The film <The Opposition> is on the verge of surpassing 3 million viewers. <The Opposition> seems to be a hit with its weapon of 'freshness within familiarity'. A crime action film with a familiar theme that one would think has been worn out from being repeated hundreds of times is revitalising the box office thanks to its smooth direction.
When it comes to the elements responsible for the 'freshness within familiarity' of <The Opposition>, one cannot overlook the actors' performances and the individuality of the characters. Not only is Kang Ha-neul, who convincingly portrays the 'Opposition' to the audience, but also Yoo Hae-jin as the prosecutor, Park Hae-joon as the detective, and Ryu Kyung-soo as the arrogant politician. However, when it comes to the freshness within <The Opposition>, the presence of Chae Won-bin, who plays the role of Eom Soo-jin, cannot be overlooked.
Chae Won-bin broke through a competition of 100 to secure the role of Eom Soo-jin in <The Opposition>. According to director Hwang Byeong-guk of <The Opposition>, the reason he chose Chae Won-bin was because she showed 'the most different acting among 100 people'. As he said, Chae Won-bin's characters are fresh. There is something intriguing about them.
Eom Soo-jin in <The Opposition> was a famous actress known by everyone, but she fell from grace in an instant after getting involved with drugs. In her first appearance, she confesses to detective Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon) about her drug use and bursts into tears. She trembles in fear like a young lamb, not knowing that her momentary choice would cause such a huge ripple. However, she soon takes the lead in capturing the 'villains' of the story, playing the role of a so-called 'growth character'. Eom Soo-jin, who got involved with drugs without knowing it was wrong, transforms from a passive character to an active one, declaring a thrilling revenge against those who ruined her life by saying, "This is something I want to do."
Eom Soo-jin is weak yet strong. A character that is both 'weak' and 'strong' embodies two contradictory aspects. However, expressing both extremes simultaneously and harmoniously is also Chae Won-bin's specialty. Chae Won-bin excellently portrayed the blurring of the lines between good and evil in the MBC drama <The Close Betrayer>, resulting in the valuable achievement of winning six rookie awards.
The performance of Chae Won-bin in <The Close Betrayer> is restrained yet explosive. The reason <The Close Betrayer> could show such a powerful second half is largely due to Chae Won-bin's tightly woven mystery. According to Song Yeon-hwa, the director of <The Close Betrayer>, the reason he cast Chae Won-bin as Jang Ha-bin was because she is an actress with an 'animalistic sense'. Of course, even if the 'real' Chae Won-bin and Jang Ha-bin have no similarities, they met due to the commonality of possessing an 'animalistic sense'.
"I want to act in a way that makes me feel the most scared,
overwhelmed, and happy for the rest of my life"
From the acceptance speech of Chae Won-bin for the Best New Actress award in the broadcasting category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards with Gucci.
Chae Won-bin designs the details of her characters with a sharp perspective, much like Jang Ha-bin, and conveys a unique energy through her gaze, gestures, and speech. Chae Won-bin possesses a mysterious and diverse face and voice as captivating as her acting. Although she seems like a star who swept the rookie awards as the daughter of Han Seok-kyu in <The Close Betrayer>, in reality, Chae Won-bin is a six-year veteran actress who has experienced various genres and roles, from a boxer to an idol trainee, a shaman in the Joseon era, and a murderer. Looking through her filmography, one cannot help but say, "She has really lived hard." The rookie who was praised for having a gaze that draws attention even with a single line still expresses a diverse face with a voice that sounds like a radio is on, sharp and vivid expressiveness, and fresh charm even when speaking ordinary words.
Chae Won-bin made a mark on the public with her crazy action as the leader of the gang in <The Witch Part 2: The Other One> (2022), while in the KBS drama <Pure Boxer>, she portrayed a boxer without a stunt double. Additionally, in the KBS drama <My Sassy Girl>, she played an aspiring idol, showcasing her singing, dancing, and rapping skills, making the title of 'rookie' feel somewhat embarrassing at this point.
Her numerous challenges, which are not typical of a rookie, seem to be related to Chae Won-bin's expression of acting as something that is "the most frightening, yet overwhelming and happy" in her acceptance speech for the Baeksang Arts Awards. The result of her continuous efforts to broaden her spectrum despite her fears is precisely Jang Ha-bin in <The Close Betrayer>, Eom Soo-jin in <The Opposition>, and Hanida in <Sweet Home>.
After the conclusion of <The Close Betrayer>, Chae Won-bin expressed her desire to become an "actor that makes people curious about what comes next" in an interview with Cineplay. As a result, she has swept various rookie awards, including the Baeksang, proving that many people are indeed curious about Chae Won-bin.
Cineplay Reporter Kim Ji-yeon
