Actress Kang Mal-geum (46) expressed her feelings about working with Ha Jung-woo in 'Lobby'.
The movie 'Lobby', which will be released on April 2, tells the story of a startup CEO, Chang-wook, who knows nothing but research, starting his first-ever lobbying golf game to win a 4 trillion won national project. Actor Ha Jung-woo takes on the roles of director and lead actor once again, following 'Roller Coaster' and 'Heo Sam-gwan'. Kang Mal-geum plays a corrupt minister who is a decision-maker for the national project.
In an interview conducted on the 27th in Seoul, Kang Mal-geum said, "I saw an article that senior Ra Mi-ran was cast. She is an actress I respect so much, and we had a great time acting together in 'Bad Mom'. I was happy to take on a role that she almost did. I felt good when I first received the casting offer. I read the script, and since it was a colorful role, there was no reason not to do it. The reading was already in progress, and I was brought in midway, so I thought I had to do it. I haven't had many opportunities in politics or medicine, so even if it was a light role, I was very happy," she said.
She continued, "The script was long and rich, and there were many characters. It was mischievous but had a warm conclusion. It conveys warmth with its unique rich dialogue. Ultimately, it's a comedy. It's a feast of flawed humans. I thought it was a really interesting script and a delightful comedy," explaining her reason for participating.
Kang Mal-geum revealed that she practiced golf for her role as Minister Jo, saying, "What I mainly did was practice golf. I practiced every day. There was a designated practice range, and I practiced about 37 times. It was my first time playing golf, but I tried to match the character's setting. I drove a Ferrari, which I had never seen in person before. At that time, my driving skills were at a beginner level, just driving a small car around the neighborhood, so it was a big event for me, and I was nervous," she joked.
Before filming began, the actors gathered together for about 10 full readings.
Kang Mal-geum said, "Before the reading, there was a time to show the overall acting model we were aiming for, which was beneficial. I am a slow speaker, and I always thought it would be good to have quicker reaction points, but the director showed me things like 'Short Box' and suggested a reaction speed that would be good. It was a learning experience for me. Also, when many actors gather, they give transportation fees. The money in that envelope varied each time, including dollars and yen. I saved those up. It was a pleasant little event. I haven't been able to travel abroad, but I thought I would use it when I travel later," she smiled.
Kang Mal-geum expressed her respect and affection for director and actor Ha Jung-woo.
Kang Mal-geum said, "I really try not to praise him too much, but he has become more likable as a person. When I think of the director, I think of love and energy. I met him in June two years ago, and we had many readings and deep interactions. Usually, there is a distance during editing, but I felt connected even then," and added, "At this point, isn't he an artist? I wonder how he directed three films."
She continued, "I acted with Ha Jung-woo for just one day. As a director, he watched the monitor with affection, but he also had firmness and is a bigger person than me. He plays strong roles and is stronger than anyone else. There are things to do in the shade house, and I have to win him over. It's a situation where I am the top and Chang-wook is the subordinate. I wondered if I could handle such a big actor. But after filming early on, I realized I didn't need to worry. As a director, he has charisma, and when the shot starts, he completely lets go and enters as a subordinate," she shared.
She added, "As a director, after the first shoot, I wondered what he would see of me as a fellow actor on the monitor. Since he does well, how much would my shortcomings stand out? But he never made me feel like I was being evaluated. An actor might not be in good condition or might not be prepared, but he would suggest things while watching the monitor, and it felt warm. Even when watching the monitor, he looked at me with affectionate eyes and liked what he saw. That part was a great help," she added.
Kang Mal-geum reflected, "As an actress, I felt how consistent my acting was in each scene. The weather, personal condition, and situations are all different. Before becoming an actress, I didn't know that filming could be done out of order. But I was amazed at how consistently he performed in each scene. In the Netflix series 'Suriname', even though the filming conditions might have varied across multiple takes, he always maintained the same weight. In 'Hijacking', it felt like he inserted the necessary actions at the right moments," she praised.
[Yang So-young, Star Today Reporter]
