Netflix's 'Trigger' raises awareness about illegal gun ownership in South Korea, a nation considered a gun-free country.
On the 22nd, Netflix held a production presentation for the new series 'Trigger' (written by Kwon Oh-seung, directed by Kwon Oh-seung and Kim Jae-hoon) at Hotel Naru Seoul MGallery located in Mapo-dong, Mapo District, Seoul. Attending were director Kwon Oh-seung along with lead actors Kim Nam-gil, Kim Young-kwang, Park Hoon, and Kil Hae-yeon, who shared their thoughts on the drama under the guidance of broadcaster Park Kyung-rim.
'Trigger' is a disaster action thriller drama depicting the story of two men who resort to guns for their own reasons amid a backdrop where illegal firearms, whose origins are unclear, are delivered, and gun incidents continuously occur in South Korea, a nation considered a gun-free country. Actor Kim Nam-gil, who was praised as a refreshing hero in the 'The Fiery Priest' series, plays police officer Lee Do, who traces the illegal gun distribution case, while Kim Young-kwang plays the mysterious man Moon Baek involved in the gun distribution case. Additionally, actor Park Hoon, known as a 'trustworthy actor,' plays Gu Jeong-man, who captures an 'opportunity' in the gun distribution process, and Kil Hae-yeon plays Oh Kyung-sook, the bereaved family member of an industrial accident victim who continues her one-person protest following her son's unjust death, adding depth to the drama.
Director Kwon Oh-seung described the work by saying, "'Trigger' tells the story of guns being unleashed in South Korea, where they are illegal. Living in a complicated reality, I think many may wonder what it would be like to have a gun, and this story is about that bold imagination becoming reality."
Kim Nam-gil opened up about his reason for choosing the project, saying, "I was drawn to the concept in which bold imagination becomes reality. After reading the plan, I made up my mind to participate." Kim Young-kwang stated, "The character Moon Baek I portray felt very fresh to me. I was also curious to see how the free-spirited friend would change. This character poses questions to people, which made me feel I had to play this role."
Kil Hae-yeon continued, "Personally, I filmed the movie 'Midnight' with director Kwon. During that time, I mimicked action, and he said, 'I’ll let you shoot a gun later.' I received a real call. But they told me not to shoot well. When I looked at the scenario and script, the situations faced by the characters and the nightmarish situation where the gun comes to me gives me chills about their desperation."
Park Hoon discussed his experience saying, "Like Kil Hae-yeon, I also worked on 'Midnight.' I thought it was very symbolic that guns, which are illegal in Korea, are being unleashed. I was interested in what might happen when something dangerous is given and the stories of those who have to stop it and those who cannot control it and use it resonate with me, making me want to take part."
What inspired the bold concept? Director Kwon Oh-seung remarked, "While writing the story, I noticed many unfortunate incidents happening lately and observed that conflicts have been escalating in Korean society for some time, which felt increasingly unsettling. I wondered how people would react if someone misused this and responded by unleashing guns. When given a gun, would people actually pull the trigger, and how would the story unfold when encountering their backgrounds?"
He added, "In other works, guns are tools for fighting. However, in 'Trigger,' guns serve as the central theme of the story. The actions that unfold depend on who is encountered and whose hand holds the gun. For instance, when someone who has served in the military holds a gun, or when Kil Hae-yeon, who knows nothing about guns, holds it, or when students who have encountered guns in games hold it, entirely different situations will arise."
Having experienced various action genres, Kim Nam-gil expressed, "In 'Trigger,' I aimed for more restrained actions rather than actions just for display. This is because my character Lee Do has been contemplating whether it is right to wield a gun to protect someone. For that reason, he puts down the gun and thinks about other ways to save people, rather than resorting to violence. The character, who holds such values, performs restrained actions rather than simply aggressive ones. I believe it will be conceptually different from other actions presented thus far."
Kim Nam-gil explained, "Lee Do is, in some ways, ironic. While serving in the military as a sniper, he determined not to pick up a gun based on the values, philosophy, and worldview he held and struggles to live a normal life."
How does he differ from the characters he has met in previous works? Kim Nam-gil stated, "What's different is that the story itself is not driven solely by Lee Do but that he follows the stories of the characters appearing in each episode. Rather than directly pushing the narrative in the story, I approached it from an observer's perspective without violating the emotions of the characters in each episode. I believe there are aspects that differ from the characters I have portrayed so far."
Kim Young-kwang introduced his character by saying, "Moon Baek suddenly appears as a helper in front of Lee Do. He is a very free-spirited character, but there is an expectation that he can show a different side later."
