Longtime leading man talks about embracing unconventional roles, accepting the inevitability of fading fame Gang Dong-won (AA Group) Gang Dong-won has only one goal."Quite simply, all I want is to become the greatest actor in the world," he said during a press interview on May 19."Well, the greatest actor in the world can mean many things. It could be about acting ability, star power or a combination of different qualities. I don't think those things can really be separated."He has reasons to be confident. For an actor who has remained firmly on Korea's A-list for more than two decades, ever since his rise as one of the country's most sought-after leading men in the early 2000s, Gang has consistently prioritized creative reinvention over safe choices.His filmography is marked by an eclectic mix of roles: a mischievous wizard in "Jeon Woochi: The Taoist Wizard" and a Stoic military officer in "Peninsula."But recently he underwent what was perhaps his most unexpected transformation yet to play a washed-up 1990s idol in the comedy "Wild Sing," which opened on June 3.For the role, Gang went all-in, recording a full-fledged music video complete with singing and choreography. The commitment paid off when the clip went viral online, racking up more than 3.7 million views on YouTube as of Thursday. [와일드 씽] 트라이앵글 'Love is' MV The dramatic tonal shift surprised even his closest friends."After the premiere of 'Wild Sing,' an old friend of mine texted and asked, 'Have you been short on money lately?'" Gang said, with a laugh."I felt there was a lot packed into that comment, so I took it as a compliment. To be honest, I had more or less expected that kind of reaction."On the surface, Gang comes across as reserved and unassuming, dressing without much fanfare and standing with a slight hunch. Beneath that modest exterior, however, lies a fiercely ambitious performer who uses his box-office clout to champion unconventional narratives."I just focus on two things: the quality of the script and how compelling the story is. Those have been the main criteria behind most of the projects in my filmography," he said.Choosing the right project is only the beginning of the process."For most of the characters I've played, I spend at least three months preparing. For 'Kundo: Age of the Rampant,' I practiced swinging a sword 1,000 times a day for eight months. With 'Wild Sing,' the focus simply shifted to learning how to move with the rhythm and bounce of the music," he said."The difference is that this film makes the effort more visible. The work is right there on screen for the audience to see," he said. "Wild Sing," starring Gang Dong-won (Lotte Entertainment) Despite his reputation for diligence, Gang says he has become less concerned with whether the public recognizes the work that happens behind the scenes."In my early 20s, I sometimes wondered, 'Why don't people realize how hard I've worked?' But eventually I came to understand that nobody can fully appreciate the depth of another person's effort unless they've lived through it themselves," he said."At the end of the day, I'm grateful that people are talking about me at all, whether the comments are positive or negative," he added. Gang Dong-won (AA Group) The themes of fading fame explored in "Wild Sing" were not entirely foreign to Gang. The 45-year-old actor said he has long assumed his own popularity would eventually wane.In the film, Hyeon-woo (Gang), a former chart-topping idol whose relevance has long evaporated, struggles to make a comeback on TV after reuniting with his estranged bandmates."To be honest, ever since I became popular through 'Romance of Their Own' in 2004, I've always believed there would come a day when the public would completely forget about me," Gang said."I've been active much longer than I ever expected, but I know that one day I'll be forgotten too. There will come a time when fewer projects are offered to me, and a day when people ask, 'Who is Gang Dong-won?' I've always assumed that day would arrive eventually," he added. "Wild Sing," starring Gang Dong-won (Lotte Entertainment) Even as he reflects on the inevitability of one day fading from the public consciousness, Gang has increasingly set his sights beyond Korea."When I take time off, I'm usually in the United States," he said.In 2022, Gang signed with Creative Artists Agency, one of the largest talent agencies in the US. While he is not currently attached to any specific international project, he said he has spent years laying the groundwork for opportunities abroad, meeting with producers, directors, writers and fellow actors while exploring potential collaborations."If I had the chance to work on international projects, I'd absolutely like to do so. I'm open to exploring those possibilities whenever I can. But there's nothing concrete at the moment. For now, it's mostly ongoing discussions."Still, Gang believes the effort will eventually bear fruit."(As for why it's taking so long), part of it is probably the process of finding a project or role that really feels right," he said."But more than that, I think the bigger reason is that I simply don't have much name recognition there yet. In the US, people naturally tend to prioritize actors who are already well known. As far as America is concerned, hardly anyone knows who I am yet," he added.Rather than waiting to be discovered, however, Gang said he has become increasingly determined to create opportunities for himself."In the past, I used to think, 'I hope someone casts me. I hope someone notices me and gives me an opportunity.' Now my mindset is different. It's more like, 'Forget that. I'll create it myself. I'll make it happen one way or another,'" he said."I'm also interested in producing. There's no reason to limit myself to Korea, so I'm trying to take a broader, long-term view of my career." "Wild Sing," starring Gang Dong-won (Lotte Entertainment) "Wild Sing," starring (from left) Park Ji-hyun, Gang Dong-won and Uhm Tae-goo (Lotte Entertainment)