Yoo Ji Tae shares personal experiences and preparations for playing the role of the gang leader, the Professor, in the international hit series "Money Heist Korea." In addition to that, he also talks about his thoughts on his intimate scenes with co-star Kim Yun Jin. Read on to know more!
Yoo Ji Tae On the Success of 'Money Heist Korea'
"Money Heist Korea," which was released on June 24 on Netflix, depicts the biggest robbery in the Korean Peninsula, after North and South Korea reunited.
With its ambitious take on the original Spanish series, "Money Heist Korea" was put under the microscope even before its premiere.
Thankfully, the release of the heist series is a success, taking the No. 1 spot in more than 10 countries including Indonesia, Morocco, and more within a day. Up until this writing, "Money Heist Korea" dominates the Netflix Global Charts at No. 3 spot.
Yoo Ji Tae, who plays the role of the Professor in the series, couldn't help but be grateful for the fans and viewers who supported and anticipated the work.
The actor revealed that he was actually burdened during its release, as many fans expected the series to be a box office hit, especially after the success of many South Korean works such as "Squid Game," "Hellbound," and "All of Us Are Dead."
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Money Heist Korea' Tops Netflix Global Charts
"I thought it would be difficult to surpass [the success of previous works], and the series' producers must have thought about it a lot," Yoo Ji Tae admitted. "But the moment I received the script, I knew it would be a hit."
Yoo Ji Tae's Preparations, Thoughts On Becoming the Professor
Unbeknownst to everyone, Yoo Ji Tae had doubts about himself before being cast in the series.
But thanks to his company's trust, who believed he would suit the role, Yoo Ji Tae let go of his inhibitions and took the role.
Yoo Ji Tae focused on how to make the Professor cooler to attract more people, which gives his role an extra flare than the original Professor in the Spanish series.
According to the actor, digesting long dialogues and lines was the most difficult. Because of this, he exerted more effort in delivering his lines, diction, enunciation as well as his emotions.
'Money Heist Korea' Bed Scene Made Yoo Ji Tae Nervous?
Yoo Ji Tae is not a rookie when it comes to acting. However, the intimate scene with Kim Yun Jin in "Money Heist Korea" made him nervous.
When asked why the actor didn't take off his clothes during the bed scene with Kim Yun Jin, Yoo Ji Tae confessed that his body didn't go well with the Professor's aura.
"I worked out a lot which made my back muscles lumpy. If I took off my shirt and showed off my sensual body, it wouldn't fit with the Professor's character," Yoo Ji Tae stated.
READ MORE: 'Money Heist Korea' Hit or Miss? Why the South Korean Remake Is Worth the Hype
With that said, the actor focused more on his emotions and body language to further show the Professor's intense feelings for Kim Yun Jin's character.
For Yoo Ji Tae, he wants to be remembered as a great actor who led the South Korean remake of "Money Heist."
On the other hand, Yoo Ji Tae hints at his character's intriguing past, which will be depicted in the second part of the series.
KDramaStars owns this article.
Written by Elijah Mully.
