Summary

• The Worst of Evil, available on Hulu in the US and on Disney+ internationally, is a Korean drama full of noir mystery and action.
• Star Ji Chang-wook was drawn to The Worst of Evil because of its intriguing relationships and narrative arc, and he had similar ideas as the director.
• After a break from action dramas, Ji Chang-wook found the fight scenes in The Worst of Evil challenging but was ed by the stunt team and crew.

As Korean dramas continue to stake their claim on today's global pop culture, more and more streaming services are jumping on the trend. Disney has produced several of its own K-dramas as well, with hits like Moving drawing attention on Hulu in the US and the recently concluded The Worst of Evil serving as a tour de force for superstar Ji Chang-wook. Best known for action-heavy projects such as Healer and The K2, he has spent the last few years expanding his repertoire with romcoms before returning to the noir fold.

The Worst of Evil takes place in the 1990s, following police officer Kang Jun-mo as he goes undercover to infiltrate Gangnam's deadliest underground organization. Gangnam Alliance is run by mob boss Jung Gicheul (Squid Game star Wi Ha-jun), who had a past romance with Junmo's wife, fellow police officer Yoo Euijeong (True Beauty's Lim Se-mi). As the investigation draws him deeper into Gangnam's illegal drug trade, Junmo finds himself caught in a web of deceit that spans Korea, Japan, and China.

Screen Rant interviewed Ji Chang-wook about what drew him to The Worst of Evil, how he portrayed Junmo's slippery descent into darkness, and what his experience was like on set with costars Wi Ha-jun and Lim Se-mi. Note: This interview was conducted over email and answers have been translated from Korean to English.

Ji Chang-Wook Talks The Worst Of Evil

Screen Rant: What first attracted you to The Worst of Evil, and how do you generally decide which roles to take?

Ji Chang-wook: I choose whatever I feel intrigued by, or whatever I find interesting at the time. It’s hard to say there is that one factor – because there are just so many at play. What I found interesting about The Worst of Evil is that it’s an undercover cop story with very intriguing relationships among the characters. I was reeled in by how those relationships and characters evolved with the progression of the narrative arc. The director and I also had very similar ideas when we were talking about the show.

You've stayed away from action dramas recently, but you're fully immersed in fight scenes once more with Worst of Evil. How natural did it feel to step back into that side of your acting skill set?

Ji Chang-wook: It’s been quite a while since my last action show, The K2. While I actually didn’t think that action was at the core of The Worst of Evil, I did get older and it did feel more physically challenging to shoot action sequences this time around. Still, the stunt team, the director of photography, and the special makeup team all were of great help and thanks to them I could pull off the scenes.

Jun-mo is reluctant to take on his undercover mission at first, but he's already nearing the point of no return early on. How do you play that transition as an actor, and do you feel he's afraid of losing himself?

Ji Chang-wook: Rather than him being afraid of losing his true self, I think he already was a different person at a certain point in time. As the story progresses, the line between vice and virtue blurs and it’s hard to tell what is good or evil. That transformation in Junmo was portrayed not only through my performance but also via a change in his looks – his clothing and style became deeper in color and more refined.

Though Junmo and Euijeong appear to have a loving marriage, it is strained by various factors - especially his current undercover job. How did you and Lim Semi work together to portray that complicated dynamic?

Ji Chang-wook: On set when the camera wasn’t rolling, I would treat her like any other peer actor; talking to her and making jokes. But once the camera was rolling, there was that uneasy tension between us. That is probably because we didn’t have that many scenes together, and also because of the vibes of the places where we two would meet. They are a married couple but because of the complex situations, something’s a little off between them, and I think the production crew did a perfect job helping us create that vibe.

Junmo has made a great show of his loyalty to Jung Gicheul, though they are on opposite sides of the law. What is Wi Ha-jun like as a scene partner, and what have you each learned from each other through this drama?

Ji Chang-wook: Ha-jun is a much cuter and bubblier person than he looks! I am older than him and I guess I have more experience, but I felt he was a very good colleague and acting partner. When you’re in a project together you get to see your peers up close and his immense ion pushed me to work harder. I really enjoyed the journey together with him.

For a romance enthusiast such as myself, the triangle between Junmo, Euijeong, and Gicheul is one of my favorite parts. Can Junmo trust his wife with Gicheul, and can he keep his cool if Gicheul really goes after her?

Ji Chang-wook: Anybody who’s in that situation wouldn’t be able to put up a poker face, wouldn’t you think? It's a different story from trusting Euijeong. There are layers of emotions at play and also investigation and crimes and everything – very complex.

You've been beaten bloody more than once in the drama. What is the makeup process like for those scenes, and how do those difficult fights get choreographed?

Ji Chang-wook: Our utmost priority in shooting action scenes is making sure nobody gets hurt. We rehearse the choreography multiple times and talk a lot among ourselves. We also share ideas with the DP and the crew a lot about wardrobe and makeup because it’s not just the action that’s important, but the emotions. We need wardrobe, makeup, lighting, angles, and everything to be just right to capture the moment.

What were key points of the drama that you were most excited for fans to see?

Ji Chang-wook: I hope fans watch for how Junmo changes as he lives under the name of Seungho. I wanted to portray the different facets of this guy, Junmo, and you’ll find that at many times he stands right on the fine line between two contrasting things. I personally was quite satisfied with the finale – I’m curious how the fans like it!

About The Worst Of Evil

A husband and wife, both detectives, volunteer to participate in a dangerous mission to stop a drug trafficking organization.

All episodes of The Worst of Evil are now available to stream on Hulu.