Before its highly-anticipated premiere, Island lead cast and director attended the press conference to share what viewers should look forward to in the series.
Kim Nam Gil, Lee Da Hee, Cha Eun Woo, Sung Joon, and director Bae Jong are present at the event.
Island traverses the journey of the characters who are destined to fight against the “evil” that is trying to destroy the world.
The series is based on the webtoon of the same name by writers Yoon In-wan and Yang Kyung-il. It was remastered as a webtoon 19 years after its publication in 1997 and later became popular as it was serialized on Naver Webtoon.
Notably, the fantasy-action to be highlighted in the drama is set to unfold in the background of Jeju Island, which brims with folk tales.
Explaining the reason why he decided to direct Island, Director Bae Jong revealed:
“Before doing this drama, I established my own principles for selecting works. When Island was first offered, I looked at it with the intention of rejecting it.
But after the filming has ended, it became clear to me that the original work is stimulating and attractive. I think that’s why I’ve come this far.”
Actor Kim Nam Gil suits up as Ban, who endured thousands of years to fight against the jeongyeomgwi, a demon that attacked the mysterious island of Jeju.
Conveying his sentiments on taking part in the drama, he said:
“I have been a fan of Island webcomic for a long time. As a matter of fact, Director Bae Jong and I had the same sentiments — in my case, I turned down the offer twice. For me, the drama’s actualization was burdensome.
Even if the industry has developed a lot, I wondered why Island had not been made into live-action. But before that, as I was a fan of the original version, I thought it would be worth it because it was popular.
I didn’t have the confidence to do well on my own, so I worried a lot about disappointing myself. When I came to my senses, I found myself working with the actors in Jeju Island.”
Presenting his character Ban, Kim Nam Gil detailed:
“He has a charm of being both human and not human. Since it is a fantasy genre, I think he is more on the supernatural side.
In the original work, there was less explanation as to why he was such a person. I established some adjustments and it was appealing because he is a persona that could express the emotional pain of the characters.”
On the other hand, Sung Joon takes on the role of Gung Tan, a being abandoned by the world. He was raised by a monk with Ban. The two were trained to defeat evil. After an unexpected incident, Gung Tan had no choice but to go against Ban.
“Island is a meaningful project and a big challenge. I was worried because it was different from the roles I have played so far. Since it’s also an action drama, our physical health is at high risk, so I wondered if I could do well or if I was causing inconvenience. Thankfully, Nam Gil hyung supported and encouraged me.”
Director Bae Jong then piques the interest of the audience by saying:
“Those who have seen the original work will know. It has a dark, rough, cynical, and in some ways, indulgent charm. I thought we will have trouble bringing it to life.
I wanted to give it a little more layers, so I examined it closely and it has a subtle sadness. Looking for an actor that could express that emotion, the saddest eyes were Kim Nam-gil’s.”
Turning sentimental, Lee Da Hee expressed her affection for the drama:
“When I first met Director Bae Jong, Kim Nam Gil, and the actors, the afterimage of every moment remains.
It was such a precious piece. We filmed around this time, and when I think of it again, I get emotional. At that time, it was difficult and I thought about wanting to get out of Jeju Island. Now, I think of it as a precious moment. The image I have is not a subtle feeling. It is similar to respect.
However, there are a few more delicate emotions in it. I think a variety of colors came out from that point.”
Lee Da Hee talked about playing her character and went on to say:
“To be honest, there was another actor who was set for the role before I did it. I thought to myself, “I can do well too.” and I would like to play this character by being active. I also looked up webtoons because I wanted to play Miho.
Before that, I used to do a lot of girl-crush roles. I draw Miho’s image in my mind, the casting itself that I’m currently set up, and so was the director. There was also the thought of being able to work with actor Kim Nam Gil. It was fascinating when I first experience it. The director’s work was something I admired since I was young, and it was good to do it with such a director.
Being able to do this drama with such people is what I wanted to do in my life. It seemed like a project that would never come again, so I was more desperate.”
ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo plays Giovanni, the youngest exorcist who exercises the power of God. On playing his role in the drama, the singer-actor revealed:
“It’s a priest role that is not a common job, so I asked about this to different people while watching related movies and dramas, especially what Kim Nam Gil did.
It was easy to move because I talked a lot with him about the same thing and said that he thought it would be better to ask the wardrobe team for the costume.
The most memorable moment while filming is when Kim Nam Gil finished his scene, he pats my shoulder and says to me “Eun Woo, just breathe.” It was a short and simple word, but I think it gave me a lot of strength.”
In response, Kim Nam Gil praised Cha Eun Woo’s beauty by saying:
“As I turned around and looked at Cha Eun Woo wearing his costume, I am speechless.”
Regarding the reason for setting the background of Island in Jeju Island, director Bae Jong explained:
“When I thought of Island, I couldn’t help but think of Jeju Island. When goblins were incorporated into Jeju Island, there was a feeling that something could not be cured, so I thought of the sad memories of Jeju.
In the past, it was a place of exile, and during the Japanese colonial period, it was also a war base. I thought I had to add sadness to this story.
Also, I thought it would be more fun than the original if I took the two-sided parts, such as the darkness of Jeju’s day and night, and the confrontation between the East and the West. There will be a mixture of laughter and sadness.”
When asked what he thought was the most important externally, Sung Joon answered:
“Whenever I play another character, I study how I will react in certain situations. But I thought Goong Tan’s case was pure and inherent. Instinctively, I thought about how I could accept sadness and emptiness. I reflected a lot about the method.”
Island will not be dropping the whole season at once. Instead, it will be released in parts 1 and 2. In response, Director Bae Jong announced:
“We filmed parts 1 and 2 at once. The first part will be released on December 30, and the second part will be released in the first half of next year.”
On the question of the CG work, Director Bae Jong goes into detail:
“I’m still working on it. In the drama, there is a forest ghost and monster, and some chastity demons flock out in droves. It has a high level of difficulty that is tough to materialize. I’m trying my best not to be embarrassed. It’s a battle between time and money, and I’m trying to do it effectively. It may be regrettable, but I’m doing my best.”
At the end of the year, various works are pouring out through OTT.
When asked about the competitive edge of Island, Director Bae Jong asserted:
“There was one thing I wanted to do after receiving the first offer. In this type of [monster] genre, there are a lot of supernatural beings. So I wondered if it was necessary to do it at this time. It was also difficult to do a completely new genre.
I suggested applying the mythical aspect of Jeju in the ‘goblin’ genre. There are also many imaginary parts expressed and slight differences in sentiments.
I don’t know if it will be seen as a strength, but I think it will provide a new experience for the majority of viewers.”
Expressing his confidence in Island, Kim Nam Gil guarantees:
“Personally, I think this genre is difficult. Even if it is a fantasy drama that uses CG, I think the story should be packed, solid, and equally important as the CG. I think the emotion and story will be good just like other OTT dramas. The only difference is, the things you can see from this work, I think, are more colorful than other genres.”
TVING’s original series Island will be released on December 30.
Meanwhile, international fans can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
Source | Photos: Sports Donga, Sports Chosun
