▲ This photo of actor Uhm Tae-goo, starring in comedy film "Wild Sing," is provided by Lotte Entertainment. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE)(Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, May 29 (Yonhap) -- "These days, I find myself talking a lot and joking around on set. I don't think I'm as introverted as I used to be anymore."

 

Actor Uhm Tae-goo, widely known in the entertainment industry for his introverted personality, said appearing in director Son Jae-gon's comedy film "Wild Sing" seems to have made him more outgoing than before.

 

During an interview at a cafe in central Seoul on Thursday, Uhm reflected on the changes he experienced while filming the movie, set to open June 3.

 

"Wild Sing" tells the story of Hyun-woo, Sang-gu and Domi -- members of a once-popular coed group from the 2000s -- who reunite for a performance 20 years later. Gang Dong-won plays Hyun-woo, while Uhm portrays Sang-gu, the rapper of the trio Triangle. Park Ji-hyun stars as Domi.

 

Uhm said he was drawn to the project because everything about it felt new for audiences.

 

"Whether it was the comedy genre itself, the character I played, or the dancing and rapping, I thought all of it would come across as something fresh," he said.

 

The actor said he even spent several months training intensely in rap while frequently visiting JYP Entertainment.

 

"When filming the stage scenes, I kept thinking, 'If I'm not cute right now, I'd rather die,' and threw in winks," he said with a laugh. "It was a side of myself I had never shown before, so there was a lot of inner conflict."

 

He added that the dedication shown by his fellow actors motivated him as well.

 

"Seeing senior actor Gang Dong-won completely drenched in sweat in the practice room looked like a rookie actor passionately working on his very first film," Uhm recalled. "It inspired me a lot, and that's why I worked even harder on my rap training at JYP."

 

▲ The main cast and director of comedy film "Wild Sing" attend the press conference for comedy film "Wild Sing" held in Seoul on May 18, 2026. (Yonhap)

 

Director Son also expressed satisfaction with the actors' efforts to portray the unfamiliar roles of 2000s-style idols.

 

"I cast Uhm Tae-goo thinking, 'It'll be funny if he raps,' but he was probably under a lot of stress worrying whether he could pull it off," Son said.

 

"He became extremely persistent about rap training," the director added. "Even I didn't realize until later how often he had been going back and forth to JYP."

 

According to Son, Gang Dong-won was equally immersed in choreography practice.

 

"Even during regional shoots, he rented separate practice spaces and brought in choreographers to rehearse," Son said. "I realized he's an actor who never approaches any project halfheartedly."

 

Describing Park Ji-hyun, who plays the group's center and main vocalist Domi, Son said she is "mentally healthy, someone who never shrinks back or tries to act cool no matter the situation."

 

Son is known for directing comedy films such as "Secret Zoo," "Villain and Widow" and "My Scary Girl." "Wild Sing" marks his first directorial work in six years.

 

"I'm worried about how audiences will respond since it's been six years since my last film," he said. "But while writing comedy scripts, I think my own mindset also became more optimistic."

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