Cover Photo: Netflix

Song Joong-ki recently made his K-drama comeback in Vincenzo, and he wraps up his dark comedy experience with an exclusive interview with Tatler Malaysia

Vincenzo may have come to an end on May 2, 2021, but main lead Song Joong-ki is still riding high in popularity. Already a top Hallyu star known for playing a diverse spectrum of roles, Netflix's Vincenzo was perhaps his darkest project yet.

In the K-drama, Song portrays Italian mafia consigliere Vincenzo Cassano, a character that is at times brutal in seeking vengeance but the show is also peppered with comedic moments for good measure. This stereotype-breaking ‘dark hero’ format, coupled with a stellar cast and Song’s cool, handsome mien, propelled the dark comedy to a resounding success both in South Korea and internationally.

Read more: Top 10 Vincenzo Moments We're Still Not Over: The Most Shocking Plot Twist And Scenes

Today, the K-drama is the sixth highest-rated drama in tvN history following Crash Landing On You, Goblin, Reply 1988, Mr. Sunshine, and Mr. Queen. It's also ranked within Netflix's Top 10, where it continues to gain love from new audiences and keep fans hooked.

Tatler Asia
Song Joon Ki as Vincenzo and Jeon Yeo-bin as Hong Cha-young in the Netflix dark comedy, Vincenzo (Photo: Netflix)
Above Song Joong Ki as Vincenzo and Jeon Yeo Bin as Hong Cha Young in the Netflix dark comedy, Vincenzo (Photo: Netflix)

Sitting down with Tatler Malaysia for the first time, Song opens up about his Vincenzo experience. One of the most difficult scenes to film, Song reveals, was the scenes of Italy in the emotional first episode. As the Covid-19 pandemic had hit Europe hard at the time of production, the scenes were made possible purely through masterful editing and computer graphics (CG).

While you couldn't tell that they weren't filmed on site, it was a struggle for Song. "I felt a lot of pressure for the emotional aspects to match well with the CG scenes. I did feel a bit wistful. If I had been able to act in Italy, I could have gotten more energy from the actual place. I felt a bit of anxiety that it could have been better," he says.

See also: 15 K Drama Actors To Follow On Instagram: Cha Eun-woo, Park Seo-joon, And More

On the flipside, Song mentions that he also grappled with the bromance scenes, in particular the ones with Kim Sung Cheol (Hwang Min Sung in Vincenzo). "Honestly, it didn't feel as cringeworthy as one might think. It was actually funny," he explained, adding that he felt a bit embarrassed and had a hard time holding in his laughter.

Song also talks about what he loves most about co-star Kim Yeo Jin's character Choi Myung Hee, which character on the show he identifies most with, and more.

Watch the full interview below: