"Forget the small and cunning Han Myung-hoe."
Actor Yoo Ji-tae has completed a new Han Myung-hoe that overwhelms the screen by gaining weight up to 100kg through the movie 'The King and the Clown'. This character, born under the direction of director Jang Hang-jun, is expected to provide audiences with unprecedented charisma.
In a recent interview held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Yoo Ji-tae shared his thoughts on playing the role of the era's greatest power figure, Han Myung-hoe. This work is a human drama depicting the process of a young exiled king sharing his heart with a village chief, and Yoo Ji-tae took on the role of the 'axis of evil' that drives the tension of the play.
In particular, this version of Han Myung-hoe is reinterpreted not as the small strategist often depicted in the media, but as a powerful figure with both strength and cunning. Yoo Ji-tae explained, "Rather than focusing on historical accuracy of the real person, I concentrated on the functions the character must perform within the cinematic allowance," adding, "The suggestion to portray a new Han Myung-hoe by director Jang Hang-jun became a decisive moment for the character's reinvention."
Yoo Ji-tae demonstrated his determination by gaining weight up to 100kg to visually embody the external weight of a power figure. He emphasized, "Even if there aren't many scenes, I had to be the central axis and backbone of the play," stating, "I put effort into the buildup process so that the character's energy would be immediately conveyed to the audience."
Having showcased his unique villainous acting in films like 'Oldboy', 'Midnight FM', and 'Svaha', he also added his own acting philosophy. Yoo Ji-tae stated, "A villain must embrace the character with their whole body", saying, "The powerful energy that flows from the body is more impactful than the lines, and acting where the subtext is felt without speaking is real."
The film 'The King and the Clown', which creates synergy between director Jang Hang-jun's sensuous direction and Yoo Ji-tae's heavy transformation, will be released on February 4th to meet the audience.
