"I gained about 6-7kg compared to when I was filming melodramas. It's because of the image I needed to portray."
"In the end, I ended up fracturing my ankle twice after finishing the shoot."
Actor Yang Se-jong (32) found the Disney+ original drama 'Fine: Country Bumpkins' to be a challenging task and a significant compass in his acting career.
The final episode of 'Fine: Country Bumpkins' was released on the 13th, depicting the story of hardworking country bumpkins who are deceived and deceive each other in their quest for a sunken treasure ship buried in the sea in 1977. This work is a collaboration between director Kang Yoon-sung of 'Casino' and 'The Outlaws' and writer Yoon Tae-ho of 'Misaeng' and 'The Insider.'
In the drama, Yang Se-jong plays 'Oh Hee-dong,' a character who, amidst the growing greed of people around the treasure salvaged from the waters off Sinan, is portrayed as someone who thinks of others first and maintains responsibility and trust until the end.
In an interview with Maeil Business Star Today on the 19th, celebrating the end of the drama, Yang Se-jong expressed, "I was really happy and grateful to be able to act with many seniors, including Director Kang, and I wanted to convey my thanks." He added, "When I first received the script, my heart raced. I contacted them the next day to say I would do it. I was at a moment when I wanted to try a character with such determination, and the work itself resonated with me."
He particularly praised Director Kang's directing skills, saying, "Even when the script was fully written, if the actors portrayed slightly different emotions the next day after finishing a shoot, he would make adjustments right away. He did that every day. The director's effort was truly remarkable."
The character he played is a gangster from Seoul, who stands out with a neat appearance and attire. Yang Se-jong mentioned, "I had many discussions with the costume and makeup team and the director about the external aspects," and added, "I gained about 6-7kg to portray a strong image compared to when I was doing previous melodramatic works."
Perhaps due to the sudden weight gain, he suffered an ankle injury after finishing all the shoots. He fractured it not once, but twice. "I couldn't do anything because my ankle was broken. I had to attend the production presentation in that condition, and I was upset about my significantly gained weight." After visiting two hospitals, he was diagnosed with a 'stress fracture' and is currently receiving injection treatment.
The conflict with Kwan Seok (Ryu Seung-ryong), whom he followed like a father, added depth to Hee-dong's character development as he grew into an independent person. This contributed to Yang Se-jong's subtle acting growth.
Yang Se-jong, who found this role enjoyable, stated, "After doing it, I felt that there are many more things to show with characters of a similar genre. It seems to have a different character from melodramas. When performing rough acting, it was exhilarating and a meaningful work in many ways."
True to his character's nature, Yang Se-jong filmed many scenes where he fought with various characters. Reflecting on the continuous action scenes, he said, "The chemistry between the actors was really good. It went smoothly, and I think it turned out satisfactorily."
He also mentioned his co-stars Lim Soo-jung and Ryu Seung-ryong. He expressed a peculiar relationship with Lim Soo-jung, who played the new wife of Chairman Cheon (Jang Kwang) of Heungbaek Industries. Regarding Lim Soo-jung, he said, "I discovered many new aspects in her acting. It was a time where I learned a lot and could feel a lot." About Ryu Seung-ryong, he remarked, "He is a senior whose every performance has a narrative and strong plausibility. I learned acting while admiring him every time."
When asked if he received any acting advice from Ryu Seung-ryong, he humorously replied, "It's a tip I want to keep to myself, so it's hard to share."
'Fine: Country Bumpkins' is the OTT series that Yang Se-jong presented two years after Netflix's 'Iduna!' and is the second consecutive webtoon-based drama. He has been continuing to transform his characters through OTT works, stating, "I think this is just the beginning. I have a lot of acting to show. I want to try acting in various genres, including melodramas and genre pieces. I believe that as I train and practice myself, I will gradually grow and change."
He also mentioned the character 'Deok-san,' who is physically strong in this drama, saying, "I thought I could act properly if I gained weight up to 130kg," showing a confident demeanor.
Yang Se-jong stated that he has not heard anything about Season 2. He is currently known to be positively considering appearing in the drama 'Creepy Romance,' which stars actress Park Eun-bin.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
