On December 11, actor Ji Chang-wook sat down for an interview with iMBC in Jongno-gu, Seoul, following the conclusion of the Disney+ original series The Manipulated.
The drama follows Taejung, played by Ji Chang-wook, an ordinary man whose life is shattered after he is wrongfully framed for a violent crime and imprisoned. Determined to regain his life, he seeks revenge on Yohan, the man who orchestrated everything.
Ji Chang-wook portrayed Park Tae-jung, a character whose life is “broken into pieces,” and received praise for his raw performance and emotional depth. Reflecting on the project, he admitted that it was one of the most physically demanding roles of his career. He explained that the emotional weight of the character, who constantly endures suffering and anguish, added to the difficulty.
The series also required an intense amount of action. Ji Chang-wook said that the stunt ratio was “about 50 percent stunt double, 50 percent myself,” adding that he personally performed stunts whenever he felt confident he could do better than his double.
After delivering strong performances in a string of gritty Disney+ titles, including The Worst of Evil, Gangnam B-Side, and The Manipulated, viewers began calling him “Disney+’s son.”
Ji Chang-wook responded with a laugh, saying he felt nothing but appreciation. “I’m always grateful,” he said. “Being hired and having people invest in me means that I have value as an actor. That makes me want to work even harder.”
He continued, “As an employee, I feel deeply thankful to those who hired me. I push myself so they won’t ever think they made a ‘wrong decision.’ I try to approach every project with that mindset.”
Ji Chang-wook also spoke about his upcoming Korean–Japanese joint drama Merry Berry Love with Japanese actress Mio Imada. “I wanted to start something new, so I decided to take on a collaborative project,” he shared. “Working with Japanese actors and staff as a Korean actor, and creating a drama that communicates with Japanese audiences, feels fresh and exciting.”
The final episode of The Manipulated was released on December 3.
Sources: Daum
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