An idol group has been making waves since their music video dropped last month!
With an addictive melody and choreography reminiscent of the 1990s and 2000s, the group has caught everyone’s attention. What’s even more exciting is that the music video stars Gang Dong-won, Um Tae-gu, and Park Ji-hyun. This is all for the movie ‘Wild Thing’, which hits theaters on the 3rd of next month.
Gang Dong-won, Um Tae-gu, and Park Ji-hyun play idols from the 2000s. Their music video for ‘Love is’ by the three-member co-ed group Triangle has already surpassed 2.3 million views just two weeks after its release.
At the ‘Wild Thing’ production briefing on the 7th at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance in Seoul, Gang Dong-won shared, “I always thought idols must have a hard time, but while filming this project, I’ve come to truly respect them.”
‘Wild Thing’ tells the story of Triangle, a co-ed group that swept the music scene in the 2000s, returning to the stage after 20 years. It’s a comedy about their reunion and the ups and downs they face before performing, after having disbanded due to an unexpected incident.
Gang Dong-won plays Hyun-woo, the leader of Triangle. After the group’s breakup, Hyun-woo becomes a “survival-type” entertainer who barely gets by with occasional TV appearances.
Regarding his decision to join the cast, Gang Dong-won said, “The script was so funny. Comedy is actually my favorite genre. I loved how the story raced toward the ending and appreciated the satisfying conclusion.”
To play Hyun-woo, a self-proclaimed “dance machine,” Gang Dong-won practiced breakdancing for five months. Known for preparing thoroughly before filming, he confessed that this movie was the hardest to prepare for.
Gang Dong-won admitted, “I was someone with zero understanding of hip-hop. When I saw the script, I thought that if I did a headspin myself, it would give the audience a strange laugh, making them feel both sorry for me and wondering, ‘What is that?'”
He added, “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever learned. I feel a bit regretful that I couldn’t spin even half a turn more if I’d had more time to practice.”
Um Tae-gu plays Sang-gu, the maknae and rapper of Triangle. Known for his very introverted personality, the fact that he’s showcasing dancing and singing as a rapper and idol has become a hot topic.
Um Tae-gu shared, “When I received the offer, senior Gang Dong-won had already been cast as Hyun-woo. That was the biggest reason I chose this project.”
He even visited JYP Entertainment every day to practice rapping before filming began. He recalled feeling both nervous and excited the day before performing in front of the background actors.
Um Tae-gu said, “During the rehearsal the day before filming, it felt strange and thrilling. On the day of the shoot, I braced myself with the mindset that ‘I must be cute or I’m dead.'”
Park Ji-hyun transforms into Domi, the main vocal and “center” of Triangle. While Domi looks refreshing and pure on stage, she is actually easygoing and a “Teto-nyeo” (a direct and proactive woman). To prepare for the role, Park Ji-hyun watched videos of girl groups from that era, such as Fin.K.L and S.E.S.
She expressed her happiness, saying, “I once mentioned in an interview that I wanted to try explosive singing and dancing on stage, and I’m so happy to experience that vicariously through this movie.”
Famous “scene-stealer” Oh Jung-se plays Seong-gon, an unfortunate ballad singer who spent 39 consecutive weeks in 2nd place, overshadowed by Triangle. He performed the sweet ballad ‘I Like You’ with his signature gestures.
Oh Jung-se laughed, “I wanted a movement that was restrained yet memorable, so I created it on set after discussing it with the director. Being on stage felt like a battle with myself. I pushed through the filming by telling myself, ‘Don’t be embarrassed’ and ‘I’m a professional.'”
Shin Ha-kyun, who gained attention for his chemistry with Oh Jung-se in ‘Extreme Job’ (2019), makes a special appearance as ‘CEO Park’, the unscrupulous boss who planned Triangle.
The film is directed by Son Jae-gon, known for ‘Sweet and Sour’ (2006) and ‘The Villain on the Second Floor’ (2010). Composer Shim Eun-ji and choreographer Yang Wook, who have worked with IU and TWICE, were in charge of the songs and performances.
Director Son said, “I asked for songs that evoke the atmosphere of that time but would still sound good to modern audiences, and the composer did a great job.”
He further explained, “While I looked at a lot of materials from that era, I didn’t bring in any specific real-life incidents. The episodes were decided based on the settings within the movie.”
Gang Dong-won shared his hope, saying, “Everyone has a moment when they shined. I hope people enjoy the movie together.”
