Kwon Sang-woo leads easy-watching series 'Han River Police' on Disney+

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Kwon Sang-woo leads easy-watching series 'Han River Police' on Disney+

Published: 30 Sep. 2023, 07:00

LIM JEONG-WON
lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr

Actor Kwon Sang-woo, center-left, plays Doo-jin, a Han River patrol police officer who fights crime along the riverbanks of the Han River in Seoul, in Disney+'s ″Han River Police″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Sometimes, it's nice to just sit down and watch a relaxing drama or film that doesn't require much thinking. Disney+’s new original series “Han River Police” is just that kind of drama, according to veteran actor Kwon Sang-woo, who plays the lead in the new series.

“'Han River Police’ is about a group of officers who patrol the riverbanks of the Han River in Seoul and catch small crimes happening there, which is a very simple premise and also close to our everyday life,” Kwon said during an online interview with reporters on Sept. 21. “It’s not anything too special, but it’s something viewers can watch without having to think too much."

Kwon plays Han Doo-jin, a police officer working for the Mangwon branch of the Han River patrol squad. His character is a do-it-yourself type of person with a serious side, who does not hesitate to chase after suspects on his own and fight them with his bare fists. Kwon says he was lucky to have more time and opportunities to develop his character than he originally thought, as the story was initially created to be a single film.

Actor Kwon Sang-woo [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

“The storyline and character development changed when we decided to make it into a six-episode drama series instead of a feature film,” Kwon said. “We added both more comical scenes and scenes where Doo-jin’s serious side could be shown. That added more depth and complexity to my character.”

As “Han River Police” takes place mainly around a riverbank, there are many underwater scenes. Filming underwater action scenes wasn’t that hard for Kwon, who is unafraid of most things, the actor said.

“I don’t easily get scared or challenged by most things, and I feel joy from trying something new — so filming those underwater scenes came easily,” Kwon said. “I also thought that if it wasn’t for this particular drama I would probably never get to experience something like this. So I did it with a sense of fun and a lot of enjoyment, and the scenes turned out well.”

Many who have seen “Han River Police” have praised Kwon’s bromance with fellow cast member Kim Hee-won, and the diverse characteristics of the supporting characters and antagonists, played by Park Jeong-hwan, Sung Dong-il and Lee Sang-yi. The cast built a camaraderie while filming because of the particularly cold weather, which led to real friendships being shown on camera.

A scene from the Disney+ drama ″Han River Police″ [WALT DISNEY COMPANY KOREA]

Kwon, who debuted in 2001 through the television drama “Delicious Proposal,” rose to stardom with the hit romantic comedy “My Tutor Friend” (2003) and the melodrama series “Stairway to Heaven” (2003). Ever since then, Kwon hasn’t been able to shake off the pressure for his dramas and films to do well, the actor confessed.

“I feel pressure for each and every work that I end up doing — I don’t think it will go away,” Kwon said. “Another thing that bothers me is that after I got married, I haven't been getting as many roles in romantic comedies [laughs]. I am also waiting for a more serious role in a film to be shown to audiences by next year.”

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]