Jang Dong-yoon Calls Ko Hyun-jung a Total Boss on the 'Queen Mantis' Set

Actor Jang Dong-yoon opened up about the on-set vibe of SBS’s hit thriller "Queen Mantis".

Cosmopolitan unveiled its October cover featuring Jang ― his first-ever fashion magazine cover ― where he ushers in fall in a 2025 F/W collection from a fashion label. From crisp tailoring to dandy knits and a playful preppy twist, he wears it all with ease.

Despite late-summer heat pushing past 30°C that day, Jang powered through padded jackets and coats without complaint, even checking in on crew and pitching in between takes ― reportedly leaving the team smitten. After wrapping the shoot, he sat down for an interview with his trademark poise.

Riding a peak 9.6% viewership and topping Netflix’s domestic Top 10, SBS’s Friday-Saturday drama "Queen Mantis" casts Jang as Cha Soo-yeol, a detective who also happens to be the son of notorious serial killer Jung Yi-shin (played by Ko Hyun-jung). “Jung Yi-shin targets men who abuse their families,” Jang says. “Even if the intention is to punish evil or serve justice, murder can’t be justified ― and that’s something I wanted to explore through Cha Soo-yeol.”

The duo’s relationship is a knotty one: mother and son, yet also an incarcerated killer and the cop who teams up with her. “The emotional line is complicated, so it wasn’t easy to express,” he notes. “But Director Byun Young-joo’s clear direction helped tremendously.”

Asked about working with heavy-hitters like Ko Hyun-jung, Byun Young-joo, and Jo Sung-ha, Jang didn’t hesitate. “Ko Hyun-jung is really cool ― a total boss,” he says. “Everyone else is big-hearted and playful, too, so the set felt genuinely relaxed.”

Marking his 10th year since debut, Jang has built a reputation as upright and thoughtful ― but he’s itching to switch it up. “Absolutely,” he says when asked about changing his on-screen image. “In life I gravitate toward being straight-laced and healthy, but as an actor I want to play a rebel. I’ve always wanted to take on the kind of villain society points fingers at. And I secretly want to do full-on comedy, too. I’ve dipped into rom-com, but I’d love to tackle something more outright ― think Martin McDonagh’s 'The Banshees of Inisherin.'”

On what’s changed since his early days, he reflects, “I’ve grown comfortable in the life of an actor, and acting is still fun. I got into this by chance, but I still want to do it better. I’m not looking to branch out beyond acting just yet. Boxing and dabbling in directing are side hobbies ― I’d rather focus on the main job.”

Jang’s indie directorial effort "The Yeast," invited to the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN) last year, is now moving toward a proper theatrical release. “I’m always developing ideas and juggling a bunch at once,” he says. “Nothing’s concrete yet, though. Right now, we’re working through the steps to get 'The Yeast' into theaters.”

As for a line he won’t cross: “I don’t want to chase my own work at the expense of others. When you get tunnel vision, you can end up hurting people without realizing it. I don’t want that. I want everyone to be happy.”

Is he happy now? “I am. Pretty happy,” he laughs. “Mostly because it looks like the Samsung Lions might make the postseason ― unless something wild happens.”

"Queen Mantis" airs on SBS Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 p.m.

[Photo= Cosmopolitan]

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)