SEOUL - Ji Chang-wook, known for his roles in various popular TV series, takes on a complex character in the new Disney+ crime thriller, "The Worst of Evil," where he plays an undercover cop embroiled in moral ambiguity and personal dilemmas.
According to a new release by Yonhap News Agency, Ji portrays Park Jun-mo, an undercover cop who infiltrates an international drug cartel while also striving to protect his wife, another cop assigned to the same mission. In an interview, the actor emphasized that he did not take a moral stance against his character. "When I play a character, I don't morally judge it. There is no clear line that demarcates good from evil," Ji said.
The actor instead focused on understanding and portraying why Jun-mo makes the choices he does and how he mentally deteriorates over time. "Jun-mo does what he does because he can't stop himself, like by the law of inertia. I portrayed Jun-mo's mindset of constantly justifying and rationalizing his choices," Ji explained.
The 12-episode series is set in Seoul in the 1990s and revolves around the complicated relationships among Jun-mo, his wife Yoo Eui-jung, portrayed by Im Se-mi, and Jung Gi-cheol, played by Wi Ha-joon, who is the head of a major crime syndicate involved in drug trade between South Korea, China, and Japan.
Since his debut in the 2008 indie film "Sleeping Beauty," Ji Chang-wook has gained recognition through popular TV series such as "The K2" (2016) and "Suspicious Partner" (2017). According to Ji, "The Worst of Evil" presents a robust narrative that delves deep into the complexities of each character.
Ji expressed high regard for the production team, Sanai Pictures, noting their previous work on "New World," a 2013 South Korean epic crime film. "I had high expectations of working with the team, as they have done similar projects before and proved they excel at this kind of genre," Ji said.
The actor further detailed that the TV series offers a more in-depth exploration of the intricate dynamics between characters while preserving the essence of the crime noir genre. "I tried to portray Jun-mo as a dynamic, three-dimensional character and show the depth of how he changes and becomes ruined in the series," he said.
"The Worst of Evil" premiered on September 27 with its first three episodes and is set to release its final three episodes on Wednesday.