Jung Hae In took on the daunting task of stepping into the main cast of the beloved crime thriller I, the Executioner (a.k.a Veteran 2). The sequel had big shoes to fill, but Jung Hae In brought a fresh energy to the story while honoring its legacy. Cineplay sat down with the actor in Seoul on September 11th to get the inside scoop on what it was like behind the scenes.
Q. Park Sun Woo seems like a really challenging character to play, and the film doesn’t give much backstory. How did you approach this role?
I actually talked with the director a lot to really understand Park Sun Woo to the core. At first, I created a backstory for him, like maybe his parents were victims of a crime when he was a kid. But director Ryu Seung Wan told me, “You don’t need any of that.” He said, “I want Park Sun Woo to make people feel uneasy and uncomfortable just by being there. Just focus on the moment.”
Q. It must have been challenging to portray a character who commits evil acts without any clear reason. What did you do to prepare for the role of Park Sun Woo? Did you do any research or use any specific acting techniques?
I watched many scenes where criminals were interviewed by profilers and noticed that those with mental disorders often have a fixated stare. In regular conversations, people naturally break eye contact, but these individuals tend to hold their gaze. Psychologically, it’s said that maintaining eye contact for more than 5 to 6 seconds with someone you’re not romantically interested in can create discomfort. I tried to incorporate that into my portrayal of Park Sun Woo.
Q. The action scenes in Veteran 2 were incredible. How did you prepare for such a physically demanding role?
Before we started filming, I spent a lot of time training at this action school. I learned various martial arts, from mixed martial arts to Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But I realized that having a strong base was even more important. I needed to be able to do the same moves again and again without getting tired because we’d often have to do 10 to 20 takes for each scene. So, I focused on building up my endurance by running a lot.
Q. What scene took the most takes?
The rooftop scene was definitely the toughest. It was freezing cold, and we had to keep spraying fake rain, which made things even harder. However, the actual action scenes went really well. We did everything exactly as we had planned.
Q. You did some amazing parkour stunts on Namsan for the movie. How did that go?
I’m not easily scared, so I actually volunteered to do them myself. But the director talked me out of it because he was worried I might get hurt.
Q. The post-credits scene wasn’t included in the version shown at the Cannes Film Festival, right?
That’s right. I saw it for the first time at the screening. I should ask the director about it when I meet him later.
>> Jung Hae In and Jung So Min Spotted at ‘Veteran 2’ VIP Premiere Together
Q. What are your plans for the future?
It hasn’t been long since I wrapped up filming the drama Love Next Door. Right now, I’m neck-deep in promoting the movie. I’ll be doing stage greetings even during the Chuseok holiday. I’m planning to tour around cities like Busan, Daegu, and Gwangju for promotions. From October this year to January next year, I have overseas fan meetings scheduled. If I, the Executioner introduces me to new fans and makes them want to check out my other work, I’d be thrilled.
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