The Netflix series "Gwangjang" concluded its production presentation with heightened anticipation.

The noir action "Gwangjang," in which "Nam Gi-jun," who severed his Achilles' heel and left the world of Gwangjang, returned after 11 years due to the death of his younger brother, "Nam Gi-seok," to seek revenge and uncover the truth behind it, successfully held its production presentation on June 5 (Thu). Director Choi Sung-eun, So Ji-sub, Gong Myoung, Choo Young-Woo, Ahn Gil-kang, Jo Han-chul, and Lee Joon-hyuk attended the event, sharing various stories and heightening expectations for the project.

First, Director Choi Sung-eun introduced the work by stating, "Gwangjang is a noir action where 'Nam Gi-jun,' who severed his own Achilles' heel and left this world due to a past incident, returns to the world of Gwangjang after 11 years due to the death of his younger brother, 'Nam Gi-seok,' to uncover the truth behind the death and seek revenge." He announced the start of the production presentation.

Regarding "Gwangjang," which has garnered attention even before its release due to praise from the original creators of the Naver Webtoon, Director Choi Sung-eun noted, "The original creators watched the work first and kindly sent congratulatory messages. In adapting 'Gwangjang,' our main focus was to fill in the open spaces of the webtoon, and I am grateful that the original creators found it interesting and expressed their satisfaction."

"Before action, all characters, including 'Nam Gi-jun,' have their own desires and emotions. I hope viewers can follow the motivations behind their actions, and that is why we focused on that aspect in the direction. The emotion of 'Nam Gi-jun' is the most important in the action. If the audience cannot resonate with his emotions, then his actions may only appear as physical conflicts, so those emotions must fully resonate for the clashes—they are expressed as action scenes." He revealed his thoughts on crafting a more intense and rich "Gwangjang" by capturing both the characters' narratives and emotions.

A variety of stories about the intertwined characters within the world of "Gwangjang" continued. So Ji-sub, who plays the character "Nam Gi-jun," who returns to the Gwangjang seeking revenge, introduced the character: "Nam Gi-jun' is a figure who, due to a past incident, severed his Achilles' heel and left the organization, but after his younger brother was killed, he seeks revenge against those responsible."

Additionally, So Ji-sub mentioned, "'Nam Gi-jun' is a character who must act with his actions and expressions rather than words. During dialogue or action, I tried to fill in the pauses and convey deeper emotions while performing," raising expectations for the emotional portrayal of 'Nam Gi-jun.' Lee Joon-hyuk, who plays 'Nam Gi-seok,' the second-in-command of 'Joo-un' and the catalyst for all events that trigger 'Nam Gi-jun's' revenge, shared, "I tried to match the energy of actor So Ji-sub while filming. There are warm feelings and calm vibes when acting together, and I received a lot of that energy, trying to feel that atmosphere." He increased curiosity about the emotions and narratives conveyed by the two brothers.

Gong Myoung, who plays the successor "Koo Jun-mo" of "Bongsan," stated, "A character who must have everything they desire and must do whatever they want to succeed." To express a figure who would stop at nothing to get what he wants, Gong Myoung elaborated, "'Koo Jun-mo' is an emotionally honest character, so I thought about how to express that honesty of emotion in different situations. I wanted to add a somewhat childish aspect, so I pondered how to express that and maximize it in every scene."

Choo Young-Woo, who plays the character "Lee Geum-soon," said, "He is the son of 'Lee Joo-un' and a current prosecutor. He is a character who resolutely walks his own path rather than following his father, who has led the organization for his whole life, but deep inside, he harbors ambitions to overturn the 'Gwangjang.'" Choo Young-Woo added, "I tried to give off an inscrutable feeling and focused a lot on that. I worked hard to study the character itself, pondering what kind of presence I could have to complete the character."

Ahn Gil-kang, who plays the head of 'Bongsan,' 'Koo Bongsan,' introduces the character as someone who gives everything he has for his son, stating, "It is a work with a deep story behind the action." Jo Han-chul, who plays 'Choi Sung-cheol,' the loyal right hand of 'Lee Joo-un,' said, "'Choi Sung-cheol' seems to be a person full of love even in a dark world. He loves 'Lee Joo-un' and the organization, but he also loves 'Nam Gi-jun.' His character struggles in a situation where 'Nam Gi-jun' returns and fights, finding himself in a dilemma." Jo Han-chul elaborated, "'Choi Sung-cheol' is not a character who speaks much, so he expresses a bit of rhythm through his gaze, body, and words, and I focused on that aspect. He prioritizes actions, and when conflicts arise, he boldly chooses one side."

Regarding the brilliant casting and the acting synergy of the actors in 'Gwangjang,' Director Choi Sung-eun expressed his excitement for how actor So Ji-sub portrays "Nam Gi-jun" with his artistry. He continued, "Other actors also had the freedom to create in a rich casting environment," further raising expectations for the high synchronization with the original work of 'Gwangjang.'

On that day, the venue featured the release of behind-the-scenes footage showcasing the intense action of "Gwangjang," which proceeds without mercy, along with a behind-the-scenes talk about the action, further heightening interest.

Particularly, So Ji-sub, returning to the action genre after 13 years, expressed his thoughts on fulfilling the action of 'Nam Gi-jun,' saying, "I hope unnecessary actions are avoided; during the process of revenge, I tried to differentiate whether he would subdue or punish these people. I consider the characters' actions as dialogue through their bodies; I hope emotions are felt when they fight. As the story unfolds, I want the action to have a narrative arc, gradually increasing the intensity to reach a climax."

Moreover, Lee Joon-hyuk, who plays 'Nam Gi-seok,' added, "It was nice to be able to speak comfortably with the action team I have worked with a lot, and the director's clear direction made it easier to progress." He raised curiosity about the dynamic between the two brothers.

As various actions and narratives unfold, Director Choi Sung-eun stated, "During concept meetings, not only with the martial arts director but also with the cinematographer and actor So Ji-sub, we freely exchanged opinions and discussed. I wanted 'Nam Gi-jun's' emotions to be felt; if emotions support the action, viewers might empathize and cheer for his actions rather than just seeing them as brutal. I decided on the concept, ensuring 'Nam Gi-jun' starts with a handicap after severing his Achilles' heel, thus opting for action that, while slow and clumsy, continuously advances with strength felt in each punch."

The behind-the-scenes talk also continued with the 'Bongsan' and 'Joo-un' families. Gong Myoung remarked, "Koo Jun-mo has a great desire to be recognized by his father, just as a father loves his son, reflecting the love and warmth of 'Bongsan.'" Choo Young-Woo noted, "The seniors created a good atmosphere. Senior Heo Jun-ho helped a lot by saying before filming, 'You must be a scary father to him; let’s approach this as a terrifying yet awe-inspiring father.'" Their comments evoked warm smiles, showcasing the contrasting charm and differing vibes within the 'Joo-un' and 'Bongsan' families.

In conclusion, Director Choi Sung-eun expressed, "I hope it is a great opportunity and an honor for many viewers around the world to see this work, and I wish for everyone to fully enjoy it." So Ji-sub added, "This is K-noir action. I hope many will watch to spread Korean-style noir action further," concluding the production presentation.

Wrapping up the production presentation successfully and heightening anticipation, the intense noir action 'Gwangjang' will be released on June 6 (Fri) at 4 p.m. on Netflix.

[Photo] Netflix

[OSEN]