Ji Chang Wook Shares Why He Decided To Star in Webtoon-Based Drama “Backstreet Rookie”
Webtoons have significantly emerged in this digital world, where you can easily download it on your smartphone. The surge of manhwa, a general Korean term for comics and print cartoons, has spread internationally as well.
A list of webtoons can be watched on YouTube if you like short movie clips. Some hit webtoons are turned into a drama series due to the rise in popularity of webtoons, including "Backstreet Rookie."
Actor Ji Chang Wook recently shared his thoughts on this upcoming drama.
When asked why he chose to star in the drama, he answered that he wanted to work with director Lee Myung Woo, and the convenience store's atmosphere made him like it even more. He wanted to portray the way Choi Dae Hyun (Ji Chang Wook) spends his childhood in the convenience store and will try hard to a good job, adding that he would have fun building the character as Dae Hyun.
"Backstreet Rookie" is about Choi Dae Hyun, who accidentally runs into a group of high school students who seems to be troublemakers. One girl, Jung Saet Byeol, asked him to buy cigarettes from the convenience store, which he did. The girl got Dae Hyun's number but never called him.
Four years after, Dae Hyun is now 33, quit his job at a big company, and opened up his own convenience store. While looking for a part-timer to work on night shifts, Jung Saet Byeol applied for the job and was hired. Now a university student, she is no longer a troublemaker, rather a student with morals.
Dae Hyun is an ordinary man with an average job, dresses casually, and is not the typical type we see nowadays with bling-bling and with a great hairstyle. He just wears the convenience store's uniform that is just a blue vest with a t-shirt and regular jeans.
He even describes the character of Dae Hyun that it has the essence of honesty and diligence. Dae Hyun is very pure and simple regarding work and also love. Though you might find him frustrating because of his indecisiveness, he still delivers a cute side of him.
Furthermore, the actor explained why he finds a convenience store as somewhat an exciting place. He continued by describing that the drama's Jongno Shinsung branch is like the neighborhood's lighthouse. It lights up for twenty-four hours and waits for people to come inside. For him, it becomes a place where people who need something can find peace. He concluded that the best characteristic of their convenience store is familiarity.
The actor rose to fame for his leading role in the daily drama series like "Smile Again." He headlined some popular TV series, such as "Healer," "The K2," and "Suspicious Partner."
He took a two-year hiatus when he was enlisted in the military in 2017 and was officially discharged on April 27, 2019. He recently starred in the drama "Melting Me Softly" and "Backstreet Rookie" is his new project. It will begin airing on June 12.
Kim Yoo Jung will play as Jung Saet‑byul, together with Han Sunhwa, Ahn Sol‑bin, and many more.
This upcoming drama is directed by Lee Myung Woo, who was also the director of "The Fiery Priest."
