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| ▲ The cast of the upcoming Disney+ original series "Low Life" pose for photos at a press conference in Seoul on July 8, 2025. (Yonhap) |
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, July 8 (Yonhap) -- Director and writer Kang Yun-sung of the upcoming Disney+ original series "Low Life" said Tuesday his main focus for the series was creating vibrant and authentic characters.
"For the first time, I was able to build an entire cast of characters by working closely with the actors to discover each one's unique appeal," he said during a press conference in Seoul promoting the drama.
"I found the process incredibly fun," he said.
In order to achieve authenticity, the director relied heavily on the actors' own interpretations to shape their roles. Rather than strictly adhering to the script, he encouraged heavy inputs from actors.
"Most of the characters in the series were built by the actors themselves," he said. "I adapted the scenario based on the contributions each actor made to their role," he added.
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| ▲ A still from the upcoming series "Low Life" is seen in this image provided by Disney+. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Set in the 1970s, the story revolves around Gwan-seok (Ryu Seung-ryong) and his nephew Hee-dong (Yang Se-jong), who are eager to take on any job to earn money.
They are tasked with recovering an ancient treasure discovered off the coast. Their mission, however, turns into a fierce competition as they face off against treasure hunters from across the country, all vying for a share of the fortune.
It marks the first collaboration between the director and actor Ryu. Both have previously had major success with Disney+: the director helmed the popular series "Casino," while Ryu starred in the breakout hit "Moving."
The series is adapted from the acclaimed webtoon of the same name by Yoon Tae-ho, the renowned creator of "Misaeng," which sets high expectations for the TV series version.
Acknowledging the pressure of adapting such a beloved work, Kang said he tried not to stray too far from the original work.
His approach was "to follow the original's main plot as closely as I could, while filling in the gaps" to craft a fresh and engaging story.
After spending a year and a half writing the script, he collaborated with the actors to refine the details of each role, a process he said made the characters far richer.
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| ▲ Actor Ryu Sung-ryong poses for photos during a press conference for Disney+ original series "Low Life" in Seoul on July 8, 2025. (Yonhap) |
In addition to developing the characters, Kang poured equal effort into the show's setting and visual design to meticulously bring the 1970s to life.
"I set the goal of recreating the 1970s as authentically as possible, and I also wanted to vividly express the desires of ordinary people from that time," he said.
"Low Life" is scheduled to premiere on July 16 on Disney+.
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
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