original in korean: レディーキョンヒャン 2008/01/13
trans-in-brief into japanese: snow onni / JOB
translated into chinese: kyouei / loveyongjoon
translated into english: happiebb / bb's blog


Jang Han Seung - 37 Years in Showbiz; Starred in TWSSG with 2nd Son

The TV drama TWSSG that ended its run on 5th Dec is a production that held all the sweat and passion poured in by the Song Jina/Kim Jong Hak partnership, top star Bae Yong Joon, Moon Sori, Ejiah, Yun Tae Young and many other actors and actressess. For one of the cast responsible for bringing the drama to such success, the actor who played General Black Helmet or Huk-gae, Jang Han Seung, to be able to work with his son on the same drama held special meaning for him.

Experiencing 3-Year Life & Death Battle with the Tae Wang

For Jang Han Seung, the filming of TWSSG was much much harder than any other filming at any time. In the past three years, he had gone through hallenges
such as extreme cold, hunger, endless waiting and also injuries. The filming could very aptly be described as 'a continuous battle'. But despite how tough and difficult it was, Jang Han Seung was unable to hide the reluctance to leave the team when it's all finished, the expression on his face told that he could not bear to walk away: "At the thought of the drama having ended, I feel terribly lost and sad."

"Just the armour alone was 20kg. In the past three years, we were wearing such thick and heavy armour, we suffered through the extreme cold and persisted with the filming work whilst waiting in hunger. But once the shooting was completed, I just could not suppress the feeling of emptiness and loss
that rises from the bottom of my heart. Especially for TWSSG, a production that has received such love from the many, many viewers, the feeling is even stronger."

In TWSSG, Jang Han Seung played the role of Huk-gae, the chief who stayed at Bae Yong Joon's side and helped him. This character with a seemingly rough and forward personality, but with such a fiercely loyal heart, and viewers loved him. But, it is said that in real life, Jang Han Seung's own personality is more of an introvert.

"Although my own personality tends to be more reserved and self-disciplined, but as an actor, I should be able to handle roles, whether strong or weak. Although my physical appearance looks tough and strong, but do you think I'm suitable to play Bae Yong Joon's role? So, I made myself become tougher and stronger in the drama." (laughs)

Throughout the filming of TWSSG, there were many incidents of injuries. Not only the leading man Bae Yong Joon, even the other actors, like Choi Min Soo, Park Sang Woo and others, also suffered injuries. Jang Han Seung who acted as General Huk-gae also suffered two falls from the horse.

"Because I've fallen from the horseback twice, the body got hit and was forced to really take care of and protect the body for the time being. Bae Yong Joon-ssi was hurt several times, Choi Min Soo also got injured and was hospitalized; as for PD Kim Jong Hak, even though he met with an accident, he pushed back his operation so that he could continue with the shooting. There really was too much hardship."

BYJ, Seriously Injured, Used Body-double at the End of the Drama

Recently, there was such talk amongst the netizens: 'Feel that the ending for TWSSG was too hurried and not powerful enough', and this raised much contentious discussions. Pertinent to this, Jang Han Seung said, "Regarding the last episode, I too feel that there're areas of regret. But because I know of things from the inside, so I can totally understand everything."

From the sound of things, the reason does seem to be the lack of production time and also the injuries suffered by the key actors.

Especially Bae Yong Joon's injuries, it is understood that his condition was so serious to the degree it was umimaginable.

"Bae Yong Joon-ssi who was shouldering the key role for the drama was really very seriously injured. Other than the cut on his finger, he also suffered injuries on his knee, waist and also his shoulders. In addition, his fatigue had reached the polar extreme, he was suffering badly due to all these. In the last month (of filming), he was unable to even take a single step without his crutches.

From that time, all the scenes that required him to hold the sword to duel and all fighting scenes involved using a body-double. In order to finish the drama, he could not even go to the hospital. It's difficult to even start to imagine how heavy the hearts of the people working alongside him as they tried to protect and care for him.

During that period, it was the entire TWSSG team's wish, be it the working crew and the cast, for Bae Yong Joon-ssi to be able to move, even if just a little.
Perhaps... to even persevere and persist on filming right till the very end with a body that is inflicted with so much injuries and pain is unbelievable in itself."

It must be the rush of feeling that came from conquering the physical pain and also the triumph of spirit over body when they finally complete the shooting.
On the last day of the filming, Bae Yong Joon and PD Kim Jong Hak hugged each other in silence, and tears just kept flowing continuously... And the rest of the crew also shed tears as they looked on with such respect.

Jang Han Seung has this to say about Bae Yong Joon, "Although he's a superstar, there is not even a single trace of arrogance and self-importance in him."

"No matter to the crew or the cast, Bae Yong Joon-ssi tries his best to treat everyone with a gentle and friendly attitude. Sometimes I would think like this:
Surely he's feeling agitated or upset on the inside, but we would never ever see a situation of him throwing his temper at the people around him. It is precisely because of this, he has always been a superstar."

Huk-gae and Tarugu
- Jang Han Seung & Kim Hyuk: Father & Son

Jang Han Seung and Kim Hyuk - real life father and son - also played father and son in the drama and this became a topic. Tarugu, the second son of General Huk-gae, is really Jang Han Seung's second son in real life. But at the beginning, no one knew about this, not PD Kim Jong Hak, not anyone else.

"I acted in this drama because of my previous acquaintance with PD Kim Jong Hak, whereas my second son was selected through an audition. I actually wasn't aware my second son took part in the audition for this drama. In the beginning, I felt that it was better that I didn't take up a role and had decided to withdraw, but it was PD Kim's advice and cajoling that I made up my mind to take up the role in this drama."

On the set, Kim Hyuk addressed Jang Han Seung as 'Teacher' and not 'Father'. So the TWSSG team all thought theirs was just a senior-junior relationship.
But whenever they had to move from location to location, the two of them would always take the same vehicle, so that puzzled some people. PD KIm Jong Hak was the first to notice it.

"Because PD Kim had noticed it and asked me about it, I then admitted that Kim Hyuk was my son. Then he asked me why I didn't tell him. Because I was working on the same drama as my second son, I had tried to be more careful. As for the rest of the crew, they basically didn't know until a year later."

(the rest omitted...)