Harper’s Bazaar Korea unveiled its September issue pictorial with Jang, who serves fresh, cinematic boyish charm in one frame and a bold, hard-edged gaze in the next ― a striking study in contrasts.
In the accompanying interview, Jang discussed his upcoming SBS Friday-Saturday drama "The Mantis: Original Sin" (written by Lee Young-jong, directed by Byun Young-joo). The high-density crime thriller picks up more than 20 years after the notorious serial killer known as “Mantis” is caught ― only for a string of copycat murders to erupt. To crack the case, a detective enters an uneasy alliance with the person he’s hated his whole life: his mother, the original “Mantis.”
Asked why he chose to play Cha Soo-yeol, the son of serial killer Jung Yi-shin(played by Ko Hyun-jung), Jang said, “It was largely because of director Byun Young-joo. I signed on because I trust him. I was excited to see how he would explore human conflict and emotion within a thriller, like he did in 'Helpless.' It was challenging, but I approached it with a good kind of responsibility and nerves.”
On the toughest part of playing Soo-yeol, he explained, “I needed to juxtapose the moments when he vents his resentment toward his mother with his day-to-day demeanor as a detective who hasn’t faced her yet. If I wasn’t careful, the emotions could tip over. I talked a lot with the director about calibrating those fine emotional beats.”
Jang also reflected on acting itself. When asked if there was a moment he became certain he’d keep acting, he said, “It wasn’t one dramatic moment ― I’m always checking myself. Am I on the right path as an actor? Am I growing the right way? I believe I’m headed in the right direction, even if it’s slow,” adding, “I want to do this for a long time. Expressing life, having all kinds of experiences, always learning ― that’s what makes it so fun. I feel the most alive on set.”
"The Mantis: Original Sin" premieres Sept. 5 at 9:50 p.m. on SBS.
[Photo= Harper’s Bazaar Korea]
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)