Actor Yang Se Jong opened up about his character Heedong in the Disney+ series ‘Low life', sharing candid thoughts on how different the role was from his own personality.
Fine, which wrapped up on the 13th, has continued to draw attention even after its finale. The drama earned praise for its flawless recreation of the 1970s and the cast’s powerful performances, maintaining the No. 1 spot on Disney+ since its release on July 16.
During an interview at a café in Jongno, Seoul, Yang recalled his first encounter with the script: “After reading it, I said yes the very next day. My heart was racing. I wanted to play someone raw and aggressive like Heedong.”
He explained, “Heedong and I are nothing alike. I tend to overthink, while Heedong is completely impulsive. That contrast made it fun to act. In real life, you don’t often meet people like him, so being able to express that side through drama gave me a sense of thrill.”
Yang also admitted he enjoyed the audience’s reactions: “When people said, ‘Wait, that’s Yang Se Jong?’ it felt great.”
Talking about Heedong’s shifting desires throughout the story, he said, “At first, he was driven by money. In the middle, it was Seonja (played by Kim Min), and by the end, it was his uncle Gwanseok (Ryu Seung Ryong). Since Heedong grew up following his uncle, I imagined he saw him as a father figure. For the final episodes, I acted with that mindset after discussing it with the director.”
When asked if leading such a star-studded project felt burdensome, Yang replied, “Rather than thinking I had to prove something, I focused on the script itself. I trusted the power of the story and tried to stay true to my character’s position and relationships.”
He also credited the production design for the show’s success: “The sets, costumes, and props played a huge role. From the moment we arrived on set, it truly felt like we were in that era. Even the smallest details were thoroughly researched, which made everything believable.”
With his striking transformation in Fine and the series’ realistic 1970s portrayal, Yang Se Jong has once again captured viewers’ attention. The drama is now available on Disney+.
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