Feeling the Heat from Box Office Hits
Kang Dong Won, the well-known actor, is gearing up for his comeback with the movie The Plot, which will be his first acting project since 2024. In a recent interview, he opened up about his feelings towards the immense success of Exhuma and The Roundup: Punishment. These two movies have set a high bar, both achieving over 10 million viewers in South Korean cinemas.
Kang Dong Won jokingly admitted to feeling a bit envious of their success. He has a personal connection with both projects, having worked with Jang Jae Hyun, the director of Exhuma, on the film The Priests (2015), and sharing screen space with Lee Dong Hwi, the villain in The Roundup 4, in multiple projects including Brokers (2022) and Dr. Cheon and Lost Talisman (2023).
Kang expressed his admiration, saying, “I’m very jealous of Lee Dong Hwi’s achievement of 10 million viewers on The Roundup 4. Director Jang Jae Hyun also surpassed 10 million viewers with Exhuma. I envy them and feel that the moment must be fun.”
Hopes for The Plot
Kang Dong Won also shared his hopes for The Plot, expressing a desire for the film to not only break even but also turn a profit. The movie needs about 2 million viewers to cover its production costs. Kang emphasized the business aspect of filmmaking, stating, “I hope The Plot exceeds the return on investment figure. I don’t want to hurt the people who believe in me. That is the wish of all of us.”
He further reflected on his career aspirations, highlighting his dual goals of growing as an actor and achieving box office success. “There are two things I always want when working as an actor. Those two things are growth in acting and scoring box office hits to exceed the return on investment,” he said.
Satisfaction with The Plot
In The Plot, Kang Dong Won plays Young Il, the leader of a group of hitmen. The story revolves around Young Il’s realization that he has become a target after staging several contract killings to look like accidents. Kang Dong Won expressed his satisfaction with the final product, noting the freshness and realism of the story.
“After making various versions, I am personally satisfied and enjoy the final version that was released. The story itself is fresh, and I like it because it has a realistic feel and there is enjoyment in its genre,” he shared.
He found the psychological changes in his character, Young Il, particularly interesting, and appreciated the unpredictable ending. “I liked it because this film felt gray, but there was something new,” he added.
As The Plot hit South Korean cinemas on May 29, 2024, it quickly climbed to the top of the daily box office charts with 124 thousand viewers on its first day. Hopefully, Kang Dong Won’s aspirations for the film’s success will come true.
Opinion: Kang Dong Won’s candid reflections on his colleagues’ successes and his hopes for his own projects show the competitive yet supportive nature of the film industry. It’s refreshing to see an actor of his stature openly discuss both his envy and his ambitions, providing a relatable insight into the highs and lows of a career in acting.
