THERE is no denying that Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has taken Filipinos by storm, having a significant impact on Philippine pop culture including films and dramas.
Every year, Filipinos discover new Korean dramas and films, ranging from binge-worthy movies on popular streaming services to underrated web dramas on the online video-sharing platform YouTube.
Viewers enjoy these projects not just because of their unique plot but also because of the outstanding performances of the actors who bring the characters to life.
Among them is Jang Tae Oh, the new Korean actor who has recently been recognized for his exceptional performance in “Oppa,” the first anti-scam awareness film in Malaysia.
Tae Oh, otherwise known as Theodore Jang, shared with republicasia how his career in the show business industry began and how he landed his first-ever lead role in “Oppa.”
From commercials to drama scene
Before venturing into acting, Tae Oh started appearing in commercials for various brands in 2018 in different countries including Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
It was in the same year when he officially ventured into the entertainment industry, starring in multiple Korean dramas like “The King of Tears, Lee Bangwon,” “Man in a Veil,” “Romance Talking,” and the second season of “Miss Independent Ji Eun.”
“There were lots of web dramas in Korea. I did some of the web dramas and ended up getting into [the] drama scene, and finally, I got to debut as a main role in the movie,” Tae Oh told republicasia in a one-on-one interview.
The Korean star referred to the 2024 anti-scam awareness film “Oppa,” directed by Denil Choong Lin Loong.
“Oppa” tells the story of a teacher who finds herself falling victim to a romance scam instead of falling in love when she meets a Korean man online. The Malaysian movie was based on real-life cases of online love scams that are prevalent in the digital world.
“This movie was about a romance scam, which is going around these days in Malaysia. The Malaysian government, the police, and the production collaborated to make this movie to get people aware of what scam was going on,” said Tae Oh.
The 2024 film was the first collaboration between production company Dream Film Sdn Bhd and the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) in Malaysia. “Oppa” features real police officers as it highlights the challenges they encounter in combating cybercrimes like online love scams within the country.
Raising awareness
Tae Oh’s role as an “oppa” in the movie earned him the Best Foreign Language Actor award at the First Asia International Film Festival 2024 in Macao.
“Oppa,” on the other hand, bagged the Best Malaysia Film award.
Tae Oh said receiving the international recognition was a delightful surprise, especially for a new actor like himself.
“Taking a lead role was too big for me at the time. It’s a [humbling] experience that’s why I try my best to tune myself in the film. Thanks to that, I ended up growing myself a lot as an actor,” he stressed.
But more than winning the award, the 30-year-old actor said he was grateful to help in the anti-scam campaign efforts of Malaysia’s police force through the movie.
“I really appreciate [it] and I’m grateful because I can make a positive impact on society through my works. It really means a lot, it spoke to me a lot,” Tae Oh emphasized.
During the interview, he also spoke about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health as he highlighted how “overwhelming” things could be for individuals in the competitive entertainment industry.
“I always recommend this one to my co-workers: do not focus on [the] negative side,” he said. “Just focus on the positive side and just manifest [yourself] like ‘I’m gonna do that,’ ‘I’m gonna make it,’” Tae Oh said.
New movie in PH
Tae Oh shared he is focused on being an international actor, with the “ultimate goal” to break into Hollywood.
He aims to achieve this by starring in another movie, this time, in the Philippines in February 2025. He flew to the country for the first time to prepare his forthcoming film.
“I just came here to explore and experience more of the Philippines and express my gratitude regarding the movie,” said the actor.
Further details about the big-screen project, including its title and the storyline, are still kept under wraps, but Tae Oh said it was made to pay tribute to the Philippines for the aid it sent to South Korea during the Korean War.
To recall, the Philippine government deployed 7,420 soldiers during the Korean War. Of the said number, 112 were killed in the battle and 299 were wounded. The Filipino soldiers left Korea in May 1955.
“This movie was made to honor and appreciate this aid. We are deeply grateful for this help from the Philippines,” the actor stressed.
Tae Oh also left a message to Filipinos as they await his new movie:
“I really appreciate having you guys get to know me, and I really wanna make an opportunity for me as an actor to work on, keep working as an actor in the Philippines. So, please be generous and stay tuned,” he said.
“Mahal kita!” he ended.
