Kang Ha-neul (35) was cheerful. Although he is called a 'good deed manufacturer', he stated that his life motto is not 'let's live kindly' but 'let's live fun'.
On the 18th, I met Kang Ha-neul at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, ahead of the release of the movie 'Streaming' (directed by Jo Jang-ho, produced by Berry Good Studio). With his harmless charm, he disarmed everyone and brought laughter several times during the 50-minute interview with his down-to-earth and sincere talk. “Since we gathered here with precious time, I want to do my best,” he said, putting his heart into each question.
At the press screening of 'Streaming' held the previous day, he received praise for his “one-man show-like performance.” This was because he appeared in over 90% of the 91-minute runtime, dominating the screen.
When asked about this, Kang Ha-neul said, “I never thought of it as a 'one-man movie.'” However, he reflected, “It was refreshing to be able to perform in a theatrical tone in a movie medium after a long time.”
“The movie script had an entire page of my lines. It's hard to come across something like this. I really like the long take and one-take techniques, but once the camera starts rolling, you can't change it until it ends. It was a big challenge. Honestly, I was worried about how to memorize so many lines, but it reminded me of my days in theater, and I had fun shooting it.”
The movie 'Streaming', set to be released on the 21st, is a thriller about a crime channel streamer, Woo-sang (Kang Ha-neul), who discovers clues to an unresolved serial murder case and tracks the culprit while broadcasting it live. Woo-sang's relentless pursuit and his actions are broadcasted in real-time, providing an immersive experience as if watching a real live broadcast.
Above all, Kang Ha-neul's transformation into a 'maniac streamer' is striking. With his upright hair, tattoos wrapping around the back of his neck, a fitted suit, and a boastful tone, he exudes an arrogant and rebellious mood.
Kang Ha-neul said, “I wanted to show the desires and ambitions this character has, but I didn't think of it as madness.” He added, “But my friends do say he seems really crazy.”
“I wanted to be perceived as an unlikable character by the audience. Since he is a 'attention seeker' overflowing with arrogance, I tried to express his fashion and speech excessively. I believe two things are necessary when acting: empathy or understanding of the character. I couldn't empathize with 'Woo-sang', but I could understand him enough to move according to the script.”
While playing 'Woo-sang', there were streamers who influenced him. He mentioned YouTuber Kim Won and diva Jessica, saying, “I tried to incorporate the style and atmosphere of their channels.” He also shared that he enjoys watching several channels, adding, “I’m a fan of Daedoseogwan and Gweido-nim. I’ve even appeared on Gweido-nim's channel, so I’m a 'successful fan'.”
The movie 'Streaming' is the directorial debut of Jo Jang-ho, who won the Grand Prize at the Naver Books Mystery Contest with 'Rapture 1992' and wrote the mystery novel 'Justice'.
Kang Ha-neul expressed strong satisfaction about working with director Jo Jang-ho, saying, “Regardless of whether this work is excellent or not, we communicated very well.” He added, “It was fun not only in terms of acting but also in matching the camera, and I tried to create an uncomfortable tension for the audience while watching this movie, which is present in various places.”
Now in his 18th year since debut, he has established himself as an actor loved by both critics and the public, crossing genres and characters, yet he says, “I’m not the type to immerse myself with a method when acting.” He explained, “I think about how the audience will find this line entertaining while acting, and I can’t strategically choose that this is how it was for this work, so it should be like this for the next one.”
Still, what is the secret to being able to run without getting tired? He answered, “It’s because I created an on-off switch between Kang Ha-neul and Kim Ha-neul.” He shared, “When I was younger, I struggled with that and fell into a dilemma, as I don’t like being at the center of attention and can’t stand being in front of others.”
“There were times when I pondered a lot about 'Who am I?' and 'What am I doing?' As I got older and gained experience, I realized there was only one way to solve this: creating the switch between Kang Ha-neul and Kim Ha-neul. I think that was the most important thing.”
So, he says he developed his own relaxation routine about 5-6 years ago. “I put my phone on silent and seek my own happiness.” Kang Ha-neul added, “(Actor) Kang Ha-neul meets everyone by splitting time and thinks about that value, but (human) Kim Ha-neul doesn’t go out much,” and laughed.
