Actor Ji Chang-wook candidly shared his thoughts and concerns about his career and acting.
Ji Chang-wook recently sat down for an interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss Disney+’s ‘The Worst of Evil’.
‘The Worst of Evil’ is an action drama in which Tae-jung (played by Ji Chang-wook), who leads an ordinary life, is wrongfully accused of a heinous crime and sent to prison. He later discovers that everything was orchestrated by Johan, played by Doh Kyung-soo, and sets out to seek revenge.
Ji Chang-wook portrays Park Tae-jung, a diligent and virtuous young man who is suddenly accused of a brutal crime. As the perpetrator, he embarks on a path of revenge, showcasing an intense performance.
Since his debut in 2008, aside from hiatuses due to military service, Ji Chang-wook has consistently appeared in one or two productions each year. By crossing over films, dramas, and musicals, he has built a diverse filmography. Currently, he is preparing for several upcoming projects, including the Japan-Korea joint drama ‘Merry Berry Love,’ the film ‘Revolver,’ the Netflix series ‘Scandal’ (tentative title), and the JTBC drama ‘Human x Gumiho.’
Despite proving his acting skills through various works, his journey has been anything but easy.
Ji Chang-wook revealed, “Before I learned to act, it seemed easy, but as I pursued acting, it became clear it was a challenging task. Even now, acting has never been easy for me. It has always been a series of hardships and challenges, and it remains difficult today.”
He added, “I notice things now that I didn’t in the past. With more experience, when I go to the set, I start noticing various aspects of production, such as filming, lighting, art, props, and direction. It has made acting even harder because an actor must express the director’s vision, which is not directly observable. I realized I needed to have many conversations with the production team.”
Reporters continued to ask about the gap between his life as an actor and his everyday life.
Ji Chang-wook answered, “I think of acting as a job. That is very important.” He continued, “Though there are differences in recognition, the fundamental issues of making a living or pursuing one’s career ambitions are not so different. Therefore, I don’t believe there’s a significant difference between myself as an actor and in my daily life.”
He expressed a sense of responsibility as he recalled the staff and crew who believed in him with each project.
When asked if he achieved results equal to his ambitions, Ji Chang-wook humbly noted, “I always pursue ambition with each project, but satisfaction is not always achieved. Audience evaluations vary, but when many people say they enjoyed the work and praise it, it feels like a gift, and I am grateful.”
He clearly distinguished his ambitions for success.
Ji Chang-wook noted, “Everyone wants their work to be successful, but doing your best doesn’t guarantee its success. Wanting commercial success hasn’t changed anything about me,” he said, emphasizing, “I remain ambitious about the quality and my performance in the works.”
Image source: Walt Disney Company Korea
