Jung Hae In opened up about joining the highly anticipated I, the Executioner, aka Veteran 2, and stepping into the spotlight following Yoo Ah In‘s memorable portrayal of Jo Tae Oh from the first film.
At the press conference for I, the Executioner, held on September 9th at CGV Yongsan, director Ryu Seung Wan and lead actors Hwang Jung Min and Jung Hae In were in attendance. This action crime movie follows Detective Seo Do Cheol (Hwang Jung Min) as he leads a special crimes unit, now joined by rookie detective Park Sun Woo (Jung Hae In), in pursuit of a notorious serial killer.
The sequel comes nine years after the original Veteran became a massive box office hit in 2015. It already garnered attention after being invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival back in May. For Ryu Seung Wan, it marked his return to Cannes after 19 years, while Hwang Jung Min stepped back onto the Cannes stage six years after his film The Spy Gone North. For Jung Hae In, this was his first-ever appearance at Cannes since debuting in 2013.
Jung plays a young detective who was inspired to join the police force after seeing Seo Do Cheol arrest the arrogant chaebol heir Jo Tae Oh (Yoo Ah In in the first installment). Known for his uncanny knack of turning uniformed roles into hits—whether it’s in Prison Playbook, D.P., or While You Were Sleeping—Jung Hae In seems to have the magic touch when it comes to wearing a uniform. Fans are already buzzing to see if his “uniform streak” continues in I, the Executioner.
Reflecting on his performance, Jung Hae In shared, “They called it ‘pupil acting,’ but at the start, where I was looking was really important. As someone brought in later, I had to keep observing and trying to catch the details.” He added, “Toward the end, I was wearing a mask, which restricted facial expressions, so I had a lot of discussions with the director about how to express emotions in the small room I was given.”
Fans were initially curious about who would take on the new villain role following Yoo Ah In’s unforgettable performance as Jo Tae Oh. However, Jung Hae In revealed that the pressure wasn’t on replacing Yoo Ah In’s character. “I’d have felt it if there had been a clear villain structure like in the first film, but this time, it’s a different dynamic. I didn’t feel burdened by the previous character,” he explained. “Instead, the pressure came from being part of such a beloved film. Reading the script, it hit me that I didn’t need to outdo the previous villain or show something different.”
I, the Executioner will hit theaters on September 13th.
>> Jung Hae In’s Cannes Debut With ‘I, The Executioner’ Brings Tears to His Mother’s Eyes
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