[Photo &] Eom Taegoo, an introvert, teams up with Kang Dong-won to form an idol group… JYP rap boot camp for “Wild Thing” — on-set interview

Rebellion of the introvert, ripping through the screen to break out of 'Wild Thing'

Eom Taegoo recalled, "I saw Senior Kang Dong-won at the practice room, his whole body drenched in sweat, and it looked like a rookie actor shooting his first film, throwing himself into it with passion and working hard. I was greatly stimulated, so I went to JYP and started working even harder on my rap."

Eom Taegoo, an actor widely known as the entertainment industry’s go-to introvert, pulls off an unprecedented bold makeover through the comedy film 'Wild Thing'. Set for release next month on Sept. 3, the film tells the story of a fictional popular mixed-gender idol group 'Triangle' that dominated the 2000s and reunites after 20 years. Landing the role of 'Sang-gu', the rap担当, he showed a relentless drive to go through punishing rap training at 'JYP Entertainment' for several months in pursuit of a perfect character immersion. His confession that he winked repeatedly in front of the camera with a grim determination of “If it’s not cute, I’ll die” promises a fresh shock for audiences beyond his internal conflict, signaling what he will throw their way. The passion from his fellow cast members also proved a powerful force that drove him forward. In particular, he said that Senior 'Kang Dong-won', who dedicated himself to dance practice while soaking his entire body in sweat, was so overwhelming that it brought back memories of his mindset in his rookie days.

“Madcap” determination from actors witnessed by maestro 'Son Jae-gon'

Director Son said, "I cast Eom Taegoo because I thought, 'If Eom Taegoo does rap, it’ll be funny.' But he probably stressed out a lot, thinking, 'What if I can’t pull off the rap?'."

Holding the megaphone, director 'Son Jae-gon' praises the actors’ tireless efforts without limits. He cast 'Eom Taegoo' in hopes of exploiting the fun of off-beat rhythm, but the rumor is that Eom devoted himself relentlessly to practice amid extreme stress, shuttling between large agencies. The perfectionism of 'Kang Dong-won', who doesn’t compromise, also shone. Even during a local location shoot, his obsession to rent practice rooms with his own money and call in choreographers serves as a key pillar that elevates the film’s level of completion. In addition, toward 'Park Ji-hyun', who plays main vocalist 'Dom-ee', he expressed deep trust, saying, "He is the owner of an unshakable mindset who never gets flustered no matter what kind of pressure."

A distinctive comedy that broke a 6-year silence, signaling a shake-up at theaters

'Sweet, Savage Lovers' and 'The Villain Upstairs' opened a new horizon for Korean-style black comedy, and now director 'Son Jae-gon' returns after six years. With a new work presented after a long hiatus, public expectations are at their highest. The director previously said, "While writing the comedy script, even my attitude toward life changed to become more optimistic," and attention is on how the film’s explosive cheerfulness will spark what kind of ripple in theaters.