Actor Yoo Ji-tae shared behind-the-scenes details about the extreme preparation that helped define one of Korean cinema’s most unforgettable antagonists.
On the January 5 episode of the web variety show Jjanhan Hyung, Yoo Ji-tae sat down with actress Lee Min-jung to talk candidly about his career, personal life, and long-standing rumors surrounding his role in Oldboy.
Addressing speculation that he practiced celibacy during filming, Yoo explained that the decision was rooted in character logic rather than shock value. “I saw Lee Woo-jin as someone whose emotional growth had stopped completely,” he said. “He’s a character without a life of his own, so cutting off desire felt like a natural extension of that emptiness.” He emphasized that the choice was not for publicity, but to physically align himself with the character’s psychological isolation.
Host Shin Dong-yeob commented that Yoo’s sincerity was clear, adding that this depth of commitment is likely why Lee Woo-jin still feels vivid and unsettling to audiences years later.
The discussion also revisited the film’s iconic “scorpion pose” scene. Lee Min-jung admitted she initially wondered whether the posture was even possible for a human body. Yoo clarified that while he trained in yoga, discreet wire work was used to achieve the precise angle seen on screen.
Shifting to a lighter note, Yoo spoke affectionately about his wife Kim Hyo-jin and joked that while he feels he has “everything,” he sometimes wonders what it would be like to have a daughter. As a father of two sons, he also shared practical concerns about guiding them through adolescence.
From uncompromising character immersion to candid reflections on family life, Yoo Ji-tae’s story underscores why his Oldboy performance remains a benchmark in modern cinema.