'90-Year-Old' Shin Goo, the Reason for the Outpouring of Applause... Holding Hands with '86-Year-Old' Park Geun-hyung, Says "I Do It Because I Love It" [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Press conference for the play "The Merchant of Venice"

Actor Shin Goo continues to inspire many by appearing on stage without rest even at the age of 90. While currently performing in a play, Shin Goo, who is preparing for Shakespeare's comedy "The Merchant of Venice," took the press conference stage holding the hand of his 4-year-younger brother Park Geun-hyung, smiling and saying, "Please, everyone, promote the play well so it goes smoothly."

On the 12th, a press conference for the play "The Merchant of Venice" (directed by Oh Kyung-taek) was held at NOL Seogyeong Square in Hwehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Attendees at the press conference included director Oh Kyung-taek, actors Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung, Lee Seung-ju, Kai, Choi Soo-young, Won Jin-ah, Lee Sang-yoon, Kim Seul-gi, Kim Ah-young, Choi Jung-heon, Park Myung-hoon, and Han Se-ra.

"The Merchant of Venice" is being restructured to center on the clash of mercy, revenge, and choice based on Shakespeare's representative comedy, maintaining the structure of the classic while highlighting the emotions and conflicts between characters.

Park Company, which caused a major stir with "Waiting for Godot," and director Oh Kyung-taek have reunited, and the news of actors Shin Goo and Park Geun-hyung's participation drew attention. Park Geun-hyung will play the role of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, while Shin Goo will take on the role of the Duke, who symbolizes the law and order of Venice.

When asked how he assembled the ensemble with junior actors, Shin Goo said, "My hearing is not good, so I couldn't understand everything you said." In response, actors Park Geun-hyung and Won Jin-ah, sitting next to him, directly shouted the questions into Shin Goo's ear. Shin Goo stated, "I did not assemble the actors. As you know, I am still performing 'The French Vault' on this stage. I have to perform tomorrow as well, but meeting you all in this theater feels like I am acting." He added, "I joined this production because I like it and because I hope it can help the production company."

Regarding his decision to appear in a single-cast role, Shin Goo explained, "This play does not involve large movement paths. As I mentioned earlier, I belong to a theater company I like, and I find practicing and performing to be the most enjoyable. That is why I readily agreed to the single-cast role."

Shin Goo, who is currently performing "The French Vault," has also joined rehearsals for the play "The Merchant of Venice." When asked about his current health status and the motivation behind his work, he said, "I do it because I want to, because it is enjoyable and rewarding." He added, "As I age, my body does not obey my will. Despite various efforts, time cannot be defeated." Shin Goo then said, "However, since I still have strength remaining, I use it as motivation to keep performing," receiving applause from the reporters and officials present at the scene.

Born in 1936, Shin Goo previously withdrew from the revival of the play "Last Session" in 2022 due to deteriorating health and was diagnosed with heart failure, undergoing a pacemaker implantation surgery. Even with an artificial pacemaker, Shin Goo continues to burn with passion on stage. Although his heart beats by the power of a machine, his passion cannot be stopped.

It is difficult for him to walk properly on his own, and his hearing has also declined, but his words, "Performing is the best," resonated deeply. Junior actors who attended the press conference that day also expressed their gratitude, saying, "It is an honor to be with both of you."

His 4-year-younger brother Park Geun-hyung also shared his feelings about performing in harmony with his brother Shin Goo. Park Geun-hyung said, "The reason my brother and I continue to perform classics is that while South Korea's (artistic) status is world-class, unfortunately, original plays are lacking. Novels receive Nobel Prizes, but the theater world does not have such recognition. There is too little movement to revive playwriting." He continued, "After working in other fields to make a living and then returning to theater, I found that almost nothing has changed from 50 or 60 years ago. From the script to the structure, everything remained the same. As we wondered how to present a good play, we thought it would be better to stick to traditional theater if possible. That is why I have been on stage with my brother for nearly four years. So far, I have received many encouraging words saying that we have not failed and are doing well."

Meanwhile, the play "The Merchant of Venice" will be performed at the National Theater's Haoreum Theater from July 8 to August 9.

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*This content was translated by AI.