Korean superstar Jang Dong-gun stars in the new Hollywood film The Warrior’s Way, which is a cross-cultural fantasy that mixes action and romance with stunning visual effects. Barrie Osborne is the producer (The Lord of the Rings and Matrix), and Sngmoo Lee is the Korean director.
Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean), Danny Huston (Robin Hood), and Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) also are cast in The Warrior’s Way.
Jang Dong-gun is one of the most popular actors in Korea and Asia. His film Friend and The Brotherhood of War broke box office records in South Korea.
Jang Dong-gun came to Los Angeles last month to promote his Hollywood debut. In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Jang Dong-gun (through an interpreter) spoke about his most recent movie, the movie business, personal observations about life, and how his life changed by becoming a father.
The Epoch Times: On the poster, it says “Assassin, Hero, Legend.” It seems Yang is a role with a rich and complicated character. What’s your understanding of Yang? What was most challenging in presenting this character?
Jang Dong-gun: My character, Yang, has no humanity. He has no human emotions at the beginning of the film. As time passes, he slowly gains some. Then, he realizes that it’s much better to give than to receive.
I think one of the most challenging things in trying to do this role is how you portray someone who is a warrior, who is a lethal weapon when living a very ordinary daily life. So I’m not trying to show a stereotypical warrior image through this character. I am trying to show this kind of warrior in daily life. That’s the most difficult part.
The Epoch Times: What’s the most impressive scene for you in this movie?
Jang Dong-gun: In the film, my character is someone who kills everybody, I mean everybody, but he cannot kill this kid. And because of that, he has a hard time all the way to the end of film.
Originally, I was thinking this guy pretty much kills everybody, how come he cannot kill this baby? Now that I am a father, I will be able to do this scene much better because I know how he feels.
Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush (Pirates of the Caribbean), Danny Huston (Robin Hood), and Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) also are cast in The Warrior’s Way.
Jang Dong-gun is one of the most popular actors in Korea and Asia. His film Friend and The Brotherhood of War broke box office records in South Korea.
Jang Dong-gun came to Los Angeles last month to promote his Hollywood debut. In an exclusive interview with The Epoch Times, Jang Dong-gun (through an interpreter) spoke about his most recent movie, the movie business, personal observations about life, and how his life changed by becoming a father.
The Epoch Times: On the poster, it says “Assassin, Hero, Legend.” It seems Yang is a role with a rich and complicated character. What’s your understanding of Yang? What was most challenging in presenting this character?
Jang Dong-gun: My character, Yang, has no humanity. He has no human emotions at the beginning of the film. As time passes, he slowly gains some. Then, he realizes that it’s much better to give than to receive.
I think one of the most challenging things in trying to do this role is how you portray someone who is a warrior, who is a lethal weapon when living a very ordinary daily life. So I’m not trying to show a stereotypical warrior image through this character. I am trying to show this kind of warrior in daily life. That’s the most difficult part.
The Epoch Times: What’s the most impressive scene for you in this movie?
Jang Dong-gun: In the film, my character is someone who kills everybody, I mean everybody, but he cannot kill this kid. And because of that, he has a hard time all the way to the end of film.
Originally, I was thinking this guy pretty much kills everybody, how come he cannot kill this baby? Now that I am a father, I will be able to do this scene much better because I know how he feels.
The Epoch Times: Hollywood has a long-standing history of making great movies in the world. You worked with the top Korean and Chinese filmmakers, and the top Hollywood filmmaker and actors. What do you think the Asian filmmakers and actors can learn from Hollywood?
Jang Dong-gun: Hollywood is the place you can make your imagination and creativity come true. They have the technology to do that and the capital to do that. And the reason for that is because they have such a wide audience.
In the case of Asian filmmakers or Korean filmmakers, I think in terms of ideas, they have just as good ideas or even better ideas than Hollywood. The big difference is that they don’t quite have the technology and capital to put those ideas into the reality of film yet. So we could learn from Hollywood technology.
The Epoch Times: When you were shooting your photo album in London in a castle several years ago, you mentioned about your past life. … How do you feel about the influence of past-life experiences on your life? Now that you played a role as a Western legend, do you feel anything from your past related to this?
Jang Dong-gun: When I was shooting in London the story you are talking about, someone who was doing the interview said he could see my past lives, and commented about it. I think if I really had been a Western gunman, that would be very closely linked to this film now.
