"I wanted to do it so much that I sent a video of myself throwing a discus to the director, even though it wasn't a project I was offered."
The JTBC weekend drama 'Good Boy', which ended on the 20th, tells the story of medalists who became police officers through special recruitment, fighting against a world tainted by evil. Taewon Seok plays the role of Shin Jae-hong, a police officer and bronze medalist in discus throw from the Asian Games.
Recently, Taewon Seok met with Star Today at the Maekyung Media Center in Chungmuro, Seoul, and expressed his feelings about the ending, saying, "I met with Heo Sung-tae yesterday and we talked. It's really disappointing. We spent a year together, but it ended in just 8 weeks. The viewers have shown a lot of interest. I want to enjoy this more..."
Shin Jae-hong, the character in the drama, is somewhat different from the characters Taewon Seok has played in the past. While his previous roles often showcased strong physicality and action, Shin Jae-hong possesses both physicality and action, along with a comedic side and a family-oriented aspect.
When asked why he decided to participate, Taewon Seok said, "When I read the script, it felt like reading a comic. Just looking at the script gave me a sense of catharsis," showing his affection for the project.
"It's a story about medalists who had past glory becoming police officers through special recruitment and living a second life. They are treated as outsiders within the police organization, and the story of them coming together to reclaim their former glory as 'National Avengers' was so moving that I begged to be a part of it."
Taewon Seok mentioned that he was not initially approached for the project, saying, "Even though it wasn't offered to me, I really wanted to do it just by looking at the script. I was filming 'Player 2' at the time, but I learned discus throwing by watching YouTube videos and filmed a video of myself throwing a wet tissue to send to the director. I said I would be happy just to stand there, regardless of the amount of lines."
To transform from the muscular body of Do Jin-woong in 'Player 2' to the 'retired athlete' body of Shin Jae-hong, the first thing Taewon Seok did was to gain weight. He reportedly gained weight through a diet without exercise.
"The director told me that I looked like an 'active athlete.' He said I needed to gain weight to create the body of a retired athlete, so I did. If I gained weight while exercising, my muscles would grow, so I tried to eat a lot without exercising as much. I ate to my heart's content. I had meals, ice cream, and always made sure to have dessert. I was able to gain weight happily."
Taewon Seok is known for his significant weight changes for each project. When asked if he lost weight to appear much slimmer in the drama, he explained, "I just finished filming 'Hunting Dogs 2' and am currently filming 'Judge Lee Han-young.' So I've lost about 20kg since filming 'Good Boy.' Right now, I weigh 90kg."
He continued, "The heaviest I was was during the filming of 'Nobody Knows.' I gained up to 130kg. I control my weight only through exercise and diet. When losing weight, I do what is called the 'Stairway to Heaven' and cycle diligently. I think I do at least three hours of weight training a day."
How does he gain weight? Taewon Seok said, "It's also through diet. The food that makes me gain the most weight is Chinese food. I eat jjajangmyeon three times a day and have sweet and sour pork with liquor. I really enjoy it," he said with a smile. He added, "In fact, I absolutely hate salads. Eating vegetables makes me feel bloated. I'm a strong carnivore."
With a weight fluctuation of 40kg, it seems physically challenging. Taewon Seok admitted, "It's actually tough. Sometimes I wonder if I'm an actor or an athlete," and added, "But this is also my job. There's no choice. It's not that I enjoy exercising, but 98% of it is for the character. Since I keep changing, even if the project does well, people don't recognize me."
Taewon Seok also explained, "When building a character, I start with the physical aspect. The way I walk and my voice change with my body shape. Setting the physical appearance and then developing the inner self is comfortable for me." (Continued in Interview ②)
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
