In Hollywood, actors having to drastically change their appearance is a common occurrence, with most having to gain or lose weight for a particular role. The K-drama industry is no stranger to this either, as Korean actors have had to make some noticeable changes in preparation for their on-screen characters, too!
The latest case in point? The up-and-coming actor Lee Jung Ha, who recently had to gain 30 kilograms for his character in the Disney+ series Moving.
READ: Korean Actor Lee Jung Ha Gained 30 KGs for Disney+ K-Drama “Moving”
Based on the hit webtoon by Kang Pool, Moving tells the story of three high school students who hide a secret under their run-of-the-mill everyday guises—they all have special superpower abilities, which they’ve inherited from their family.
Jung Ha, in particular, portrays Kim Bong Seok, a teen with the ability to fly. Much like the rest of the superpowered young folks in the drama, Bong Seok’s parents also possess supernatural powers—his mom Mi-hyeon (Han Hyo Joo) has superhuman five senses, while his dad Doo-shik (Zo In Sung) happens to be a veteran agent with flying skills.
Given the source material and how it vividly portrayed characters like Bong Seok, Jung Ha had to transform part of his appearance to more accurately play the character. Speaking in a press conference, the 25-year-old actor revealed that he had to gain 30 kilograms in weight for the drama, in order to look visually similar to Bong Seok’s depiction in the webtoon.
“I was really happy to be able to eat,” Jung Ha expressed, in a translation by Koreaboo. “As I gradually gained weight, I wanted to become Bong Seok as soon as possible, and the more I gained, the more I could see him.”
Korean netizens were reportedly surprised about his transformation for the show, as they’ve flocked to his personal Instagram page, while they looked back on his earlier work in Run On and Nevertheless.
During the same press conference, Jung Ha also revealed that he’s currently adjusting in the show’s post-production phase. “I was worried because my body got heavier after gaining weight, but after losing it, I became lighter and felt healthy because I exercised while adjusting my diet.” Now that’s dedication!
Moving is streaming on Disney+.
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