Kang Daniel is featured in leading Korean film magazine Cine21’s cover story for its No.1343 February issue. It is rare for idols to appear solo on this magazine’s cover, Kang Daniel being one of only 3 idols with this distinction in recent years.

In his interview, Daniel discussed his acting debut in Disney Plus original series 'Rookie Cops', a youth drama about police academy freshmen.

Daniel compared the process of becoming an actor to gradually filling one’s presence little by little on a large drawing paper and remarked, “Isn't this merely a stage where I have only just made a dot mark? [...] Being an actor really involves constant learning and pioneering oneself.”

He found it fascinating to immerse oneself in a completely different personality and live that life instead—as he did with the principled, introverted Wi Seung Hyun. Daniel revealed what helped with his role: “Something one becomes immersed in seems to flow naturally depending on the situation at that time. For me, dance was the first [...] that I worked on without regrets. Recalling the sense of immersion at that time was particularly helpful in empathizing with and expressing Wi Seung Hyun's grit.”

With regard to action scenes, while there were plenty that didn’t make the final cut, Daniel was proud of them all. He recalled suffering a dizzying injury during filming, but nevertheless fondly thought of the action scenes as thrilling experiences.

Kang Daniel reflected on 2021 as a year of challenge and where he began to tap into new fields. Starting with his album, he also made his debut as an MC through Mnet dance competition programs'Street Woman Fighter' and 'Street Dance Girls Fighter'. However, he considered his acting debut in 'Rookie Cops' the biggest challenge. While he regretted that he could have done even better, he said this is something he will earnestly make up for in the future, resolving “to become a person who learns and absorbs any small part, so every actor in the world is my role model [...] I want to be remembered as an actor who can connect and empathize with many people in the process of continuing to strive and develop.”

'Rookie Cops' airs 2 episodes on Wednesdays exclusively on Disney Plus. Following a heart-fluttering first kiss between Kang Daniel and Chae Soo Bin that closed the series’ first half, the drama’s second act is shrouded in mystery over an unsolved case. Episodes 11 and 12 will air on March 2.