Known for being an introvert, Kim Young-kwang spoke about playing the extroverted character Moon Baek, saying, "At first, it was a bit overwhelming. However, I later enjoyed it thinking it was right to act like E." He also noted, "In the early episodes, I wore more comfortable and approachable outfits. As the series progressed, thinking about the fun elements and glamorous aspects of 'Trigger,' I diversified the costumes," raising curiosity.
What led to the casting of these actors? Director Kwon Oh-seung shared, "They all acted at a 'beyond wall level.' Even though 'Trigger' revolves around guns, it ultimately tells a story about 'people.' For that, Lee Do needs to have gravitas, sincerity, and compelling appeal to persuade the audience. Such aspects aligned closely with Kim Nam-gil, whom I have observed. Personally, I find there’s an uncanny charm in his eyes that I believe many can relate to. I think that will convey a lot of intention to those watching 'Trigger.'"
He added, "The first actor that came to mind for the character Moon Baek was Kim Young-kwang. I consider him an evolving actor in terms of acting depth and breadth. I thought that he was the character who truly fits Moon Baek, who has to portray various facets."
Furthermore, he stated, "Park Hoon and Kil Hae-yeon, having worked together in my previous project, share a basic affinity. They rapidly absorb whatever is offered. I wanted Park Hoon's character, who interacts with physically weaker characters, to possess invisible charisma that encompasses them. I also thought Park Hoon had a sharp appearance, yet a warm side, so I wanted to collaborate with him. Additionally, I wished to make Kil Hae-yeon a second 'national mother' following Kim Hye-ja. I believed this benevolent image held strength."
Park Hoon explained, "Gu Jeong-man feels like stagnant water. I'm not sure if the director thought of that, but as this character encounters a gun, he begins to express the inherent desire for upward mobility in humanity. He represents the longing to rise and change when faced with a powerful force, coming from a lower hierarchical position and an invisible class."
Kil Hae-yeon described Oh Kyung-sook, saying, "She is a character who continues her one-person protest daily, demanding the truth and an apology for her non-regular worker son’s death in a hazardous workplace. She cries out, 'Please listen to my story.'" She added, "When no one listens to her, if that person receives a gun, wouldn’t they try to make their story heard by the world at least once?"
Conversely, Park Hoon mentioned, "Some people receive guns in a state of grievance when they feel wronged, but Gu Jeong-man acquires a gun by chance through a change of intention that diverges from what he originally intended. I think that’s a point that gives an impact different from the main characters."
The two-shot of Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang had also captured the attention of drama fans. Kim Nam-gil noted, "I thought that when looking at the past works of Kim Young-kwang, he was an actor specialized in romance. When we meet in the genre, I feel like a potential we’ve never seen before is bursting forth. I also believed that the different tonal images we present can be refreshing for viewers looking forward to watching us."
He continued, "I also really liked Young-kwang, but in a different way. Every actor has inherent character traits, right? Generally, when we divide people into 'E' and 'I,' it seems we try to force our traits to conform. Some prefer a lively banter, but Young-kwang is responsive and considerate when entering a shoot. Although it seems like he doesn’t fit in, it later becomes clear that he helps others understand and smoothly adjust through time."
Kim Young-kwang remarked, "It was very comfortable. The senior has strong leadership and charisma, also being strong in action. I had high expectations thinking, 'If he’s my elder, he will accept everything.' In fact, he did support me a lot, which made it easier for me."
How will their relationships manifest in the work? Lee Do explained, "It's a very complicated relationship. Moon Baek is both a helper and, as Young-kwang mentioned, an evolving character who changes later. Ironically, there’s a need between them that leads to utilization. The reason for the tension is that they might both be on the same side, yet conflict can arise due to their different ways of responding to circumstances, which adds to the tension for viewers. I think the relationship formed will be engaging for them to watch."
Regarding the names Lee Do and Moon Baek, director Kwon Oh-seung shared the meanings behind them: "While writing the script, I found it difficult to name the protagonist. Lee Do is associated with the symbolism of a gun. The duality of the gun connects with Lee Do's past and present. I thought he had walked two divergent paths and hence named him Lee Do. Moon Baek has a heartbreaking backstory as a child in the series; I believe this character is someone whose true nature becomes manifest as he grows. Thus, I thought of giving him the name Moon Baek, implying that he has 100 doors in his heart."
