In 'Good Boy', the Good Avengers team, composed of former athletes turned police officers, is tasked with taking down the 'Golden Rabbit Gang', leading to various action scenes. In particular, Taewon-seok's character, Shin Jae-hong, plays a key role in throwing a manhole to catch a fleeing vehicle, suggesting he likely focused heavily on the action.
Taewon-seok stated, "That scene is the most memorable for me as well," adding, "It was the result of 7-8 months of practice."
“I practiced disc throwing consistently. I kept practicing with my coach at Korea National Sport University, but the disc and the manhole are different. They provided a prop manhole, but it was so light that it didn't feel real, so I attached lead to give it weight and threw it with all my might. The day we filmed that scene happened to be my birthday, and throwing the manhole while filming the scene of the car flipping felt like receiving a 'blockbuster' as a birthday gift. It was amazing.”
As the action increased, the risk of injury inevitably grew. While filming 'Good Boy', Park Bo-gum suffered a leg injury, causing a delay of about a month and a half in filming. Given that Taewon-seok also performed significant action scenes, one might wonder if he sustained any injuries.
Taewon-seok remarked, “(Park) Bo-gum had a lot of action scenes and he is so good at it that he tried to do everything himself, which unfortunately led to his injury. I didn’t get hurt at all. It must have been tough for Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun, Lee Sang-yi, and Heo Sung-tae, but I didn’t have as many big action scenes, so it wasn’t too hard for me,” he humbly stated.
He added jokingly, “Honestly, I think of 'injury' as at least a fracture. Bruises and muscle pain aren’t injuries; I think that area is just weak. I don’t think a nosebleed counts as an injury either; even if there’s bleeding, it should be a cut to be considered an injury.”
Despite the physically demanding action, the chemistry among the actors was top-notch. Taewon-seok proudly stated, “I never had a single unpleasant moment in a year.”
“It was truly the best. I never felt hurt. Maybe because only good people were around, there was always an abundance of love and consideration. I found myself wanting to act more rightly. Since everyone didn’t drink, we enjoyed delicious food, went for walks, took life photos, and had conversations; it was that kind of relationship. That’s why I feel even more regretful that the show is ending.”
In particular, Taewon-seok mentioned that he broke his 'prejudice' about Park Bo-gum, saying, “I actually thought, ‘There can’t be a person in the world who is only filled with good deeds.’ It doesn’t make sense. Everyone makes mistakes. But experiencing it firsthand, I found him to be overflowing with love and consideration. How can someone be this warm and this handsome? I started wanting to have a son like him.”
He also praised, “He acts so fluidly and expresses himself so vividly that I think viewers can immerse themselves even more.”
Regarding Kim So-hyun, who he worked with in the Good Avengers team, he said, “She is actually a senior among us. She has a presence that encompasses the set,” and added, “Even though she’s 10 years younger than me, her acting is precise. I learned a lot from her while working together.” He also mentioned, “The older guys constantly made high-level dad jokes, which are really not easy, but she handled it well and led the way. I feel sorry even thinking about it now,” he added playfully.
He has already collaborated with Lee Sang-yi in six projects, including 'Good Boy' and the 'Hunting Dogs' series. Taewon-seok said, “We’ve really done a lot together. I even joked, ‘I think it’s time for us to part ways,’” and praised him, saying, “He’s a really smart actor. Watching him act, he knows how to express the scenes cleverly.”
Finally, regarding Heo Sung-tae, he said, “I don’t know how he acts as if today is the last day, giving his all. I learned a lot from that. Even with a lot of experience, he works hard, so I often asked him questions and consulted him,” explaining that he relied heavily on him on set.
Taewon-seok mentioned, “He is our captain. Thanks to Director Shim Na-yeon, we were able to come together well. The precise lines and continuity helped a lot,” and added, “There hasn’t been any hint about season 2 yet, but I want to keep this same team. If this team comes together, it would have a special meaning.”
Taewon-seok debuted through the SBS drama 'Athena: Goddess of War', which aired in 2010. He endured a long period of obscurity until he took on a significant role in the KBS2 drama 'The Witch's Court' in 2017.
Taewon-seok reflected, “It was tough throughout my 20s. I felt lost not knowing when it would end. However, I never doubted myself even once. I had an unfounded confidence. If I don’t believe in myself, who will? I kept telling myself, ‘I will definitely make it.’”
“I think of an actor as a product displayed in a store. An actor shows their talent through acting, but acting is something you must do well. When choosing a drink at a convenience store, you pick based on its characteristics. So, I wanted to create my own distinct color to be chosen. After a long period of contemplation, I found that becoming a 'Ma Dong-seok' of my age group was the answer.”
He continued, “There aren’t many muscular, strong characters for someone my age. Since I’ve been consistently working out since I was young, I thought I’d try to build some muscle. Fortunately, I was able to work on projects from 'The Witch's Court' to 'Player'. I remember not drinking during my 20s and not meeting friends, and I feel proud thinking that I’ve done well.”
Having believed in himself for a long time, Taewon-seok defines an actor as “someone who should make viewers happy.” He stated, “For a work to have meaning, viewers must feel happy watching it. I believe actors exist to make viewers happy. To do that, I want to act flexibly so I don’t become obsolete.”
He added, “I’m really grateful and happy that until now, people remember me not as the actor Taewon-seok but as a character in a work. I want to continue being seen as a character in a work, not just as 'Taewon-seok'.”
Is there a genre he wants to challenge himself in? When asked if he has any thoughts of trying the 'romantic comedy' genre that most actors dream of, Taewon-seok replied, “My strength is being able to self-objectify,” and added, “I don’t think I can do passionate romance or romantic comedy. I don’t think anyone would want that. Even if I want to see Bo-gum’s melodrama, would anyone want to see my melodrama? It wouldn’t just be hard for me; it would also be hard for the production team and the viewers.”
He continued, “If I were to challenge romance, I’d like to show a side character’s romance, like a French fry next to the main dish. I think I could do well if it’s a character with some setting value, not a main character.”
Finally, he said, “In fact, being greedy doesn’t mean I’ll get what I want. I’m grateful for everyone who has supported me so far. If you continue to support me, I will work hard to make viewers happy. Opportunities will come someday. I just need to seize them,” expressing his ambitious aspirations.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
