Lest we bore you with the details you might already be familiar with, here, an interview with Wi Ha Jun who stars at K in “Bad and Crazy”. Lest we can introduce you to the series which can be viewed on iQiyi without much spoilers, it is about “bad and crazy” detectives who fight against police corruption.
Here, we’ll let Wi Ha Jun explain “Bad and Crazy” instead and most importantly, his role as crazy K.
Describe your role K in “Bad and Crazy” in three words.
Wi Ha Jun: “A righteous and crazy hero”. K is righteous, and he calls himself a hero. He’s crazy because he’s willing to take any risk and dives right in when he witnesses injustice.
Your role is impetuous, and he tries to realize justice by fair means or foul. What are some of the similarities you and your role share? Tell us K’s behavior that’s similar to yours.
Wi Ha Jun: I couldn’t stand it when something unjust happened when I was in school. So I got worked up and fought against it. That’s one similarity we share. Also, I make childish jokes and giggle with my close friends. I think that’s similar to how K and Su Yeol bicker with each other.
It seems like the drama, “Bad and Crazy” revolves around the chemistry between you and Lee Dong Wook. Tell us how you felt working with Dong Wook. How did you build your teamwork?
Wi Ha Jun: I thought the chemistry between Su Yeol and K was the key to this drama. When we actually began the shoot, we had better teamwork than I had imagined. That’s why I mentioned that I’d like to receive the Best Couple Award with him. It was a little pressuring at first because it was my first time meeting Dong Wook, but he led me well. He went along with the things I had practiced and prepared. He was really considerate and warm that I could be at ease while acting, and I learned a lot from him.
Photo Credit iQiyi
You starred in two works in 2021, “Squid Game” and “Bad and Crazy”. We’re curious about your future endeavors.
Wi Ha Jun: I’m going to star in two works simultaneously in the first half of 2022, and one of them will air in the second half of the year. It’s a completely different character from K, so I hope you’ll look forward to seeing it.
K is an individual with a crazy sense of justice. What do you think was the craziest behavior of K? And did you have a hard time shooting because of that? (You can tell us a spoiler. We’ll release the article timely.) Tell us if there’s anything you did because of your sense of justice.
Wi Ha Jun: I think his craziest behavior was when he drove a motorcycle at an incredible speed with Su Yeol on it, and when he smashed a car with the bike. It was a dynamic scene for the drama, but the staff members had to risk a lot for the scene. That’s why I remember that scene in particular. I tend to control my emotions and not cause any trouble to draw attention to me, but when I was young, I fought against anything injustice. So when I witnessed dating violence or anyone who disrupts public peace, I fought against it.
If you had another personality, what do you think he’d look like? What will you talk about with him?
Wi Ha Jun: I think he’ll have a child-like personality that has been hiding inside me. I was always under pressure to look strong and act like an adult, but I think I also have a pure and child-like side. He’ll probably tell me to let loose a bit and live however I want.
During the press conference, you mentioned that Lee Dong Wook helped you out a lot. I think you two have amazing chemistry. Is there anything Dong Wook did to express the bromance better? Did you two meet up after the shoot? Please share a story for the fans of your bromance.
Wi Ha Jun: There are so many stories to share that it’s hard to pick one. He always worked hard and shared his ideas. He always trusted me and went along with my performance. That’s why we had good chemistry and we could show our bromance. After the shoot, we met up along with other actors. We live nearby each other, so I want to see him from time to time if he allows.
You had many scenes with Lee Dong Wook. Who do you think was “crazier” and “worse”?
Wi Ha Jun: Rather than that, I thought Su Yeol’s day was too fully packed, and that Dong Wook was amazing to pull off such a crazy schedule.
Many fans fell for K’s beautiful smile. Have you practiced how to smile better to look more handsome? The worldwide fans who saw you on “Squid Game” think you look like the Taiwanese actor, Greg Hsu. Have you heard of this?
