Actor Jung Hae-in listens to reporters’ questions during a press conference for the film “I, the Executioner” at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on Monday. Yonhap
By KTimes
The event was glamorous and the audience’s enthusiasm was palpable. Surrounded by renowned figures from the world of cinema, actor Jung Hae-in had the privilege of sharing this moment of glory with his mother. She was delighted to see her son, who had grown up so well, make his debut at the Cannes Film Festival. His words, “Thank you for giving me such a gift,” deeply touched her heart.
Jung sat down for an interview Wednesday at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss his role in the film “I, the Executioner,” a sequel to the 2015 hit crime film. “Veteran.”
The film is a crime drama about rookie detective Park Sun-woo (played by Jung), who joins Detective Seo Do-cheol’s (Hwang Jung-min) violent crimes investigation unit to hunt down a serial killer.
Jung plays Park Sun-woo, the antagonist of the “Veteran” sequel. When asked about his character, he describes Park as “a person with narcissistic and sociopathic tendencies who uses any means necessary to achieve the desired results.”
Director Ryoo Seung-wan, who had closely followed Jung’s previous films, such as “DP” and “Snowdrop,” boldly cast him in the role. Reflecting on his journey, Jung said he couldn’t believe he would be a part of the sequel, especially since he enjoyed watching the first “Veteran” in theaters in 2015.
Jung prepared thoroughly for the role. He said, “Since Park Sun-woo has strong sociopathic traits, I watched videos of mentally ill criminals being interrogated by profilers. One common characteristic I noticed was that they didn’t move much; their gaze was fixed on the other person’s eyes, and they seemed very focused.”
His analysis resulted in a nuanced portrait of Park, with particular attention paid to his gaze. “As the film progresses, Park wears a mask and a hat, which limits what is visible. So I had to focus more on where his eyes were looking and how often he blinked,” Jung said.
Actor Jung Hae-in / Courtesy of CJ ENM
Hwang Jung-min’s support
Hwang Jung-min, who starred in the first and second Veteran films, described his experience working with Jung as fortunate.
Jung, a fan of Hwang’s work, was initially nervous, fearing that Hwang would be strict. However, those fears quickly dissipated once filming began.
“Hwang is meticulous, warm and very caring,” Jung said with a smile. Hwang even played the opposite role behind the camera when Jung was shooting his scenes.
“Many actors could have saved their energy or used stunt doubles, but Hwang continued to act even when he wasn’t in front of the camera,” Jung said. Watching Hwang, Jung was inspired to treat his young actors with the same respect and dedication in the future.
Jung’s deep immersion in his roles even influenced his personality, as evidenced by the changes in his MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator). “I take the MBTI test every time I work on a project, and it changes every time,” he said. This time, the change was noticeable enough that even his mother told him, “You look different.”
Jung said: “I spent several months concentrating intensely on this role, which seemed to affect me. I deliberately kept to myself, fearing that I would tire or hurt those around me.”
Actor Jung Hae-in / Courtesy of CJ ENM
A son who has grown up well
“I, the Executioner” is of particular significance to Jung because it is his first appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was invited to the midnight screening of the 77th Cannes International Film Festival.
“I tried to enjoy it, but I couldn’t. I tried to be cool and have fun, but it was my first time, and I was so nervous I looked embarrassed,” he said with a laugh.
He nevertheless managed to complete his program successfully, to everyone’s cheers. His mother also accompanied him on his trip to Cannes.
“I don’t know when I’ll be able to return to Cannes, or if my mother will be healthy by then. She wanted to come with me this time,” he said. She congratulated him, saying: “Thank you for giving me such a gift. I’m proud of you.”
Jung expressed his deep affection for his parents, saying, “They have had the greatest influence on me.” He continued, “Even now I am scolded for little things like ‘Don’t chew with your mouth open’ or ‘Don’t shake your legs.’ Their advice has been very helpful. That is why, when I am in a situation where I am loved by many people, I feel more inclined to take care of my parents.”
“I, the Executioner,” released Friday and considered the most anticipated film of the Chuseok holiday season, sold more than 520,000 tickets as of Thursday, with a high reservation rate of 77.1 percent, according to the Korean Film Council.
Jung Hae-in plays evil detective Park Sun-woo in “I, the Executioner.” / Courtesy of CJ ENM
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
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