Lee Min Ho shared what it was really like working alongside veteran actor Park Hae Il for the first time.
At the press conference for the upcoming historical thriller The Assassin(s), held on August 10 at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul, director Hur Jin Ho reflected on reuniting with Park a decade after their 2016 film The Last Princess. Hur explained that Park was his immediate choice for the role of Jae-hwan, a rational and deeply thoughtful character.
“Park Hae Il was naturally the first person who came to mind right from the start,” Director Hur noted.
When asked about their dynamic on set, Hur quipped, “Honestly, most of our conversations revolved around what to eat and which snacks paired best with makgeolli.” Beyond the lighthearted banter over drinks, Hur commended Park’s leadership on set. Playing a senior figure at a newspaper agency, Park went out of his way to put the younger cast members playing reporters at ease.
“Even during scenes focused on Young Il (played by Lee Min Ho) where Hae Il wasn’t on camera, he stayed tucked in a corner of the set just to keep reading lines and talking with the actors,” Hur shared. “The cast was deeply grateful for that.”
Lee Min Ho admitted he felt nervous on his first day filming with such a respected senior actor.
“I heard Hae Il had arrived early in the morning on my very first day. The pressure hit me right away, and I was a bundle of nerves while sitting in the makeup chair,” Lee recalled.
However, those jitters evaporated the moment the camera rolled.
“The second I heard his voice, my anxiety completely disappeared and I was fully locked into the scene,” Lee said. “I was so moved when he actually crouched down right in front of me off-camera just to deliver his phone lines live. I’m truly thankful.”
The Assassin(s) centers on the real-life investigation into the attempted assassination of South Korea’s First Lady during the live Liberation Day broadcast on August 15th, 1974. The film delves into the lingering mysteries surrounding the incident, including the official records and the curious case of the missing bullets among the six shots fired.
The film boasts a powerhouse ensemble cast, featuring Yoo Hai Jin as a detective, Park Hae Il as a seasoned journalist, and Lee Min Ho as a rookie reporter, alongside Park Ji Hwan, Park Hoon, Kim Dae Myeung, and Ryu Hye Young.
The Assassin(s) is slated for a theatrical release during the upcoming Chuseok holiday season.
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