Ji Sung Opens Up About The Struggles Of Playing A Drug Addict In "Connection"

May 07, 2024

Ji Sung has shared his honest thoughts on his role in SBS’s upcoming drama “Connection”!

“Connection” is a new crime thriller starring Ji Sung as Jang Jae Kyung, a well-respected detective who is the ace of the narcotics unit. Although Jang Jae Kyung is a trusted detective who cares deeply about his principles, his world is turned upside down when he is kidnapped and forcibly addicted to a mysterious new drug against his will.

Looking back on his experience playing Jang Jae Kyung, Ji Sung confessed that he struggled with many aspects of the role.

“Since I’d never played a drug-addicted detective before, it wasn’t easy to portray the character, and there was a limit to my imagination,” recalled Ji Sung. “So while acting, I felt as though I were hitting a wall. But I tried to pursue reality for some aspects [of my acting], while I left other aspects up to my imagination.”

“Unlike a movie, a drama’s pace is drawn out, so I worried whether [the portrayal of] drug addiction might grow exhausting,” he continued, “and I tried to approach the subject matter carefully. I also struggled with deciding how far I should go in terms of portraying the symptoms [of addiction].”

Revealing just how cautious he was in his approach to the role, Ji Sung added, “Although drugs are a crucial part of investigating the case in ‘Connection,’ I also thought that I shouldn’t depict them lightly or in a way that was too relatable.”

As for the character of Jang Jae Kyung, Ji Sung noted, “Jang Jae Kyung believes that friendship doesn’t exist, and while playing Jang Jae Kyung, I felt that this was sad and pitiful. I thought that he was a very lonely person.”

In terms of how he prepared for the drama, Ji Sung shared, “Since I couldn’t actually try taking drugs, I did a lot of research [about addiction]. There were many aspects of the drama that were difficult and overwhelming to act out, so I tried my best to find the right level [of intensity] in terms of my acting. In order to show a weakened appearance, rather than working out, I pretty much gave up on the joy of eating. During filming, I ate almost only nuts in order to maintain [a low] weight.”

“‘Connection’ has a lot of powerful, weighty elements, such as a bad friendship between classmates and a police officer who is addicted to drugs. So I think viewers will find it entertaining, to the extent where you won’t be able to tear your eyes off the screen. As the time approaches for us to show you the results of [our labor], I feel both worried and excited at the same time. Right now, we need the viewers’ unsparing support. Please give us lots of anticipation and interest.”