'Assassin(s)' Director Heo Jin-ho: "Many Special Concerns... Surprised by Jung Woo-sung's Tears" [Interview ③]

*This content was translated by AI.

Director Heo Jin-ho revealed the casting story of Jung Woo-sung and Park Jung-min, who made special appearances in the film 'Assassin(s)'.

On the 10th, we spoke with Director Heo Jin-ho, who directed the film 'Assassin(s)', at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

'Assassin(s)' is a story that traces the suspicions and figures behind the assassination attempt on the First Lady of South Korea, which shocked the nation on August 15, 1974.

The film features many well-known actors who make a strong impression despite their brief screen time. Jung Woo-sung plays Han Sang-il, the older brother of Young-il and a powerful corporate executive with immense influence.

Director Heo Jin-ho stated, "Actually, I am not particularly fond of having many special appearances. When famous actors appear briefly, attention tends to focus solely on them, which was a concern for me."

Nevertheless, there was a reason for casting several actors, including Jung Woo-sung, in short roles. He explained, "When casting the role of Han (Chairman), I wanted to show through this character that such people existed during that era. I hoped that even if characters appeared only once, they would leave a lasting impression on the audience. That is how I came to make these choices."

Regarding Jung Woo-sung's performance, he expressed satisfaction, saying, "I didn't expect actor Jung Woo-sung to act with such sincerity. He acted while holding back tears."

Despite the short screen time, the preparation process was not brief. Director Heo remarked, "Although it was a short scene, I met with the actors two or three times a day to discuss their characters. While filming, I even thought, 'It's enjoyable to watch these actors.'"

He added, "Some viewers might wonder, 'Why are there so many actors?' I also had concerns about this, but in the end, I think it turned out better than expected."

Park Jung-min plays the assassin Moon Tae-gwang, leaving a brief yet powerful impression.

Director Heo Jin-ho said, "I was first surprised by actor Park Jung-min after watching 'The Watchmen.' Many renowned actors appeared in that work, but his performance was particularly memorable. I have long admired him as an actor."

He continued, "I had many concerns about who should play Moon Tae-gwang. On one hand, this character needed to be highly impactful, yet their screen time is limited. However, the story could not revolve entirely around Moon Tae-gwang. I believed that only Park Jung-min could create such an impression within a short duration."

He also expressed gratitude toward Park Jung-min for agreeing to appear despite his busy schedule. Director Heo stated, "Even amidst his hectic schedule, he agreed to participate. It was truly a challenging character."

Notably, rather than clearly defining the character of Moon Tae-gwang, he approached him with questions. He explained, "In a way, this character entered the story carrying questions. Instead of precisely defining who this person is, I thought it might be better to leave some ambiguity. I constantly asked actor Park Jung-min, 'Why did you do that?' and 'What were you thinking?' as we developed the character together."

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*This content was translated by AI.