Wi Ha Jun: I practiced smiling a lot. I did it because my fans like my smiles, and I wanted to look natural and bright. I believe I look best when I smile. That helped me become more amiable and lively, so I think that helped improve my life. I do hear that I look like Greg Hsu, and it’s an honor because I really like him.
Photo credit iQiyi
K is a really unique character. He’s good at action and fighting, but he’s also humorous. What did you work on to pull off this character? Is there a movie or a character you referred to?
Wi Ha Jun: I got training for action scenes. There were many comical scenes, so I had to practice letting myself go first. I tried to stay excited most of the time, and I portrayed his feelings just like how I felt. I practiced loosening up and unlimiting myself. I watched movies like “Deadpool” and “Fight Club” and referred to the characters in those movies.
What was the most difficult scene of “Bad and Crazy”?
Wi Ha Jun: The action scene where I had to pour used oil all over my body in the first episode was the most difficult scene. Not only the actors but the staff members went through a lot. It was really slippery that it was difficult to finish each scene. We worked together and put a lot of effort into it. That’s why it’s the most memorable scene, and I was really proud when it turned out well. I think it’s one of the most unforgettable scenes.
What was the most difficult part of playing K?
Wi Ha Jun: It was the type of character I had never played, so I was worried and scared. K has various sides to him. He’s crazy, wild, funny, shy, and pure. It wasn’t easy at first. I kept limiting myself unconsciously and had doubts. The director helped me become more confident and gave detailed directions, so I decided to fully trust him and just go for it. That’s how I could overcome the limitations and let myself go. I found the craziness I had in me and could finally enjoy the shoot.
You pulled off the action scenes really well. What did you prepare prior to the shoot?
Wi Ha Jun: I’ve always liked action movies, so I’ve played various sports since I was young. I got some training before the shoot, which helped a lot. The stunt coordinator of “Bad and Crazy”, Kwon Tae Ho, pursues an action style that I like. We could come up with excellent action scenes thanks to him.
What are some of the similarities and differences between you and K?
Wi Ha Jun: I’m similar to K in a way that I’m somewhat righteous and like action scenes. K is uncontrollable, hot-tempered, pure, and child-like, whereas I’m rather reserved and blunt. Those are our differences.
Is there a movie or an actor that inspired you to become one? What do you think you’ll look like in the next five years?
Wi Ha Jun: I really liked action movies when I was young, and I vaguely dreamed of becoming like the actors in the movie while copying their moves. I came to Seoul when I was 19 with a dream of becoming a celebrity. I went to acting classes and saw a play called “Don’t Be Too Surprised”, which inspired me deeply. I was fascinated by acting which moved people’s hearts, and that play inspired me to become a good actor. I’m not sure what I’ll become in the next five years, but I hope I’ll be busy acting like now. I’m hoping that I’ll be able to show different sides of myself through new characters.
You’ve been busy ever since “Squid Game” was premiered. Do you get days off? Tell us what you do during your free time.
Wi Ha Jun: It’s nothing particular. On my days off, I get some rest, eat, and work out. That’s my daily routine. I love having coffee at a cafe in my neighborhood with my close friends and having delicious dinner and talking with them.
It’s the first drama after “Squid Game”, which earned you immense popularity. Were you under pressure?
Wi Ha Jun: I wasn’t pressured at all. I was confident “Bad and Crazy” would do well. I was excited to show a new side of me to my fans.
You’re continuously working on movies as well. Will we get to see different sides of you in movies? Is there a character you want to act in a movie?
Wi Ha Jun: I’m not working on any movies right now, but I love movies and I do want to work on them and show great performance through them. I want to show amazing action through a hard-boiled action movie, and I also want to act as a naive young man who lives in the countryside in a human drama.
Is there a memorable incident from the shoot?
Wi Ha Jun: In episode 7, Su Yeol and K get locked up in a courier truck where they’re put in an awkward and embarrassing situation. Dong Wook and I came up with a lot of ad-libs. We laughed a lot because the scene itself was really funny.
Once you’re done with this interview with Wi Ha Jun about his role as K in “Bad and Crazy”, click here to catch up with our December/January 2022 issue!
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