it, he adds a subtle gesture. It would be awkward to just hit and run, right? Kang-woo has the personality to feel the need to show off a bit after successfully taking someone down.

-Kang-woo resists until the very end but eventually gives in and joins the journey with Su-in. Regarding your character, you mentioned that because the situation pushes Kang-woo to break through, you added a spirit of resistance when you portrayed of Kang-woo to avoid being engulfed by the situation.

=Director Yeon Sang-ho and writer Ryu Yong-jae made sure Kang-woo couldn't escape. Firstly, Kang-woo has witnessed too much. He must convey what he's seen and heard to the Su-in and relay it to Captain Choi (played by Lee Jung-hyun). This leads to the dialogue, "I’ve explained this so many times."  Such incessant dialogue fits Kang-woo's situation of being unable to escape and being caught even if he tries. Kang-woo lived his life as if constantly running away before joining Su-in. Thus, there's a part of him that became even more of a runaway maniac. Kang-woo, who embodies neither cowardice nor courage, learns to run less as the story progresses. In the final episode, he sheds tears while witnessing the death of a character he secretly cherished but quickly moves on to save others without much time to grieve. He's busy, so busy! In a way, Kang-woo is like the defensive midfielder of Parasyte: The Grey. In fact, the role of delivering information in a lively manner within a rigid framework suits my taste. Han Ho-yeol from the D.P. series is a prime example. It wouldn't work without me. (Laughs) I hope to share informative lines with viewers as enjoyable as possible.

- Initially, the loquacious Kang-woo prompts skepticism about the character's trustworthiness. However, viewers gradually rely on Kang-woo's story because he is the only one who talks in a manner that aligns with the viewers' understanding in the series, among the parasite, who speaks like reading books, and Captain Choi, who remains serious from beginning to end. Did you consider this narrative control power through Kang-woo's character when portraying him?

= I didn't approach the dialogue with a specific rhythm in mind. Kang-woo's character is inherently carefree, so his vocal delivery wouldn't carry much weight. The only weighty aspect about Kang-woo is perhaps his beard. While I couldn't alter his voice, I did adjust the tempo of his speech to reflect his laid-back nature.

-The world of Parasyte: The Grey is where everyone speaks without honorifics, and no one cares about it.

=Netflix is a global OTT platform, so we must embrace the wave of globalization without honorifics. (Slightly static) It's a joke... really. There were no separate honorifics in the scenario. It was natural and obvious in the world of Parasyte: The Grey.

-Why do you think Kang-woo protected Su-in until the end?

=Kang-woo is also a person who has nowhere else to lean on, just like Su-in. Kang-woo probably saw his family in Su-in. That's why he directly says to Su-in, 'Let's run away.' let’s runaway Kang-woo is a man who treasures his loved ones more than anyone else and fears being separated from them. I've never delivered lines like this even while acting in melodramas before!

-Who do you think Kang-woo trusted more between Su-in and Heidi?"

=Both. However, he probably didn't distinguish them, trusting Heidi's martial arts skills and Su-in's character. Kang-woo conveys Su-in's message to Heidi and Heidi's message to Su-in. When you tell someone a story you've heard somewhere, aren't you sometimes influenced by the message rather than simply conveying the words? Kang-woo, too, may have felt the desire to live with people instead of running away while conveying many messages.

Written by Jung Jae-hyun Photograph by Oh Gye-ok Translated by Jang Yuri