Actor Yoo Ji-tae revealed behind-the-scenes stories of the film "The Man Who Lives with the King." In the preview video of the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block," released on March 23, Yoo Ji-tae said about surpassing 10 million viewers, "I think the reason we reached 10 million is thanks to 'You Quiz.'"

Yoo Ji-tae played Han Myeong-hoe, the most powerful villain in Joseon, in the film. He shared about working with director Jang Hang-jun, saying, "I had to seriously push my acting on set, but when he called me 'the symbol of Korean cinema, Yoo Ji-tae,' it completely broke my immersion," which brought laughter.

He revealed that he gained weight for the role of Han Myeong-hoe. Yoo Ji-tae confessed, "I ate a lot without restraint," adding, "I ended up with hyperlipidemia, acute gastritis, and colitis." This statement shows the difficulties he endured to immerse himself in the role.

The film "The Man Who Lives with the King" tells the story of village chief Eom Heung-do, who voluntarily exiled himself to Cheongnyeongpo village for its revival in 1457, and the young dethroned king Danjong Lee Hong-wi. After its release on February 4, 2026, the film recorded a cumulative audience of 14.75 million, ranking third in all-time box office hits.

Yoo Ji-tae, a 28-year veteran actor since his debut in 1998, earned his first "10 million actor" title through this work. When asked about the story that he mainly takes villain roles because of his wife, actress Kim Hyo-jin, he appeared embarrassed and said, "That seems too idealized."

The success of "The Man Who Lives with the King" is regarded as a result of the harmony between Yoo Ji-tae's acting skills and director Jang Hang-jun's direction. Yoo Ji-tae did not mention his future plans, but the achievements gained from this work will be an important milestone in his career.

The episode of "You Quiz on the Block" featuring Yoo Ji-tae is scheduled to air on March 25. The program is expected to cover his recent activities and behind-the-scenes stories.