Actor Kim Jaejoong's challenges have always been solid and reliable. It's already been over 20 years! That's right. 21 years since his debut as a singer and 20 years as an actor. Throughout this time, he has never given up his position at the top, showcasing his undeniable talent as a singer and consistent acting results. This time, however, Kim Jaejoong's challenge makes you pause! It creates a fresh and curious challenge. The very Kim Jaejoong walked the red carpet at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival with a 'true occult genre film.' Directed by Japanese director Kumakiri Kazuyoshi, the Korean film <Gentleman: Whisper of the Evil Spirit> features Park Su-mudang Myung-jin (Kim Jaejoong), who investigates the disappearance of a college student who went to a deserted shrine in Japan, alongside his college friend Yumi (Gong Seong-ha), uncovering the identity of the evil spirit in this occult horror genre film.
That's right. The Park Su-mudang we know. But this time, it's a gentle and sophisticated young man from an art school, a new Park Su-mudang that we have never seen before. Myung-jin possesses the superpower to see spirits but refuses to use it, living a normal life until he realizes and accepts his destiny. The film explores his inner conflict as a dark hero, a melodramatic emotional line, and one-on-one action against the evil spirit, showcasing 'almost everything about the Kim Jaejoong genre' that we have never seen before. During the interview, he even hinted at a desire for a 'series' through this work, revealing the diverse aspects he presents. Meeting Kim Jaejoong, I also heard the behind-the-scenes stories of the work as it approaches its first public release.
You have been invited to the 'Mad Max' section of the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival. Please share your thoughts on meeting genre film fans.
I've only heard of this film festival through the media by name, and now I'm here. (laughs) I feel honored to be invited as an actor. Especially since this is my first challenge in the genre, I am looking forward to showing it to my fans and many film enthusiasts.
This is a particularly exciting work for fans expecting an occult genre movie. As you mentioned, it’s a new attempt that breaks away from the melodramatic characters shown in previous works, which I found surprising. I'm also curious about your preferences regarding the horror genre. (laughs)
I haven't lived alone for a long time, so I don't watch horror films much. They scare me when I watch them alone. (laughs) Even thrillers like <Hide and Seek> make me feel like such things could happen in reality, and I get really scared. Honestly, I get so scared that such situations even appear in my dreams. However, when I actually filmed this, thankfully, there was nothing scary or frightening on set. But when I went to see the editing version before the final cut, it was actually very scary. (laughs) Even though it's my movie, I won't watch it alone.
Is there someone you would feel more at ease watching it with? (laughs)
Of course, I think I will watch it with the actors and staff I worked with. If many fans and audience members watch it together, I think the fear will be lessened.
This is a collaboration between a Japanese director and a Korean production company. What led you to participate in this project? I'm curious about your feelings when you first received the proposal.
This is a project where filmmakers from Korea and Japan come together, similar to a Korea-Japan co-production. I was a bit scared because we had to film it in just over a month. Aside from the technical aspects, I surprisingly had no fear. Rather than thinking it would be difficult, I felt it was an incredible opportunity for me as an actor to challenge myself in the genre. Especially with the director's directing skills and sensibility, I thought that if a well-structured Korean production company met, we could create good synergy. I had a strong desire to work in such an environment.
In fact, for you, Kim Jaejoong, working in Japan has a significant share in your acting career. Starting with Fuji TV's drama <Can't Be Honest> (2010), you have a lot of experience with Japanese productions. The film's background and main filming location is Kobe, Japan. I imagine your role as an actor who has experienced both environments while working with Japanese directors and Korean actors was significant.
Everyone except me didn't speak Japanese. There was an interpreter, but when it came to conveying the director's precise direction or comments on acting, it was sometimes hard to express emotionally even if it was translated verbally. In those moments, I played a bridging role. Especially since there was no one-on-one interpretation for the actors, I sometimes acted as an interpreter. Under the director's instructions, there could be differences in character analysis among the actors, and I think I played a role in those subtle points.
You challenged the role of Park Su-mudang Myung-jin. The 'gentle and sophisticated K-shaman' Myung-jin represents a new generation's values, breaking away from the existing shaman image. It's a character with many interesting points.
