Park Hae-il, 'Assassins' After Four Years... "I Thought You Were Waiting for This Work" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Park Hae-il remained wary of the unfamiliar while seeking new nuances within the familiar. As a result, he created a heavy yet calm resonance in 'Assassins'.

'Assassins' is a story tracing the suspicions and masterminds behind the assassination attempt on the First Lady that shocked South Korea on August 15, 1974. Park Hae-il portrayed Jae-hwan, the head of the social affairs department at a newspaper who persisted in uncovering the truth of the incident despite countless instances of censorship and pressure.

Following 'Deok-hee', this marks his second collaboration with director Hur Jin-ho on 'Assassins'. Returning to the screen after 'Hansan: Rising Dragon' (2022), Park Hae-il recalled being offered the role in 'Assassins', saying, "I think I was waiting for a film by Director Hur Jin-ho."

He added, "Occasionally, I would meet with the director near Insadong or Gyeongbokgung Palace and drink makgeolli while talking about life. During one of those casual meetings, he proposed the project and handed me the script. After reading it, I thought, 'Was this something I had been waiting for?' A week later, I told the director I would take on the role."

The fact that the film is set in the 1970s also sparked Park Hae-il's curiosity. He explained, "This is the first time Director Hur has tackled a story set in the 1970s. Although I was born in the 1970s, it deals with major events that occurred before my birth. It was an incident that happened when I was still crawling around, unaware of anything. I think I started filming with the mindset of gradually learning about it as we went along."

Park Hae-il stated, "Even after finishing the first shoot, I hadn't planted the word 'certainty' in my mind yet. It felt like tapping a bridge before crossing it. As I took each step forward, I kept asking myself, 'Is this the right direction?'"

He continued, "I also discussed things with the director and communicated with the main staff and fellow actors to constantly verify whether we were capturing the feel of that era."

In his second collaboration with director Hur Jin-ho, Park Hae-il identified 'repetition' as the aspect he was most cautious about.

He said, "When working on a second project with the same director, familiarity can be an advantage, but from an actor's perspective, I felt it could end up being just a matter of pulling out what I already have and showing it again."

He further explained, "Although my role in 'Deok-hee' wasn't major, I played a journalist. So for this project, I kept asking myself, 'What is the new point here?' and 'What part can I portray in an unfamiliar way?'"

Park Hae-il added, "I think the director was aware of those concerns as well. Like a shepherd guiding the flock, he gently steered us in the right direction, allowing me to discover new nuances along the way."

Especially when portraying the journalist Jae-hwan, his first concern was 'naturalness'. He stated, "Since my role is a journalist, my first task was to look as much like a journalist as possible within the space where journalists sit. I thought deeply about what would feel natural."

He also referenced materials related to the incident and the era. Park Hae-il noted, "There were period documents and documentaries available, and it was an event frequently covered on terrestrial broadcasts. However, my intention was only to grasp a general outline. Rather than accumulating too much information, I started with the mindset of diving into the creative world given to me."

For Park Hae-il, who sought answers within the work, collaborating with fellow actors was another important benchmark. First, recalling his long-standing relationship with Yoo Hae-jin, he mentioned that he closely observed Yoo's acting process on set.

He said, "I wondered how an actor could remain active for such a long time. After reaching his peak with 'The King and the Clown', I imagine he was in good spirits, but I was curious about how he prepared on set and filmed scene by scene."

He continued, "I secretly read the script and found it filled with notes in every scene. All of the senior actor's ideas, opinions on the work, and thoughts were contained within those notes. It was like a map. I was truly surprised at that moment."

Smiling, he added, "I am not that type of actor. But I realized there must be reasons for remaining active as an actor for so long."

Recalling his first meeting with Lee Min-ho, Park Hae-il laughed, saying, "I saw him for the first time at the film company. He was incredibly tall. I thought, 'Is there really someone like this in a newspaper office?' and wondered what kind of cinematic situation this was."

He further remarked, "At the same time, it felt like Director Hur had read my mind. I thought the character Yeong-il, played by Min-ho, could appeal interestingly to audiences. Personally, I also sensed the vibe of Shin Sung-il from the 1970s. His lines were bold and clear, yet strangely not unfamiliar. If you look up photos of a young Shin Sung-il, you'll understand what I mean."

Praise for his attitude on set continued as well. Park Hae-il shared, "From my perspective, he seemed to have left behind many things. He even came to the set on days when he wasn't filming."

He added, "That's a different position from mine. When that actor appears, fans from various countries move together. He must have known that could be a burden on set, but he still came because he was curious and wanted to be there. That attitude was impressive."

Observing colleagues who filled the set in different ways became an opportunity for Park Hae-il to reconsider his own acting approach. Regarding his personal style, he said, "Actors have diverse temperaments. There are times when watching certain performances makes me raise both hands and feet in admiration, thinking, 'I could never do that.' However, I don't think simply imitating them would work."

He continued, "Ultimately, what matters is contemplating what kind of acting I, as an individual, can offer. It's not about being good only at a certain moment alone; I want to blend well into the entire work. That makes for better acting and is more enjoyable for me."

Long recognized as 'everyone's ideal type' and gaining attention for his timeless visuals, Park Hae-il also shared calm thoughts on aging.

He said, "I would be grateful if people call me youthful, but everyone ages. I am going through that process myself. From now on, I think it is important to age well," he added with a smile.

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*This content was translated by AI.