If there’s one film dominating theaters right now, it’s the horror hit Salmokji: Whispering Water — and at the center of it is rising actor Yoon Jae Chan.
The film quickly passed its break-even point of 800,000 viewers within a week and is now racing toward 2 million admissions, with Yoon drawing attention for his role as Sung Bin.
Still, the actor is keeping his feet on the ground. “It’s honestly unexpected,” he said of the film’s box office success. “With horror, I thought it would mostly appeal to a niche audience. I didn’t expect it to hit a million this fast.” Rather than focusing on numbers, Yoon said what matters most is hearing audiences say the movie is fun. “The whole team’s been over the moon every day.”
Part of that fan excitement has come from the cast’s viral promise: if the film did well, they’d greet audiences in full ghost makeup. Yoon chose to dress as a “jiangshi” — the hopping vampire from Chinese folklore. “It might be unfamiliar to younger audiences, but I thought it’d be cute and fun,” he said. “I even did the makeup myself and hopped around in character. I wanted people to think, ‘Now that’s commitment.’”
Ironically, for someone leading a horror film, Yoon admits he’s easily scared. “I’m actually known as a huge scaredy-cat,” he said. To prepare, he pushed himself to extremes. “When I made it to the final audition round, I spent two or three days living in total darkness at home,” he shared. “I kept imagining what it would feel like if a ghost appeared right in front of me.” He focused on clearly separating the moment fear takes over from the instinct to survive, layering those emotions into his performance.
Yoon also addressed his past as a contestant on Produce 101. “I was chasing my dream of becoming a singer, but during COVID-19, I hit a wall,” he said. It wasn’t until he worked on a Korean-Brazilian drama that he discovered acting. “That’s when I realized, ‘I love myself when I’m acting.’”
In Salmokji, he also built a natural on-screen dynamic with co-star Jang Da A, who he called a “decent person.” Describing his character as a charming younger guy who knows how to navigate social situations, Yoon said he focused on small details — like carrying her bag or showing subtle acts of care — to bring authenticity to their relationship.
With his next project, Sold Out on You, currently airing on SBS, Yoon Jae Chan’s breakout moment may just be the beginning.
>> ‘Salmokji: Whispering Water’: 3 Key Takeaways You Won’t Want to Miss Before Watching
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