I’m a Buddhist. I do think a lot about my past lives and also my next life because of reincarnation. Maybe that’s why I didn’t feel so strange doing this film. I can’t remember any of my past lifetimes. What I am doing is, I’m thinking about my next lifetime, [and] so I’m trying to do good things in this lifetime.
Jang Dong-gun: Hollywood is the place you can make your imagination and creativity come true. They have the technology to do that and the capital to do that. And the reason for that is because they have such a wide audience.
In the case of Asian filmmakers or Korean filmmakers, I think in terms of ideas, they have just as good ideas or even better ideas than Hollywood. The big difference is that they don’t quite have the technology and capital to put those ideas into the reality of film yet. So we could learn from Hollywood technology.
The Epoch Times: When you were shooting your photo album in London in a castle several years ago, you mentioned about your past life. … How do you feel about the influence of past-life experiences on your life? Now that you played a role as a Western legend, do you feel anything from your past related to this?
Jang Dong-gun: When I was shooting in London the story you are talking about, someone who was doing the interview said he could see my past lives, and commented about it. I think if I really had been a Western gunman, that would be very closely linked to this film now.
I’m a Buddhist. I do think a lot about my past lives and also my next life because of reincarnation. Maybe that’s why I didn’t feel so strange doing this film. I can’t remember any of my past lifetimes. What I am doing is, I’m thinking about my next lifetime, [and] so I’m trying to do good things in this lifetime.
The Epoch Times: How do you feel about being a new dad?
Jang Dong-gun: It hasn’t really sunk in yet. And since my baby was born, I have had to go out-of-town to work on a new film, so I haven’t really seen him all that much yet. So I feel really bad toward my wife and my kid.
So because now I am a dad, every time when I hear a story or a new story, or I read an article that has something to do with my kid, I pay a lot of attention to it. And because he is getting all this unwanted attention that he didn’t ask for, I feel very responsible that I need to protect him.
The Epoch Times: Are you concerned that your son may not be able to live a normal life since you and your wife are under the spotlight all the time?
Jang Dong-gun: Yes, I am concerned. But I am trying to think positively. So, yes, I will protect him. I will take all attention that he is receiving and try to make it a positive thing, and move toward a positive direction for him. And … it is my responsibility as a parent to take care of him, and also lead him to the right way. So I will take care of him, and lead him to the right way, and try to take care of all the little details as well.
The Epoch Times: You just gave your son a beautiful name. What kind of person do you expect him to be?
Jang Dong-gun: I want my son to have a really big heart and be very manly. And I would like him to be very considerate of everyone so that a lot of people will follow him and listen to him. And I want him to be a cool guy who has a lot of followers. [Here the interpreter interrupted with, “Like you.” Mr. Jang laughed.], Yeah, like me.
Jang Dong-gun: It hasn’t really sunk in yet. And since my baby was born, I have had to go out-of-town to work on a new film, so I haven’t really seen him all that much yet. So I feel really bad toward my wife and my kid.
So because now I am a dad, every time when I hear a story or a new story, or I read an article that has something to do with my kid, I pay a lot of attention to it. And because he is getting all this unwanted attention that he didn’t ask for, I feel very responsible that I need to protect him.
The Epoch Times: Are you concerned that your son may not be able to live a normal life since you and your wife are under the spotlight all the time?
Jang Dong-gun: Yes, I am concerned. But I am trying to think positively. So, yes, I will protect him. I will take all attention that he is receiving and try to make it a positive thing, and move toward a positive direction for him. And … it is my responsibility as a parent to take care of him, and also lead him to the right way. So I will take care of him, and lead him to the right way, and try to take care of all the little details as well.
The Epoch Times: You just gave your son a beautiful name. What kind of person do you expect him to be?
Jang Dong-gun: I want my son to have a really big heart and be very manly. And I would like him to be very considerate of everyone so that a lot of people will follow him and listen to him. And I want him to be a cool guy who has a lot of followers. [Here the interpreter interrupted with, “Like you.” Mr. Jang laughed.], Yeah, like me.
Continued on the next page...
The Epoch Times: What kind of father do you expect yourself to be?
Jang Dong-gun: Actually, I’m only a beginner of a father. And I am a very new father. And because the environment that myself and my wife provide is very unusual, I am a little concerned [about] the environment that he is going to grow up in.
What I am trying to do is to make the best of it, and help him to move in the positive direction. For me, I’m still not familiar with, not used to the fact that I have a family. I’m the head of the family, and I have the people that I have to protect. But I’m pretty confident I will do a good job in the end. I will keep on trying to be a good father.
