‘Military hiatus neither regretted nor feared,’ Kang Tae-oh of K-drama 'Moon River' says

Actor Kang Tae-oh has once again delivered what many are calling a career-defining role, captivating not only domestic viewers but also global audiences through the historical drama “Moon River,” his first in six years. The MBC Friday–Saturday series aired its final episode on Dec. 20, posting a nationwide viewership rating of 6.8 percent — its highest to date, according to Nielsen Korea. The drama follows Crown Prince Lee Gang, played by Kang, and itinerant merchant Park Dali, played by Kim Se-jeong, whose souls suddenly switch bodies, sparking a perilous royal survival story intertwined with romance. By combining a traditional historical setting with a soul-switching premise, the series drew attention for its fresh pacing and strong on-screen chemistry between its two leads. Meeting with Hankook Ilbo at a café in Seoul’s Gangnam District, Kang said he felt significant pressure returning to a historical drama after such a long break. “It had been a while since I last did a sageuk (historical drama), so I was worried,” he said. “I felt I needed to show better acting th