(Following interview①) The production team of 'New Recruit 3' revealed that the experiences of actor Kim Dong-jun, a former entertainer-turned-soldier, are reflected in the work.

On the morning of the 30th, a round interview with 'New Recruit 3' director Min Jin-ki and writer Yoon Gi-young took place at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

'New Recruit 3,' based on the animation by writer Jang Pijju, is a hyper-realism comedy depicting the story that unfolds as the 'gold spoon' new recruit enters a place filled with all sorts of characters from good to bad and strange.

In this season, various new characters not present in the original appear, with actor Kim Dong-jun portraying a global character reflecting the challenges of an entertainer soldier. Director Min Jin-ki noted about the global character, "There are many preconceived notions the public holds about entertainers turned soldiers. They are believed to receive preferential treatment and to have a comfortable military experience. In reality, they face many challenges in their own ways, like the shower scene. Kim Dong-jun often shares similar experiences from his actual life. We wanted to portray a realistic story of entertainer soldiers who live the same lives and have their own worries and difficulties. We depicted it comically, but while it may be exaggerated comedy when they are asked for 100 or 200 autographs in the company commander's office, there can be similar challenges. We wanted to portray that from multiple angles," he said.

However, the general public may feel a disconnect when empathizing with the stories of entertainer soldiers. When asked why this type of character was included, director Min Jin-ki explained, "The difference from seasons 1 and 2 is that while seasons 1 and 2 maintained the tone of Jang Pijju's original based on hyper-realism, I wanted season 3 to expand into a sitcom."

He said, "A sitcom ultimately refers to situation comedy, where natural comedy emerges from situations. By applying the military as a situation, we provide fun with diverse characters. While it’s not hyper-realism, we have added a fantasy element that can blend with the comedy. Having a global character can shake up various relationships within the unit. The stronger person is the 'Kook Min-soo,' the son of the commanding general, so I set up with the writer that way. This calculation was made at the end of season 2. At that stage, we contemplated who could portray the global character. I found Kim Dong-jun, who played Hyun Jong in the drama 'Koryo-Khitan War,' the perfect fit."

He continued, "Before casting that friend, I researched and found that he spent his military days like an FM. According to his reputation, he performed much better than ordinary people. So, I thought he would do well. He is also an actor who does both idol and acting, which fits well with the character settings in the drama. Until now, our drama had lacked visual appeal for female viewers. For the sake of expanding viewership ratings, I thought it was necessary to attract visually. That’s why I reached out to actor Kim Dong-jun," he candidly shared, eliciting laughter. He added, "Including an entertainer-turned-soldier was a risk for us. Fortunately, with actor Kim Dong-jun being cast, I think we offset much of the risk, so I personally want to thank him."

Particularly when asked if an episode reflecting Kim Dong-jun's experiences appears in the work, writer Yoon Gi-young responded, "Before the interview, I gave him the script when we first met. He said he could relate to many parts. Signing autographs is something that happens a lot in reality, and many entertainers have talked about shower scenes on entertainment shows, which he related to as well. The most unexpected thought was that entertainers must be very diligent due to the many eyes on them. I realized that an entertainer might feel more pressure as a single soldier, so I thought a lot about that emotional line."

Director Min Jin-ki remarked, "When you sit down to eat at a restaurant, people say things like 'You're eating kimchi.' That’s an experience. He indicated that personally, it was tough when he heard such comments while receiving new recruit training or eating in a restaurant. Regarding the external aspects, I think a lot of fiction has been added. Since we do not have personal experiences of serving in the military as entertainer-turned-soldiers, it may have come out exaggerated based on imagination, so it may not be entirely accurate." (To be continued in interview③.)

[Photo] OSEN DB

[OSEN]