Action flows like breathing. Kim Nam-gil stated, "Rather than looking cool, Lee Do controls violence as much as possible. Even in situations where one could easily subdue someone, the intensity of the action varies depending on the opponent holding the gun, so the charm of action lies in its diversity."
Kim Young-kwang remarked, "The parts that come out later might be spoilery, but I think Moon Baek also had a really impressive portrayal of handling firearms," raising anticipation.
Park Hoon commented, "I was often beaten as someone who exists below the invisible human hierarchy. I think I depicted that as I climbed step by step. Shooting the gun action scenes posed challenges. Most men in Korea have military backgrounds, so determining how to handle the gun at a certain level was difficult. That aspect felt refreshing."
Coincidentally, in January, Disney+ released a series titled 'Trigger,' featuring actress Kim Hye-soo's remarkable performance. The situation of a drama with the same title being released on a different platform in the same year. Director Kwon Oh-seung expressed, "I never expected this when I first wrote and finalized the script. I hadn’t thought about using the same title."
He continued, "While preparing for pre-production, I heard there was a similar work. However, 'Trigger' is indeed the key keyword of our project. I felt it was a pity to discard a title that encapsulated the considerations from the script's inception to completion, so I intended to keep it. Thus, seeing how 'Trigger' on another OTT differs from Netflix's 'Trigger' would provide additional enjoyment for viewers, and I think it would be good to look upon it positively."
The contrasting temperaments of Kim Nam-gil and Kim Young-kwang have also generated buzz. In the web entertainment show 'Salon Drip 2,' their distinctly different dialogues have brought laughter.
In response, Kim Nam-gil chuckled, saying, "I did well because it was work" regarding 'Salon Drip 2' and added, "In my opinion, maintaining the rhythm with fellow actor Yoon Kyung-ho is challenging; I tend to get somewhat tired when the two are together. There’s no one-sided relation, but one tends to talk extensively while the other listens, and I find favor in that dynamic."
He elaborated, "The atmosphere on set was just like that of a talk show. If one actor has a more speaking style, then Young-kwang would respond with, 'Hmm, that's nice.' I only realized this later. Initially, I saw him as merely cautious. As time passed, I began to notice Young-kwang gradually becoming more talkative and engaged, which led me to understand why he might become more verbal during interactions."
Broadcaster Park Kyung-rim noted, "In contrast to previous works, their expressions have become much brighter," adding to the discussion. In response, Kim Young-kwang mentioned that he is slowly adapting to being less articulate but wants to express himself and feels a bit envious of his seniors. He conveyed, "As you can see, during filming, I listened closely to what my senior said, thought it through, followed along, and felt grateful for his guidance, making the process smoother."
Coincidentally, on the 20th, a gun-related tragedy occurred in Songdong, Incheon, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. An incident transpired when a man in his 60s, referred to as A, shot his son, a man in his 30s, B, with a shotgun containing steel pellets during a birthday celebration attended by his grandson, daughter-in-law, and acquaintances. B was hit in the chest by the pellets and was transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest through the 119 emergency response team but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Consequently, the live broadcast of 'Trigger' that was scheduled to be released on the 21st through Naver TV was canceled at the request of the organizers. Although Netflix did not specify a clear cancellation reason, it is believed to be a measure taken in consideration of the societal atmosphere resulting from the gun tragedy in Songdo.
In relation to this, director Kwon Oh-seung commented, "It’s heartbreaking that such unfortunate incidents have occurred, and I hope such things do not happen again," expressing his condolences to the bereaved families. Nevertheless, he added, "The correlation with the work seems to be a different issue."
He further noted, "The incidents involving guns in 'Trigger' might produce narratives or results that bring forth an entirely different approach from those yesterday. Therefore, it should be clear that while the tragic narratives belong to the incidents, the work should be regarded as its own entity. Ultimately, in light of the heated atmosphere prevailing in our society, if someone could seize the moment, I hope viewers see 'Trigger' as a means to understand and empathize with characters holding guns while concluding that such choices should be avoided."
Above all, the director emphasized, "We must never glorify crimes," and he reiterated, "Every single episode forms a part of the overall narrative of 'Trigger.' As this narrative unfolds, I trust that the connection leading to Lee Do's final voice will indicate that glorification is not part of this story. I urge everyone to watch until the end." Kil Hae-yeon similarly highlighted, "This work reinforces the belief that gun ownership is inherently wrong."
'Could 'Trigger' serve as a trigger in society? All episodes will be released on Netflix on Friday, the 25th at 4 p.m.'
[Photo] OSEN Reporter Park Jun-hyung.
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