THIS Veteran Actor Recalls His ‘Disapointment’ When His Debut Drama Failed To Be A Global Hit

Tags: Song Kang Ho; Song Kang Ho Drama; Song Kang Ho Uncle Samsik; Uncle Samsik Kdrama

BY Geca Flores Jun 24, 2024 02:52 AM EDT

Song Kang Ho opened up about starring in his first K-drama, 28 years after his debut.

Known for his versatility and acting prowess, the veteran actor has a ton of notable movies under his belt, which include "A Taxi Driver," "Broker," and, of course, the Oscar-winning movie "Parasite."

Despite his successful big screen projects, Song Kang Ho has never starred in any K-drama, not until he headlined the period-political series "Uncle Samsik."

The star-studded K-drama, which premiered on May 15, was helmed and written by Shin Yeon Shick of "Cassiopeia" and "One Win," which was released under Disney+. In the series, Song Kang Ho takes on the role of the titular political fixer, Uncle Samsik, whose real name is Park Doo Chil.

The story revolves around how Uncle Samsik teams up with Kim San (Byun Yo Han), whose presence in the political field is admired. This is because Kim San is an elite idealist who wants to seek change in the government.

Unfortunately, the promising plot of "Uncle Samsik" failed to pique the viewers' interest.

Song Kang Ho 'Dissapointed' By 'Uncle Samsik' Response

In a review, the political series is described as a "rich but overly complex tale," giving it a 3.5 out of 5 score.

With the lukewarm response of viewers, Song Kang Ho expressed his honest thoughts regarding his K-drama debut.

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In his recent interview, the award-winning actor admitted that he was "disappointed" regarding the public's response to "Uncle Samsik."

"I met a lot of people who said good things about their attitude toward dramas, but there are some things that are disappointing in the global aspect, but I think I have a lot of mixed feelings."

Song Kang Ho added that he partly expected it to be a global hit since the drama's setting was an unfamiliar situation, even for Koreans.

"There were many people who were immersed and focused, but it was not a global subject. Since it was set in a time that Korean viewers knew about but could not experience, I thought there might have been barriers overseas, and it was enough."

In spite of this, Song Kang Ho remained positive that "Uncle Samsik" is a K-drama "that many viewers can enjoy," despite the rise of OTT dramas.

Moreover, the veteran actor was very grateful to Disney+ for releasing the series and "making such bold choices and decisions possible."

Did You Know? 'Uncle Samsik' Was Supposed To Only Have 10 Episodes

Song Kang Ho shared why "Uncle Samsik" was extended to 16 episodes when the initial plan was to release it with only 10 episodes for the whole season run.

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According to him, the plot has vast stories that need to be covered.

"It has the impact and speed of watching it as a 10-episode series, but I think viewers will be able to eat and do business while watching it."

In addition, the veteran actor explained the director's perspective regarding the series.

"I think the director wanted to explain the characters and content in a more step-by-step manner."

Joining Song Kang Ho and Byun Yo Han as the "Uncle Samsik" cast are Lee Kyu Hyung and Jin Ji Koo as lead stars, adding Seo Hyun Woo, Yoo Jae Myung, Tiffany Young, and more as supporting characters.

In case you missed it, watch the Song Kang Ho-led "Uncle Samsik" trailer below!