[INTERVIEW] 'Broker' actor Song Kang-ho says winning award was never his goal

Actor Song Kang-ho plays the role of a baby broker in the new drama film, "Broker." Courtesy of Sublime Artist Agency

By Lee Gyu-lee

Actor Song Kang-ho, who recently won the Best Actor award at the 75th Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the film, "Broker," said accolades have never been his goal in acting.

"As an actor, the purpose of acting and taking part in films is not to win a trophy. The only goal is to communicate with audiences through a good piece of work," the actor told The Korea Times during an online interview, Wednesday.

"Screening at film festivals and winning just happens to be part of that whole process of working hard and making a good film. I'm very thrilled and honored but this has not been my goal and won't be in the future. It always has been this way and nothing will change," he said.

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Recalling when his name was called as the winner at the festival's closing ceremony, he said it was more meaningful to share the moment with his family.

"This was the first time my son came with me (to Cannes) … I've never had a chance to bring him until now," he said. "So it was even more meaningful (to win the award) during this first time of going to Cannes with all four members of the family."

A scene from the film, "Broker" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Japanese award-winning auteur director Hirokazu Kore-eda's drama film, "Broker," revolves around dry cleaner owner Sang-hyun (Song) and his partner, Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), who steal babies that are abandoned by their mothers, who are unable or unwilling to raise them, and sells them on the adoption black market.

One day, So-young (Lee Ji-eun), a mother who abandoned her baby, comes back to look for it. Despite it being a crime, Sang-hyun persuades her that he can help find her son a good home, and takes her on a journey to find a buyer for the baby.

Song expressed that he wanted his character to be enigmatic and vague.

"I wasn't curious about Sang-hyun's background and didn't want to know it. I wanted to approach the character as if he was a mystery," he said. "I didn't want to try figuring out his exact emotions (throughout the storyline) and portray them, no matter what his past was or his future would be."

The actor, who has starred in almost 40 movies, said this film has a great meaning to his career as the outcome of working together with great artists.

"(Through this film), I came to work with such precious actors like Gang, Lee, Bae Doo-na and Lee Joo-young, the best staff and director Kore-eda. It will be remembered as a hugely meaningful work that I cooperated on with such great artists," he said.

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