Actor Eom Tae-goo Discusses His Role in 'Wild Thing'

Actor Eom Tae-goo reveals a surprising new side in his latest film, "Wild Thing." The comedy follows the fictional three-member mixed dance group "Triangle," which once dominated the music scene but disbanded due to unforeseen circumstances. Now, 20 years later, they attempt a comeback. Eom plays Sang-goo, the youngest rapper who dreams of being a true hip-hop warrior but struggles with limited screen time and a sense of inferiority. Known for his intense roles in noir films like "Night in Paradise," "The Age of Shadows," and "Chinatown," Eom showcases a refreshing transformation through rapid rapping, idol performances, and fearless comedic acting.

"The script was incredibly fun. Even if I hadn't participated, it would have been an enjoyable read. The director was fantastic as well. I was excited to work alongside senior actor Gang Dong-won, who was cast as Hyun-woo. I wanted to challenge myself and felt a strong desire to do well, so I prepared diligently, focusing on both rap and choreography," Eom said.

He dedicated nearly five months to preparation, starting rap and dance practice before filming began. During breaks in shooting, he frequently visited the practice studio, feeling that the training provided by the production company was insufficient.

"Overall, I think it was about five months. I started practicing before filming and continued to go to the studio during breaks. I wanted to push myself further than what the production company had arranged because I felt it wasn't enough," he explained.

Sang-goo is the main rapper of "Triangle," but ironically, he is not very skilled at rapping. Eom embraced this aspect as it aligned with his character. Sang-goo genuinely tries hard but remains somewhat clumsy, which adds both humor and poignancy to the role.

"For the rap, I relied almost entirely on my instructor. I followed their guidance. Since Sang-goo isn't portrayed as a great rapper, I thought that if I worked hard for five months, even if I wasn't exceptional, it would fit the character well. I wasn't a complete novice, but I felt that my effort would convey the sense of someone who is trying hard but not quite succeeding," Eom said.

He learned everything from vocalization to rhythm and gestures. Initially awkward, he eventually found himself unconsciously mimicking his instructor's mannerisms and gestures. The training was open-ended, so he knew he had to keep practicing.

"I started with vocal exercises and learned how to find the rhythm. At first, it felt strange, but I kept at it. Eventually, I noticed I was unconsciously adopting my instructor's gestures and speech patterns, which felt good when it came out naturally. Since there was no defined endpoint, I just kept pushing myself to improve," he said.

Some aspects of Sang-goo's performance changed spontaneously on set. With the addition of costumes and wigs, the character's cuter side emerged, prompting Eom to deliver expressions and gestures he had never practiced before. In those moments, his mindset was simple: he was determined to be cute at all costs.

"There were sudden changes on set. With the wigs and costumes, it was suggested that Sang-goo should be portrayed a bit cuter. But since I hadn't practiced those expressions, I felt terrified when the camera was rolling. It would be odd for a character who had never shown such expressions to suddenly do so. So, I thought, 'If I can't be cute, I might as well die.' I ended up doing all the cute moves I could think of, and I think winking was one of them. I had no prepared actions; they were just things I had seen somewhere," he recalled.

On stage, Eom believed that what mattered was not feeling embarrassed but rather the determination to perform. He thought that when the camera was rolling, he had to give it his all. However, he also recognized that preparation was essential to avoid appearing forced.

"Rather than saying I'm suited for the stage, I think when I'm on stage or performing, embarrassment isn't necessary; I just need to get it done. I have to give it my all, but it shouldn't come off as forced. Since I had prepared a lot, I aimed to make it come out naturally. I wanted to play freely, like when I was a child playing after a shower. Of course, that process wasn't easy," he said.

Working alongside Gang Dong-won and Park Ji-hyun was also a crucial aspect of the project. Eom reflected that even without much dialogue, their chemistry on set was strong. He noted that moments of laughter in comedy often stem from the rhythm shared with fellow actors.

"There wasn't a lot of dialogue, but I felt a good connection with senior actor Gang Dong-won and everyone else. They say chemistry is important in comedy, and if there are moments that make people laugh, it's likely due to that rhythm. I think the senior actors led us well," he said.

The film evokes the emotions of the late 1990s and early 2000s music scene, but Eom did not overly focus on a specific era while portraying Sang-goo. Instead, he felt that the costumes, makeup, and stage design helped create the atmosphere of that time, allowing him to concentrate on Sang-goo's reality and emotions.

"I liked the duo during that time. However, while acting, I didn't think too much about that aspect; I relied heavily on the costumes, makeup, and stage to help me. It was fascinating and fun to see that era recreated, but for Sang-goo, that time is his reality. Rather than being conscious of that era, I focused more on what Sang-goo might feel," he explained.

While portraying both the past and present versions of Sang-goo, Eom did not aim to create a stark contrast. He wanted to ensure that even when Sang-goo used harsh language, he did not come across as threatening. Instead, he aimed for the character to be perceived as somewhat cute and pitiable.

"I didn't try to create a huge difference. There are moments when Sang-goo curses, but I didn't want it to feel threatening. I don't know if I removed something, but I tried to make the cursing sound somewhat cute. I didn't want it to come off as scary, even though I wasn't trying to make it easy," he said.

Eom Tae-goo is often described as an introverted actor. However, he has a different perspective on being viewed solely as introverted. He noted that he has become more vocal on set, joking around, and engaging with others compared to the past.

"I want to say I'm not that introverted. Haha. While there are various aspects to me, I do have an extroverted side. I might be less extroverted than before, but as I continue in this profession, I find myself joking more, talking more, and sharing my opinions more. I couldn't do that as much before. So, I don't think I'm entirely introverted, but I feel like people see me that way, so I often say I'm 'somewhere in the middle' during interviews," he said.

Eom has also been participating in fan meetings and showcases, where he directly interacts with fans. Given that the film centers on idols, he finds the fans' requests and reactions particularly meaningful. Eom expressed a desire to fulfill fans' wishes as much as possible.

"When fans ask me to do something, I feel I should do it. I want to give back as much as I can. I'm not sure how far I can go, but I will try my best," he said.