NCT DREAM member Jisung is stepping into a new chapter of his career with his acting debut in ENA's upcoming drama Crash 2: Road of Fury, and he has shared how different the experience feels compared to being the youngest member of his K-pop group.
On November 10, Jisung attended the production press conference for Crash 2 at the Stanford Hotel in Sangam-dong, Seoul, alongside director Park Joon Woo and fellow cast members Lee Min Ki, Kwak Sun Young, Heo Sung Tae, Lee Ho Chul, and Moon Hee.
During the event, Jisung was asked about being the youngest member of both NCT DREAM and the Crash 2 cast.
Although he holds the same position in both groups, the singer and actor admitted that the experiences could not be more different.
“I'm the youngest in NCT, and I'm also the youngest in Crash 2. But even though I'm the youngest in both, the feeling is definitely very different,” Jisung explained.
He then revealed that his long relationship with his NCT DREAM members has made him feel more confident and comfortable around them.
“I've spent more than half of my life with the members, so even though I'm the youngest, it's a little embarrassing to say this myself, but I've been called the 'maknae on top,'” he shared.
The Korean expression “maknae on top” is often used to describe the youngest member of a group who confidently interacts with older members and sometimes playfully takes charge.
Jisung explained that he shares a close relationship with his fellow NCT DREAM members, making their interactions feel more like friendships despite their age differences.
“The older members feel more like friends to me,” he said.
However, joining the cast of Crash 2 gave him a completely different experience.
Instead of being the comfortable and confident youngest member, Jisung found himself observing and learning from experienced actors around him.
“On Crash 2, I've been watching everyone around me and learning a lot. It was a set where I learned so much from these wonderful adults,” he shared.
His remarks highlighted how the drama became a valuable learning experience as he entered the acting industry.
Crash 2: Road of Fury is the second season of ENA's 2024 crime investigation drama Crash.
The new season follows the Traffic Crime Investigation team, also known as T.C.I., as it expands from the Namgang Police Station into a regional investigation unit under the National Investigation Headquarters.
The team takes on traffic-related crimes across the country, bringing a larger scale to the investigations featured in the first season.
With Jisung making his drama acting debut alongside an experienced cast, viewers can look forward to seeing a different side of the NCT DREAM member.
Meanwhile, the 12-episode drama Crash 2: Road of Fury is scheduled to premiere on November 16 at 10 p.m. KST on ENA.
