Kwak Dong Yeon Unveils ‘The East Palace’ Journey Before Military Enlistment
Kwak Dong Yeon, the versatile actor known for captivating audiences, recently opened up about his demanding experience filming Netflix’s original series ‘The East Palace.’ Ahead of his military enlistment next month, Kwak Dong Yeon sat down for an interview in Seoul, sharing honest insights into his latest project and his future plans.
‘The East Palace’ is a gripping fantasy mystery series that introduces viewers to Gu Cheon (played by Nam Joo Hyuk), a man with the extraordinary ability to traverse the spirit world, and Saeng Kang (Roh Yoon Seo), a palace maid harboring a profound secret. Together, they answer King Cho Seung Woo’s summons to unravel a mysterious curse plaguing the royal East Palace. Kwak Dong Yeon takes on the pivotal role of the crown prince, a central figure entangled in the royal family’s tragic fate.
The nature of his character meant Kwak Dong Yeon had to keep his involvement under wraps. “My character’s very existence was a spoiler from the moment filming began,” he revealed. “As the release date got closer, I was constantly reminded to be careful. I even felt sorry because I couldn’t tell fans I was filming when they asked what I was up to. I knew some of them must have been frustrated, so it’s a relief that the series is finally out.” Due to his challenging role, a significant portion of Kwak Dong Yeon’s production time involved extensive special-effects makeup.
Transformative Challenges: The East Palace Makeup
He vividly recalled the difficulties of achieving an aged look: “Toward the end of Episode 7 and throughout Episode 8, the aged look with gray hair was especially difficult.” Describing the elaborate process, he added, “They attached rubber prosthetics from my face all the way down my body. It became hard to make facial expressions, and with the contact lenses, I could barely see.” This rigorous transformation posed a unique challenge to his acting. “It felt like my hands and feet were tied when it came to expressing emotions through acting. But as filming went on, I adapted. Since there were so many large-scale action sequences, I thought that if I couldn’t express myself with my face, I’d have to do it through my body instead.” The dedicated actor disclosed that the daily makeup process alone consumed a grueling two to four hours. “I never imagined I’d have to wear that much makeup,” he confessed, calling it “a fascinating experience” and a set where “so many technical elements came together.”
Intense Action & Stellar Co-Stars
Beyond the makeup, Kwak Dong Yeon also tackled physically demanding action scenes, notably his memorable confrontation with Nam Joo Hyuk, which deeply impressed viewers. “Since we were filming toward the end of production, everything moved at a very hectic pace,” he explained. “We practiced beforehand at the action school, but the action team on set was incredibly professional. I’m very cautious when it comes to safety, but I trusted them enough to throw myself into the scenes.” Having previously expressed his good fortune in collaborating with stars like Park Bo Gum and Song Joong Ki, Kwak Dong Yeon once again praised the wonderful senior actors he met on ‘The East Palace.’ Reflecting on his interaction with Nam Joo Hyuk, he humorously shared, “The filming schedule was so tight that we didn’t really get to talk much off-camera. I had promised someone I knew that I’d get Nam Joo Hyuk’s autograph, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask. I kept putting it off until the very last day before finally getting it. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance to become close.” His emotionally charged scenes opposite veteran actor Cho Seung Woo also garnered significant praise. “There was only one scene where I delivered dialogue with my normal face, without all the makeup,” he laughed, crediting Cho Seung Woo, “Thanks to him, I was able to perform exactly the kind of acting I wanted without hesitation.”
Reflecting on Enlistment and Future Aspirations
With ‘The East Palace’ serving as his impactful final project before his military enlistment in August, Kwak Dong Yeon offered a hopeful hint: “one or two more of his completed works will be released while he is serving.” He mused on the transient nature of certain roles: “There are certain roles that only fit this age and stage of life. But the projects I want to do and the ones I have to do don’t always line up, so I feel like there’s still something left unfinished.” He candidly admitted to feeling anxious about his return after military service. “I’m worried I’ll fall too far behind the times after I’m discharged,” he confessed. “Things are already changing so quickly that it’s hard to keep up. I just hope the world doesn’t move forward too fast. By the time I come back from the military, I’ll be around 31 or 32, and I hope I won’t have aged too much.”
For fans eager to witness Kwak Dong Yeon’s latest work, ‘The East Palace’ is currently streaming on Netflix.
