The cast of 'Low Life' talked about their experiences in filming the upcoming Disney+ series

Ahead of their premiere on July 16, the cast and director of the upcoming Disney+ series “Low Life” talked with the press and discussed their experiences in filming their new project.

Present at the press conference is a stellar lineup of actors: Ryu Seungryong, Yang Sejong, Lim Soojung, Kim Euisung, Kim Seongo, Kim Jongsoo, Lee Donghwi, Chung Yunho, Lee Sangjin, Kim Min, and Director Kang Yunsung.

Set in 1970s Korea, a group of opportunistic chancers who bet on their luck as they heard about a sunken ship that is filled with fortune that could change their lives.

Oh Gwanseok (played by Ryu Seungryong) and Oh Heedong (played by Yang Sejong) are an uncle and nephew tandem who’ve spent their lives involved in the criminal world. The two are caught up in various get-rich-quick schemes just to make ends meet.

When word begins to spread about the sunken treasure ship off the coast of Korea, the two will compete against time and other opportunists like them to recover the hidden treasure to claim the lives they’ve always dreamed of. But with plenty of people after the treasure ship, will the duo be able to get to their fortune in time?

Host Park Kyunglim opened the press conference, and the cast and director posed for a photo session for the press. The host even called this press conference a gathering of acting gods.

Actor Ryu Seungryong shared his excitement about this project. He said that he’s always wanted to work with Director Kang Yunsung, so when this opportunity came, he was truly excited. He also praised the talented cast and crew of “Low Life.”

Ryu Seungryong was unofficially dubbed “Disney’s Uncle” after starring in two major Disney+ projects back to back, said that he’s grateful that they keep calling him back. “If “Low Life” does well and we get to shoot a season 2 with this cast, I’d be even more thankful,” he added.

Director Kang shared that he’s been a fan of Ryu Seungryong ever since his appearance in the drama “Kingdom” and now working with him, it was a dream come true. Director Kang also added that working with all the actors was an absolute joy. He said, “Watching each of them shape their characters was one of the most exciting parts of this project.”

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Director Kang also added that every character is shaped is shaped by the actor playing them. He paid close attention to the actor’s personalities and mannerisms. He said, “If the dialogue didn’t fit, I’d just adjust the lines to suit the actor’s style.”

Different from his previous roles, Yang Sejong said that Oh Heedong is such a fun role to portray. He added that every moment on set with the senior actors felt meaningful and new. He added, “It was a truly happy filming experience.”

Since the story is also set at sea, the cast also did a few underwater scenes. Sejong said that at first, he was scared, but they received a lot of training beforehand. “We learned how to use the diving gear. Once I got used to it and actually went underwater, it was surprisingly calm. I really enjoyed that peaceful feeling,” Sejong shared.

“Low Life” is also Ryu Seungryong and Lim Soojung’s reunion project after 13 years, and Lim Soojung shared that she secretly hoped that she’ll get to work with Ryu Seungryong again, and she was happy that she did again with “Low Life.”

Soojung’s character’s styling stands out the most. She said that her character pretty much did every trend a woman of that era could pull off. A lot of attention went into the exterior look of the role, and she didn’t have to do much personally. She added, “I really want to thank the hair, makeup, and costume teams for doing such fantastic jobs.”

Kim Euising, who is often seen playing a villain role, will be playing the role of a dangerous man from Busan. When asked about the difference between his villain role in “Low Life” and the others, he said that his role had a lot of scenes on the ship. He added that he worked with a lot of actors for this project, and they eventually turned into comrades. He said, “It’s a project I think I’ll remember for a long time.”

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Kim Euising shared that stepping into their set in Mokpo felt like time travel. The art team dressed up actual Mokpo streets instead of building everything from scratch. He added, “Being there naturally pulled our performances out of us.”

Kim Seongo also talked about his role and how his role has a bit of a push-pull dynamic with Oh Heedong. He said that there’s a conflict between their characters at first, but they start to bond after they fight.

Kim Jongsoo shared how his role in the drama isn’t originally seen in he webtoon, but as for the series, his role is the first one to commission the treasure hunt. He hires Oh Gwanseok to investigate, and that’s how it all begins. He also added that despite being money hungry and showing so much interest in the sunken ship, he never actually steps foot on the site himself.

He also shared that the atmosphere of the era was perfectly recreated. The level of detail extended beyond what the camera could see, which made acting on set comfortable. He added, “It made the acting all the more enjoyable.”

Lee Donghwi’s character is born and raised in this town, and is what we can call a “true local,” and is a policeman. He described his role as, “I may be a cop, but I’m not quite your typical cop. There’s a bit of a twist to him.”

Chung Yunho surprised everyone when he transformed into a gangster. His role is cousins to Lee Donghwi’s role as well. He describes his role as a hot-tempered gangster from Mokpo and a notorious troublemaker in the neighborhood. And once he hears about the treasure, he aligns himself with Professor Kim, and that’s when the story unfolds.

Even though it is his hometown dialect, Yunho still had to learn from a dialect coach to refresh his mind since he has been living in Seoul for so long. He also added that the story is set in the 1970s, and the dialect from back then was different from what it is now. So, he went to Mokpo and started talking with local taxi drivers to learn more, which he also shared with his fellow actors.

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Lee Sangjin’s role is a former boxer. He said that one of the fascinating aspects of “Low Life” is that we hear about Korea’s many beautiful dialects. He also added that his experience with acting with many senior actors felt like it wasn’t real. He also said that they brought out so many raw emotions from him. They helped him reach places he couldn’t go as an actor.

Kim Min’s role is the only character who does not take part in the treasure hunt. She describes her character as someone who is very much different from the others: “She has this tainted purity that sets her apart.”

In preparation for her role, Kim Min shared that she tried to get into the era’s mindset and watched videos and listened to the songs from the 1970s. For her to speak in the dialect, she asked for help from the people in that region and from her senior actors as well.