When you say shaman, there must be a traditional image that comes to mind for the audience. However, Myung-jin is an ordinary young man from an art school who currently does not engage in such activities at all. In fact, he possesses a superpower given by his grandmother, and if he utilized that ability, he could make a lot of money, but he doesn't even know where his ability could be useful. He is a friend who has no desire to live well by mobilizing that ability. So he lives a normal life in a shabby house until he encounters an incident and begins to realize and change through his abilities. Myung-jin doesn't have extensive knowledge, but he believes in the existence of spirits, so when he faces an incident, he instinctively has the ability to respond.
In breaking away from the existing shaman image, visual settings and changes were necessary for the character.
It is very different from the image of shamans commonly seen in Korea. The bells and such may seem similar, but they will also appear new. Especially during the rituals, the forms and prayers are different, which adds an interesting point.
Were there any works or figures you referenced while creating the character? What points did you focus on while developing the character with the director?
The incidents Myung-jin encounters are important. The story involves the boyfriend of someone he once loved being murdered, leading to a strangely tangled narrative. While expressing the pain of watching someone he once loved suffer, he also cannot hide the awkward feelings that arise from meeting an old lover after a long time. If I had to say, he is a tsundere character. (laughs)
Not only is there a struggle with his identity, but there is also a melodramatic emotional line, and on the other hand, action is expected in the process of solving the incident.
There is a scene in the latter half where I fight the evil spirit one-on-one. Myung-jin's emotional expression becomes bold and intense in the latter half. I think the audience will definitely be surprised, thinking, 'Wait, a Korean shaman does that kind of action?' (laughs) Not only the action but also the emotional range is wide. In that one scene, the emotions fluctuate at least four or five times, making the audience curious about Myung-jin's psychology. We filmed this scene in one take, so it required a lot of focus and energy. We got the okay cut in just two tries, but it was challenging, so I think you can look forward to the explosive power in the latter half. (laughs) I hope the audience will definitely keep an eye on this scene.
Not only the difficulties of filming the action scenes in the latter half but also the abandoned house as the main stage must have made the filming location challenging.
The set was really painful. I felt a damp sensation as if I was really in the background of the movie. I remember feeling very tired after filming, catching a cold and having body aches during the shoot. These energies will likely make the situations in the movie more realistic. (laughs) I believe that eerie atmosphere will be conveyed to the audience.
The occult genre, which was previously perceived as minor, has recently gained a lot of response from audiences not only in Korea but also in the global horror film trend. I expect this work to continue that trend.
I hesitate to inflate expectations too much, but (laughs) I think you can trust that the occult horror genre has been created with the sensibility of the Japanese director. I guarantee that the feeling of frustration, like swallowing sweet potatoes while watching horror movies, has been reduced. (laughs) Even showing one location or inserting one cut has meaning and is filled with elements that have a significant impact on the flow of the film. Ah, if you watch the movie, you will definitely be curious about Myung-jin's past. While filming, I thought this work would be great if it could be developed into a series. I believe it is a film that can unfold more stories as a series.
Also, with the recent release of your 20th-anniversary album 'Flower Garden,' you are firmly showing a good presence as a singer. I feel that your acting career is now quite substantial. Recently, the film <Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War> (2004) was re-released for its 20th anniversary, and I recall the buzz around 'Finding Kim Jaejoong' as you appeared as a member of the excavation team. You have been consistently active as an actor. Soon, the MBN drama <Bad Memory Eraser> will also be released. I feel that both your stage activities and your acting are now running on multiple tracks. If you were to evaluate your current self, what would you say?
I don't like to lean towards one type of activity. For example, I've been a singer for about 21 years now, and sometimes people suggest, 'How about focusing on another field now?' They give me advice out of support for new appearances, but I tend to choose a different path. There is a common misconception that a singer's life is short, but I think I should show my presence as a singer as much as possible. I want to work hard so that juniors can gain courage by seeing a senior who has been consistently on stage. Of course, I want to work hard on my acting as well. What I've felt while working is that the risk of balancing acting and singing is decreasing over time. I am someone who has no preconceived notions or biases, so I have a lot of things I want to do. I want to continue to experience and do a variety of things.
Cineplay Lee Hwa-jeong Guest Reporter
