Actor Yoo Ji-tae revealed the difficulties and health issues he experienced during the filming of the movie "The Man Living with the King." Yoo Ji-tae appeared on the tvN variety show "You Quiz on the Block" aired on March 25 and shared behind-the-scenes stories of the shoot. After joining the ranks of actors with over 10 million viewers through the film "The Man Living with the King," he candidly spoke about the challenges and health problems he faced during filming.

Yoo Ji-tae said it was difficult to immerse himself in acting due to director Jang Hang-jun's cheerful style. He explained, "I had to raise my emotions, but when he said, 'Yoo Ji-tae, the symbol of Korean cinema!' my immersion completely broke." This comment caused laughter during the broadcast.

He revealed that he gained over 100 kg to portray the intimidating character Han Myeong-hoe. Yoo Ji-tae confessed, "I gained weight by eating recklessly. During that process, I developed hyperlipidemia, acute gastritis, and colitis." "The Man Living with the King" is a historical drama set in 1457 at Cheongnyeongpo, telling the story of young King Danjong and village chief Eom Heung-do's efforts to revive the village. In addition to Yoo Ji-tae, the cast includes Yoo Hae-jin, Park Ji-hoon, and Jeon Mi-do.

The film became this year's first to reach 10 million viewers, surpassing that milestone 31 days after its release on February 4. As of March 22, the cumulative audience reached 14.75 million, ranking third in the all-time box office. The top two domestic releases are "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (17.61 million) and "Extreme Job" (16.26 million). Additionally, it recorded approximately 142.5 billion KRW in cumulative revenue, securing first place.

On "You Quiz on the Block," Yoo Ji-tae said, "Actually, it's thanks to 'You Quiz' that we reached 10 million," to which Yoo Jae-suk replied, "No," but added, "We helped a little. We appreciate you saying that." At the time of filming, "The Man Living with the King" had surpassed 13.6 million viewers. Yoo Ji-tae expressed his emotion, saying, "I wonder if something like this will ever happen in my life."

Yoo Jae-suk mentioned the production team's difficulties, saying, "The number of viewers changes overnight, so the subtitle team is busy typing 'final final final final'." As of the broadcast date, "The Man Living with the King" had exceeded 15 million viewers, with subtitles displaying the phrase "15 million by Wednesday at 3 PM." Yoo Ji-tae said, "I really hope it becomes the third highest-grossing Korean film ever. The first place is too high," referring to "The Admiral: Roaring Currents."

Yoo Ji-tae added, "They say we will be number one in revenue ranking because ticket prices have changed compared to before." He shared his pride about the film, which surpassed 10 million viewers for the first time in his 28-year career, saying, "My friends send me screenshots, and I feel so proud." Regarding the recent wrap party for "The Man Living with the King," Yoo Ji-tae said, "I wonder if I'll ever experience this kind of atmosphere again in my life. We ate Korean beef yesterday. They told us to eat as much as we wanted. When someone asked, 'How much did you spend?' everyone laughed, and I thought it would be great if this continued," conveying the joyful atmosphere.

He humorously said about director Jang Hang-jun, "He said just one thing: 'Make some good stories about me,'" causing laughter. He added, "I got the nickname 'Jang Hang, watch your words.'" Yoo Ji-tae explained the reason for gaining nearly 100 kg, saying, "Director Jang wanted a slimmer Han Myeong-hoe, but since there was only one villain, I judged that to balance the weight, the villain's atmosphere had to be felt externally as well."

He admitted that the weight gain took a heavy toll on his body, saying, "I carried only very bad things on my body." Yoo Ji-tae confessed, "I had hyperlipidemia, acute gastritis, colitis—everything bad for the body." He added, "I don't think the director liked it very much," and praised, "The director's greatest strength is his acceptance." Following director Jang Hang-jun's instructions, Yoo Ji-tae repeatedly shared good stories, adding more laughter.