'Taxi Driver 3': Bae Yoo Ram reveals how the series helped him grow as an actor

Bae Yoo Ram sits for a Q&A for Taxi Driver Season 3.

Taxi Driver Season 3 follows employees of Rainbow Taxi, a taxi company operated by Jang Seong Cheol (Kim Eui Sung), the head of the crime victims' support center Blue Bird Foundation, who carry out revenge on behalf of those wronged. Led by former special forces officer-turned taxi driver Kim Do Gi (Lee Je Hoon), the team includes white hacker An Go Eun (Pyo Ye Jin), former automobile development researcher Choi Gyeong Gu (Jang Hyuk Jin), and former aircraft maintenance mechanic Park Jin Eon (Bae Yoo Ram) — mechanics at Rainbow Taxi.

Bae Yoo Ram charmed the viewers in the role of Chief Park, an engineer at Rainbow Taxi.

Below is the full Q&A interview with the actor:

Taxi Driver 3 has come to an end. How do you feel now that the show has concluded?

First of all, I would like to sincerely thank all the viewers who loved Taxi Driver 3. Thanks to you, we were able to make it all the way to the end. As always, the ending leaves some regret, but I choose to think of it as another beginning. I will work hard so that I can greet you again with yet another new beginning.

Compared to previous seasons, the series felt more exhilarating and grand in scale. If there is an episode from Season 3 that you liked the most, which one would it be, and why?

Personally, I find the Samheungdo episode most memorable. The story unfolded with great intensity within the confined setting of an island; it felt like watching a film. The car chase sequence, in particular, left a strong impression on me.

The Rainbow Taxi team's chemistry is popular [among the viewers]. While filming Taxi Driver 3, were there any changes or differences compared to before?

All of us slowly grew closer over the course of six years, like a fragrance spreading through a space, and I think that's what sustains the chemistry we have now. Acting with that chemistry, the set was always comfortable and enjoyable. If there's anything that has changed compared to before, it would be that we've come to trust one another even more, [as a result,] we were able to focus fully on our own performances.

Who was your favorite sub-character in Season 3? Was there any fan reaction to a sub-character that left a strong impression on you?

Of all Kim Do Gi's various characters, Hogu Do Gi was the most memorable for me. In the script, I didn't have any scenes with Hogu Do Gi, so I watched Lee Je Hoon's performance on screen, and I found it really entertaining.

In the final episode, Chief Park cuts off his signature bowl haircut and re-enlists in the military. How did you feel when you first read that part of the script?

First of all, I'd like to thank the director and the writer. I never imagined I'd wear a digital camouflage uniform in my life (laughs). I felt younger, and at first I thought it was a joke. But the Rainbow Taxi members encouraged me to approach it sincerely, so I made the bold decision to cut my hair.

Are there any details in your portrayal of Chief Park that can only be seen in Taxi Driver 3?

Given the characteristics of this season, I focused [on things] where seriousness and comedy naturally intersect. Within that balance, I paid close attention to bringing out the finer details. For those who haven't watched yet and are planning to binge the series, I'd really appreciate it if you enjoy those aspects.

Following Seasons 1 and 2, you delivered a standout performance in your supporting role this time as well. While playing the character of Chief Park, was there any moment or aspect that made you feel you had grown as an actor?

Personally, up through Season 1, I think I felt more nervous than comfortable on any set I went to. But after completing Season 1, I gained more confidence and started trusting myself more, which helped me to feel more at ease. I've felt myself gradually growing as a person and as an actor, and that's why I'm very grateful for the Taxi Driver series.

If you were to define the Taxi Driver series as something for Bae Yoo Ram, what would it be?

Because I play a mechanic, I’d like to define it as "lubricant".

Lastly, could you share a message for the viewers who loved Taxi Driver 3?

Thank you once again for loving the Taxi Driver series over the past six years. No one really knows whether the series will continue or come to an end, but I don’t think this is the last of the Rainbow Taxi team. Like Taxi Driver, which you never know where it is but know it's out there somewhere, I will keep striving to be actor Bae Yoo Ram, who is always by your side. This was Chief Park. End of service.

Source (1)