How the stars of ‘Kingdom’ ran around with zombies

Scene from “Kingdom” —Netflix

We’ve always found our previous interviews with Korean celebrities too “formal” to be truly enjoyable.

But for Netflix’s slate event in Singapore last year, the atmosphere was less rigid or more relaxed when we came face-to-face with heartthrob Ju Ji-hoon and versatile veteran Ryu Seung-yong. (Ji-hoon sold the most number of movie tickets in South Korea last year, mostly for “Along with the Gods,” while Seung-yong is getting rave reviews for his newly released screen comedy, “Extreme Job.”)

When the interview was over, Seung-yong stood up and picked up our recorder and gamely whispered to it, “I love you.” Taking his cue from his costar, Ji-hoon also did the same and playfully quipped, “Me, too.”

But Ji-hoon and Seung-yong aren’t as relaxed in “Kingdom,” the six-episode horror series that pits them against each other in South Korea’s first-ever Netflix Original series. (Note that most Korean dramas we see on the streaming giant are collaborations with TV networks.)

Set in 16th century Joseon Dynasty, the binge-worthy zombie series is guaranteed to give horror aficionados the heebie-jeebies. But there’s more to “Kingdom” than its gut-wrenching scenes of flesh-nibbling gore, political intrigue and man’s penchant for self-inflicted terror.

Director Kim Seong-hun (“Tunnel”), screenwriter Kim Eun-hee (“Signal”) and their TV series mull over the tantalizing themes surrounding the calamitous repercussions of its characters’ insatiable greed, desire and extreme hunger.

In the story, Prince Lee Chang (Ji-hoon) is forced to take matters into his own hands when power-hungry chief state councilor Cho Hak-ju (Ryu Seung-yong) and the Queen Consort (Kim Hye-joon)—the king’s pregnant second wife, who just happens to be Hak-ju’s ambitious daughter—prevent him from seeing his father, who is rumored to have died after his bout with a long-term illness.

Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince Lee Chang in “Kingdom” —Netflix

There are troubling talks that the dead king has been revived by a mysterious “resurrection” plant that can be found in a cave in the Frozen Village near Geongsang. But just as unnerving are the rumors about a strange plague spreading quickly in the countryside that renders infected victims immune to death—and ravenous for human flesh and blood!

Keeping the prince company on his arduous journey are physician Seo-bi (Bae Doona of “Sense8” and “The Host”), his loyal bodyguard Mu-yeong (Kim Sang-ho) and his former mentor Lord Ahn Hyeon (Heo Joon-ho).

Hak-ju and the Queen, who’s on her last term of pregnancy, wants her child to succeed the king. So, they set up Prince Chang, the rightful heir to the throne, for a treasonous crime he didn’t commit.

Even the actors playing the zombies—there were 40 of them—had to train for two months to make the series’ version of the flesh-eaters believable.

Can the truth-seeking prince clear his name fast enough to save his people from imminent harm? You’ll get the answer when you watch the show, whose six episodes will be streamed on Netflix starting today.

Ju Ji-hoon —Netflix

As an added treat, the exceptional Bae Doona also took part in the Q&A with Ju Ji-hoon and Ryu Seung-yong in Seoul, South Korea, early this week:

How did you prepare for your role, and what was challenging about it?

Ju Ji-hoon: I had to prepare for the action scenes and learn to ride horses. Also, there were scenes that required a lot of running, so I had to stay fit.

Bae Doona: This is my first historical drama, so I also had to ride horses. The role was initially frustrating for me because, unlike Ji-hoon, I didn’t have a lot of action scenes.

In  “The Host,” I was the one holding the arrow. In “Sense8,” I was the action hero. In this series, however, my hands were tied, so that was where my frustration was coming from.

Ryu Seung-yong: I didn’t have action scenes or horseback-riding sequences, so I focused on the tone of my character’s voice, as well as his glare, so I could effectively convey authority and instill fear in viewers. It was quite difficult because I had to play a character who was scarier than the zombies. In reality, I was scared of the zombies myself.

Ryu Seung-yong

What struck you the most about your characters?

Ji-hoon: Traditionally, all of the kings we see in historical dramas live within the palace. However, my character dares to step out of it to find the answers he seeks. I was also most interested in the road-movie element of the story.

Doona: As a woman, it must have been hard for Seo-bi to be quite active during the Joseon period, especially in terms of social structure.

But, my character is a physician, which was what drew me to her. She plays an active role in the story. She’s very smart and is the brain of the group.

Seung-yong: My character will stop at nothing in order to fulfill his insatiable greed and lust for power—that’s the sort of evil I was drawn to. He has more power than the king. He’s willing to sacrifice even his own children to get what he wants.

What was the most terrifying scenes  for you?

Ji-hoon: It’s when the prince enters his father’s private chambers out of concern, because no one would tell him what actually happened to the king. But, while he’s hiding there, he sees a very strange shadow—which was quite scary for me!

Just as memorable for me was seeing people from the palace throwing corpses into the pond. The place looks beautiful on the outside as you see the maple trees turning red, but underwater, you see bodies sinking to the bottom of the lake. It’s a striking sight to see!

Doona: I was afraid of the scenes where I was alone in a prison cell that’s made of wood. Seo-bi wasn’t afraid, but I was—because I was surrounded by zombies! I kept thinking, “This place is going to break any second now!”

Seung-yong: Hak-ju can tame a dead king with shackles. There’s a scene where the king comes up in front of my face and makes these zombie sounds. My role required me not to flinch in fear, but I almost peed my pants!

What was the shoot like?

Ji-hoon: We had to shoot in wide spaces and on open fields with no buildings. It wasn’t easy because the weather was sometimes below 23 degrees.

Any favorite scene?

Ji-hoon: My favorite is the scene in the clinic, where people are transformed into zombies. Seeing this scene was quite shocking for me, not so much because they looked truly terrifying, but because they used to be family members who had no intention of hurting others.

Then, you see them suddenly changing into monsters overnight!