Actor Gang Dong Won has candidly confessed that he has considered retirement.
On the 19th, an interview was held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, with Gang Dong Won, the lead actor of the movie ‘Wild Thing’ (directed by Son Jae-gon).
‘Wild Thing’ is a comedy about a co-ed dance group called Triangle, who once dominated the music industry but disbanded overnight due to an unexpected incident. The story follows their return to the stage after 20 years. This is the latest work from Director Son Jae-gon, known for ‘Sweet and Brutal Lovers’ (2006), ‘The Villain on the Second Floor’ (2010), and ‘Nothing Wrong with Here’ (2020).
Gang Dong Won plays Hyun Woo, the leader and “dance machine” of the three-member group Triangle. Hyun Woo is a struggling entertainer whose fame has faded over time. After losing his final regular radio spot, he receives an offer to appear in a live concert featuring nostalgic hits and sets out to reunite the full Triangle lineup.
During the interview, Gang Dong Won shared his thoughts on portraying Hyun Woo, a character who experienced peak popularity before hitting rock bottom. He recalled, “When ‘Temptation of Wolves’ was a huge hit, the Busan BIFF square was unbelievably crowded.” He added, “Although it lasted longer than I expected, I did wonder, ‘How long can this go on?'”
He continued, “Fans age too, and now they don’t come as often because they’re busy raising children.” He confessed, “As you get older, the roles you can play change. Since actors don’t typically have a set retirement, I had never thought about it before, but for a few years now, I’ve felt that retiring wouldn’t be a bad idea,” leaving many surprised.
Gang Dong Won added, “I don’t think people will look for me forever.” He explained, “Actors have roles that fit their age. In the past, I wanted to act until the day I died, even if it meant playing a sick character, but lately, I wonder if I really need to go that far.” Regarding his previous award speech where he vowed to act until death, he explained that his perspective shifted naturally as he grew older.
Meanwhile, ‘Wild Thing’ is set to be released on June 3.
