[Interview] Jin Seon-gyu "It's Thrilling to Become Someone Else While Acting"

Movie 'Gongjo 2: International' Jang Myeongjun role

Jin Seon-gyu / Photo by CJ ENM

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Jin Seon-gyu (45) has returned as a powerful villain for the first time in five years since "The Outlaws" (2017). He said, "I wanted to play a proper villain." The sequel to "Confidential Assignment," which attracted 7.81 million viewers in 2017, "Confidential Assignment 2: International," was released on the 7th and has drawn a cumulative audience of 3.68 million. As the film returns with a grander scale than the original, the villain's presence has also grown.

Jin Seon-gyu, whom we recently met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, revealed, "I imagined the character as a stubborn person who traps himself."

"Confidential Assignment 2: International" (directed by Lee Seok-hoon) tells the story of North Korean detective Lim Cheol-ryeong (Hyun Bin), South Korean detective Kang Jin-tae (Yoo Hae-jin), and a new overseas FBI agent Jack (Daniel Henney) who reunite to catch a global crime organization, each with their own motives, embarking on a triangular joint investigation.

Jin Seon-gyu plays Jang Myung-jun, the leader of the global crime organization. He leads the group with cold judgment and meticulous planning. The villains in the first and second films differ significantly. In the original, conflicts were highlighted, making the villain's evil deeds quite prominent, but in the sequel, the backstory is less emphasized. He said, "I wanted to be imprinted with a strong image," adding, "I repeatedly considered the character's appearance."

"At first, I aimed for a sophisticated character concept, but Hyun Bin and Daniel Henney are naturally classy even when still, so I thought I wouldn't stand out beside them. I worried it might feel clich?. Since I shaved my head in 'The Outlaws,' I suggested trying longer hair this time. While showering, I spontaneously styled my hair and sent the photo to director Lee Seok-hoon, who said it looked good. I saw the hair covering my eyes as symbolizing a purpose of trapping myself."

Behind the camera, Jin Seon-gyu is busy shyly smiling. His colleagues unanimously describe him as a "kind person." He said, "Since I was young, I've been told I'm 'gentle' and 'kind,' but through acting, crying, and shouting, I feel a sense of release. It's fun and thrilling to be imprinted through a role." He added, "Playing a villain also feels like something inside me is released and refreshed."

"I don't act technically. I think about why each character behaves a certain way and what values they live by. Imagining this way, my eyes start to resemble the character. When I remove my makeup after a theater performance, sometimes my colleagues and acquaintances don't recognize me, and that feels really good. That's when I feel I've acted really well."

Jin Seon-gyu also appeared with Yoo Hae-jin, who co-starred in "Confidential Assignment 2," on the tvN variety show "Europe Outside the Tent." He said, "I got to know Yoo Hae-jin through the movie 'Space Sweepers,' and we went camping for one night and two days, which was great. I relied on him a lot during filming for this movie. On the first day, after makeup, when I met him, he said, 'Seong-gyu, you did well,' which gave me strength, and I kept going until the end with that energy." He laughed, saying, "Even while traveling in Europe, it wasn't tiring at all," and added, "I will continue to follow Hae-jin hyung, from whom I have much to learn."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.