Cha Kang Yoon has opened up about why he chose to star in “The Substitute,” the upcoming crime thriller set to premiere on November 23 — and how he prepared for one of the most demanding roles of his career.
Cha Kang Yoon in The Substitute (Credits: Soompi)
“The Substitute” is a crime thriller about three young men whose conflicting desires and personal struggles lead them toward an irreversible crime on the day of the college entrance exam. At the centre is a top-ranking student from a low-income family who attends a prestigious private high school on a special scholarship — and is forced to take the exam on behalf of a blackmailer who knows his secret.
Cha Kang Yoon plays Kang Geon Tae, the scholarship student at the heart of the story. Geon Tae has held the top spot in his class at Junggyeong High School, a prestigious private school attended by wealthy students. Despite his difficult circumstances, he has worked tirelessly to escape poverty and live an ordinary life like everyone else.
When asked why he chose the project, Cha Kang Yoon said it was a genre he had long wanted to challenge himself with: since it was not simply a school drama but a project infused with thrills and suspense, he felt it offered plenty of room to showcase what he could do as an actor.
The Substitute November 23 Premiere: What to Expect
The newly released stills hint at a performance full of emotional cracks beneath the model-student surface. In one image, Geon Tae’s eyes are red and brimming with tears, his expression suggesting he is struggling to contain his emotions. Another still shows him standing alone in the pouring rain, weighed down by what is coming.
One striking image shows Geon Tae grabbing Nam Jae Yeop (Bae Hyeon Seong) by the collar — a flash of raw anger from a character who has endured everything for the sake of an ordinary future. What drives him to finally snap, and how will the conflict between the two unfold? That question will be central to the drama’s suspense.
Speaking about his preparation, Cha Kang Yoon explained that Geon Tae wants an ordinary life yet endures things few people his age could handle. He spent a long time thinking about how Geon Tae would approach his friends and adults differently — his attitude, tone, and manner — trying to portray both his high school student side and his mature side. “I first thought about what Geon Tae would do in each situation, then worked hard to build the character by adding lines accordingly,” he said.
“The Substitute” premieres on November 23.
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Source: Soompi — read the full story there.