The Epoch Times: The entertainment business is not a pure land. You also had experiences in which people took advantage of you and let you down. Your friend said you have an old soul with purity and innocence. How do you keep your serenity and purity when you run into those things?
Jang Dong-gun: I believe I had my share of hardship. But ultimately, those things haven’t really affected me in my career and in doing my job—because the most important thing is that I believe I am developing myself. So I try to think in a positive way. I try to say, “Well, they probably could not help with that, they probably have extenuated circumstances.”
Jang Dong-gun: Actually, I’m only a beginner of a father. And I am a very new father. And because the environment that myself and my wife provide is very unusual, I am a little concerned [about] the environment that he is going to grow up in.
What I am trying to do is to make the best of it, and help him to move in the positive direction. For me, I’m still not familiar with, not used to the fact that I have a family. I’m the head of the family, and I have the people that I have to protect. But I’m pretty confident I will do a good job in the end. I will keep on trying to be a good father.
The Epoch Times: The entertainment business is not a pure land. You also had experiences in which people took advantage of you and let you down. Your friend said you have an old soul with purity and innocence. How do you keep your serenity and purity when you run into those things?
Jang Dong-gun: I believe I had my share of hardship. But ultimately, those things haven’t really affected me in my career and in doing my job—because the most important thing is that I believe I am developing myself. So I try to think in a positive way. I try to say, “Well, they probably could not help with that, they probably have extenuated circumstances.”
In this business, sometimes you get blamed. They blame you not because of something you really did, and they are usually not accurate. … And I believe that as long as I know what the truth is, then I don’t worry too much about other people affecting me. I just believe what’s important is what I know and what I believe. And when I do that, then those outside forces and elements do not really bother me.
The Epoch Times: From your first TV drama in 1993 to your Hollywood debut, in 17 years, you’ve overcome prejudice and challenges, and achieved success in career and life. Can you share your experience and some advice for those who are still struggling?
Jang Dong-gun: I think that the way that people live their lives and [how] they cope, the size and intensity of their concerns and what they most worry about, no objective guideline or objective standard exists. It’s all very subjective. Even though everybody is in a different situation, subjectively speaking, what they worry about is equally strong or equally challenging to them.
The Epoch Times: From your first TV drama in 1993 to your Hollywood debut, in 17 years, you’ve overcome prejudice and challenges, and achieved success in career and life. Can you share your experience and some advice for those who are still struggling?
Jang Dong-gun: I think that the way that people live their lives and [how] they cope, the size and intensity of their concerns and what they most worry about, no objective guideline or objective standard exists. It’s all very subjective. Even though everybody is in a different situation, subjectively speaking, what they worry about is equally strong or equally challenging to them.
And I learned from my experience that having a positive attitude is extremely important, whether you are born with that kind of attitude or whether you really work at it, and think positively. And I think that if you do think positively, and you are trusting yourself, then I think everyone can achieve success. And I know from experience that you can be positive through one’s work.
The Epoch Times: Four years ago, you came here to promote a Korean movie. Now four years later, you come here to promote a Hollywood movie. How do you feel about your life and career?
Jang Dong-gun: Like you said, I was here four years ago to promote the film Typhoon released in North America. This time, the circumstance is obviously very different. At the time, the film was released in a very small number of theaters. This time, the film release is made through a system that will enable a lot more people to see this film. But fundamentally, I don’t think things have changed that much.
In the past four years, a lot of things happened to me in my personal life. I am also in several films. I also enjoyed my time a little bit more as an actor. I also feel that I have matured as well. As a male actor, I am actually looking forward to aging. I am very excited about imagining what I could be doing and where, and what film I will be talking about with you in four years’ time.
The Epoch Times: Thank you so much!
The Epoch Times: Four years ago, you came here to promote a Korean movie. Now four years later, you come here to promote a Hollywood movie. How do you feel about your life and career?
Jang Dong-gun: Like you said, I was here four years ago to promote the film Typhoon released in North America. This time, the circumstance is obviously very different. At the time, the film was released in a very small number of theaters. This time, the film release is made through a system that will enable a lot more people to see this film. But fundamentally, I don’t think things have changed that much.
In the past four years, a lot of things happened to me in my personal life. I am also in several films. I also enjoyed my time a little bit more as an actor. I also feel that I have matured as well. As a male actor, I am actually looking forward to aging. I am very excited about imagining what I could be doing and where, and what film I will be talking about with you in four years’ time.
The Epoch Times: Thank you so much!
