[Photo]& Kwak Dong-yeon Spent Just 3 Hours on Special Makeup for Netflix’ “Kingdom of the Crown Prince” … “Poison Shot” Ad-Lib Before Enlistment

In the Netflix occult historical drama "Kingdom of the Crown Prince", actor "Kwak Dong-yeon", who seized global viewers’ attention with an overwhelming portrayal of an evil spirit, poured himself into a final burst of effort before enlisting. He not only endured "special makeup" sessions that came close to three hours every episode, but also left a heavy imprint that went beyond a leading role, including personally designing a signature "Poison Shot" scene that shifted the course of the drama.

A masterwork of sheer determination that turned a one-off plan into a five-month marathon

With "Kwak Dong-yeon" facing active-duty enlistment in the Army on the 25th of next month, he recently revealed behind-the-scenes details from a hard-fought interview conducted in Seoul’s Gangnam District. The prince role he initially took on was planned as a short-term special appearance. But based on a strong foundation of trust with the production team, the project he joined expanded into a five-month-long marathon. To portray the prince, who harbored resentment toward his father, King (played by "Jo Seung-woo"), and ultimately falls into becoming possessed by an evil spirit, he had to endure extreme physical pain. In the sweltering heat of midsummer, he spent about two to three hours each time on makeup work that covered his neck through his entire face with bond and silicone patches. Despite having to deal with patch pieces falling off as sweat poured in and even subtle facial acting becoming difficult under brutal conditions, he kept pushing through in silence to complete the drama.

"I’ll do the Poison Shot"… A decisive ad-lib that flipped the balance

What shone on set was not only patience. The "Poison Shot" scene that capped the work’s climax came entirely from his precise calculations and ideas. "Kwak Dong-yeon" decided that, if swallowing poison immediately triggers a physical transformation leading to death, then it made sense to take it without hesitation. The ad-lib he proposed directly to the director on set was accepted right away, and as a result it gave the narrative a powerful sense of persuasion.

The final battle in the last episode—where he faces off against Gu Cheon (played by "Nam Joo-hyuk")—was also the product of intense discussion. The initial setup focused on action that preserves the dignity of a prince, but to maximize the primal nature of the evil spirit when cornered, he rebuilt the action path with a daring new approach: charging forward on all fours like a beast. On top of that, the combination of wire work and chroma-key technology maximized the visual thrill.

The end of the first act of an acting life ahead of his 30th birthday—and a smart "intermission"

Even in the face of praise from critics and the public—saying he proved an explosive acting synergy by standing shoulder to shoulder with senior stars "Jo Seung-woo" and "Jang Young-nam"—he stayed firmly grounded. Under the philosophy that perfect satisfaction in acting does not exist, the explanation is that he learned to pour everything out every moment without regrets, while giving up any vague expectations about the outcome.

Born in 1997 and at the turning point of his 30th year, "Kwak Dong-yeon" defined the upcoming military service as an "intermission" to set up the second act of his acting career. Looking back at the path he has run with his eyes only on what’s ahead, he plans to use the time as an opportunity to rediscover the fine sensations of everyday life. The public’s disappointment about the gap will be different for two upcoming works from Korea and Japan that are set for release later this year. He said, "As actors on stage take a breath during the intermission and stock up the energy for Act Two, I will come back over the 18 months with fresh nourishment—deeper acting than before," and delivered a steadfast greeting.