K-pop idol and actor Hwang Chansung draws on years of martial arts discipline as a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo, channeling that precision and focus as a villain in the hit Bloodhounds 2.
He plays Tae Geom, a former soldier stripped of his stripes, who turns to the wrong side of the law as the right-hand man of Baek Jeong (Rain), the mastermind behind the illegal world of bare-knuckle boxing.
His character's emotional arc found resonance with viewers, as he tries to clutch at the last shreds of humanity in a world driven by greed and violence.
Chansung reveals that he doesn't see Tae Geom as a villain, but rather a man and a father with his back against the wall, forced to do bad things for his family.
He also talks about his on-screen dynamics with Rain, and the raw synergy as the two take each other on in brutal fight sequences.
Chansung recently made a cameo in the rom-com Yumi's Cells 3, and has been part of popular K-dramas such as What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and So I Married an Anti Fan.
He says the current global popularity of K-dramas has never been a yardstick for his choices, and that he looks for characters that deal with growth and inner struggle.
Given his expertise in martial arts, he says action is a space he is now drawn to more than ever, and wants to explore it more intensely.
He also talks about his time with 2PM, and how the group is gearing up for its debut anniversary concert in Japan this May.
Chansung says that when the members gather, he forgets the time they spent working solo, and it's like a time machine taking them back to the old days.
He also talks about the possibility of sharing screen space with his bandmates Ok Taecyeon and Lee Junho, who have also built successful acting careers.
Chansung says that he is always in progress, and that he defines himself as an artist constantly seeking growth and reinvention.
