[On the Record] Park Hae-jun "Singing and Toasting All Day... Got Goosebumps"

Actor Park Hae-joon Interview

'Seoul's Spring' Inspired by Roh Tae-woo, Playing Noh Tae-geon
"A Movie I Definitely Want to Show My Children When They Grow Up"

"We filmed the celebration scene all day long. Jeon Du-kwang (played by Hwang Jung-min), No Tae-geon, and everyone gathered, singing and toasting joyfully. After finishing the shoot, I suddenly thought, 'What on earth have I done?' I felt so uncomfortable and got goosebumps."

Actor Park Hae-joon (47, Park Sang-woo) shared this bittersweet impression after filming the Hana Association celebration scene in the movie Seoul Spring, which is based on the December 12 military coup. In reality, Jeon Du-hwan held a congratulatory party called a "comfort party" with the Security Command (Hana Association) at a location in Seoul on January 23, 1980, right after the coup. The footage filmed by a broadcasting company at the time has gained retroactive popularity online after the movie's release. Viewers who watched the film searched for the footage, causing its views to surge.

Actor Park Hae-joon [Photo by Plus M Entertainment]

Recently, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, he told Asia Economy, "While filming the celebration scene, we played all day in front of the camera. Everyone was shouting 'Wow!' and rejoicing, but I wondered, 'Is it okay to eat, drink, and celebrate like this?' I got goosebumps all over," recalling the moment.

Director Kim Sung-soo, who directed Beat (1997), Flu (2013), and Asura (2016), was the first to bring the December 12 military coup, led by Jeon Du-hwan, No Tae-woo, and the secret military group Hana Association, to the screen.

Seoul Spring depicts the tense nine hours aimed at preventing the rebellion of the new military forces that took place in Seoul at the time. It has attracted attention by surpassing 2 million cumulative viewers within six days of its release. Park Hae-joon plays No Tae-geon, inspired by No Tae-woo, the commander of the 9th Division who played a key role in the military coup.

Appearing in a film based on historical facts is quite a burden. Park Hae-joon said, "I couldn't help but feel the pressure, but after meeting Director Kim Sung-soo, it disappeared. Reading lines with the director and senior actor Hwang Jung-min gave me confidence that I could perform the role well. I adapted quickly and focused on acting with interest."

He added, "Although the film is based on historical facts, it tells the story of nine hours that no one knows about. Many parts were created through cinematic imagination. I focused on the urgent and interesting moments No Tae-geon faced and the situation."

No Tae-geon is the friend of Jeon Du-kwang (played by Hwang Jung-min), who is inspired by Jeon Du-hwan, and the second-in-command of the rebel forces, leading the military coup alongside Jeon Du-kwang. Although he seems to be dragged along by Jeon Du-kwang, who charges forward like a bulldozer, he is consumed by an enormous thirst for power. Park Hae-joon cleverly portrayed a character who might otherwise appear as a bland side figure. He layered moments of desire and fragments of emotion to make the character three-dimensional.

"While talking with the director, I wanted to express the character in a three-dimensional way. He is not just someone who is dragged around and agrees with Jeon Du-kwang's opinions; he also opposes and proposes different ideas. I portrayed him as a person who worries and struggles with the danger posed by Jeon Du-kwang's tremendous energy. Sometimes, he opposes Jeon Du-kwang and tries to create his own path," he explained.

The film connects to The Man Standing Next (2020), which deals with the assassination of President Park Chung-hee by the head of the Central Intelligence Agency on October 26, 1979. After the presidential assassination, Security Commander Jeon Du-kwang (played by Hwang Jung-min) is appointed head of the joint investigation headquarters under martial law and stages a military coup. The story continues with Taxi Driver (2017), depicting the May 18 Democratic Uprising, and 1987 (2017), about the June Democratic Uprising.

Park Hae-joon said, "I don't have memories from that time, but people my age know about the December 12 military coup. I had only heard about it like a folk tale, just that much."

He added, "I'm glad the film is receiving a good response. Many people seem to support the film with good intentions, so I sat down for the interview with a happy heart. Talking about the film is enjoyable. I just hope there won't be misunderstandings. I hope the film can provide a platform for diverse discussions." He also said, "My children are still young, but when they grow up, I definitely want to show them Seoul Spring."

Actor Park Hae-joon [Photo by Plus M Entertainment]

During his time at Korea National University of Arts, Park Hae-joon was called the "Korean Dong-gun Jang" for his handsome and tall appearance. Starting with the play Then, the Stars Fell in 2007, he was active on stage. He gained recognition for his role as a ruthless loan shark in the film Helpless (2012). His name became widely known through the drama Misaeng (2014). His performance in the film Fourth Place was also praised as impressive. Since the breakout hit The World of the Married (2020), he has been active in numerous films and dramas.

"Recently, I have been working continuously without rest. Honestly, I was a bit exhausted due to the delay in film releases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For me, Seoul Spring is a grateful work that gave me strength. It’s like a gift that appeared at the right time. Thanks to it, I gained a lot of energy. There were parts where I wanted people to understand why I do what I do, and people around me recognized that. I heard many good words. It made me feel, 'The path I'm on is not in vain,' and 'I can continue with more confidence,'" he said.

Park Hae-joon said he took a sweet break in the first quarter of this year. Although it was a sudden leisure period after finishing a project, it became a driving force. He said, "I had the chance to rest fully without worrying about the next project. It was my first time taking such a long break, so I didn’t know how to fill the time. That was a bit disappointing. Watching my children grow and wanting to be recognized as a father, I found myself reluctant to work," he laughed. Then he added, "I realized that resting is important. If I get another chance, I want to rest well. I want to go on a family trip and try a hobby I’ve never had."

Actor Park Hae-joon [Photo by Plus M Entertainment]

Park Hae-joon, "the actor," emphasized that his goal is to maintain a consistent acting philosophy. "People don’t change much. As always, I want to act plainly. I want to act incredibly naturally. Since my debut, I have believed that realistic acting is the most unique, and I have pursued it. These days, everyone acts naturally well. My original thought hasn’t changed. Based on natural acting, I’m currently thinking about how to add fun that can keep people interested," he said.

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