[INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

Sat, September 23, 2023 | 07:33

Films

INTERVIEWActor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles

Posted : 2022-08-14 16:50

Updated : 2022-08-15 14:50

Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo in a scene from the film, "6/45" / Courtesy of Sidus

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Performing comedy is hard because everybody has a different sense of humor and jokes often don't translate the same way for other people. Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo is among very few powerful comedy actors who can parlay such a unique brand of humor into a film with his funny and flexible facial expressions.

However, this didn't happen overnight. He used to be a regular cast member of Saturday Night Live Korea and starred in the 2013 horror comedy film "Horror Stories II," which taught him how to make viewers roll with laughter.

"I learned from my previous experiences that humor builds on an emotional connection with audiences and it needs to be delivered in the most authentic way possible. It's usually the given situations where a character suffers misfortunes that generate laughter," he said during an interview with The Korea Times on Friday.

The 32-year-old actor also revealed why he came to appreciate comedy. "I hated comedy when I was young. I wanted to play cool, interesting characters. Then there was a time when I saw the audience's positive reaction to my comedic acting. It was rewarding to hear their laughter," he said.

In the uplifting comedy film "6/45," Ko stars as South Korean soldier Chun-woo who accidentally wins 5.7 billion won ($4.3 million) in the lottery. However, due to a gust of wind, the lottery ticket flies past the demilitarized zone and falls into the hands of a North Korean soldier called Yong-ho (Lee Yi-kyung). Centered on a modern-day cross-border incident, it depicts the secret friendship between soldiers of the two Koreas.

Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo / Courtesy of Sidus

The actor attributed the film's good jokes and funny elements to the amazing ensemble spirit between the actors.

"All the actors had good energy. They came in with an open mind and were excited to freely exchange ideas and opinions about certain scenes. That attitude enabled us to bring out the best in ourselves and deliver that to the audience," he said.

Ko shared that he doesn't obsess over lead roles but is looking for meaty roles whether that is a supporting role or a cameo role. Earlier in June, he starred in director Park Chan-wook's "Decision to Leave" as Hae-joon's (played by Park Hae-il) junior colleague, Soo-wan.

"At some point, after I landed on a lead role, I started to realize that I should try out more diverse roles. My goal was to become an actor, not a lead actor. I think it's important that I get to experiment with various roles," he said.

Ko is set to appear in several other projects, including Netflix's adventure film "Seoul Vibe" and tvN's series "MonWedFriTuesThursSat." He also joined the cast of the mystery thriller series "Connect" alongside actors Jung Hae-in and Kim Hye-yoon.

"Ever since my mother passed away in 2020, I let go of my past. She meant the world to me and my world collapsed when she was gone. I basically reset my life. Now I no longer feel tired or burdened because I already experienced what I feared the most ― losing my mom. After that, I try to not complain, express gratitude and cherish every opportunity," he said.

"6/45" will hit local theaters on Aug. 24.

yeons.kwak@koreatimes.co.kr