Yoo Ji-tae X Im Min-jung: Points to Watch Revealed by the Director and Writer of ‘Villains’!

The TVING original 〈Villains〉 raises expectations for the birth of a different dimension of crime action. The TVING original 〈Villains〉 (directed by Jin Hyuk and Park Jin-young, written by Kim Hyung-jun, planned by CJ ENM, produced by Taewon Entertainment) will be released for the first time on December 18 (Thursday) and is a super crime action that depicts the bloody clashes and confrontations of villains surrounding ultra-precise counterfeit supernotes. A thrilling brain game unfolds as those who want to exchange counterfeit money for real money and those who want to take back the money they exchanged engage in unpredictable battles.

Above all, the hot acting synergy from trusted actors like Yoo Ji-tae and Im Min-jung is the best point to watch. In addition, director Jin Hyuk, who has created success stories with every work he directs, such as 〈Sisyphus〉, 〈The Legend of the Blue Sea〉, and 〈The Sun’s Owner〉, and director Park Jin-young, who has showcased his sensuous directing skills, are at the helm, while writer Kim Hyung-jun, who directed the crime thriller 〈No Mercy〉, adds to the anticipation. Ahead of the first release, directors Jin Hyuk and Park Jin-young, along with writer Kim Hyung-jun, directly answered questions about the work..

# 〈Villains〉 Directing and Writing Impressions & Global Simultaneous Release Impressions

Director Jin Hyuk stated, “〈Villains〉 may appear to be a crime drama on the surface, but it is a window into the dark side of humanity and the hidden compassion beyond it. The moments created as each character collides with their own wounds and desires captured my heart.” Park Jin-young, who described it as “a work that impressively pushes the power of human desire and choice,” said, “The tension created by the collision of ‘villains’ with different textures was very interesting, and there was a challenge in how to convincingly show the process of their choices stacking up.” Writer Kim Hyung-jun, who took on the writing, stated, “As currency transactions rapidly changed to card or online payments, I felt a sense of crisis that stories about counterfeit money might forever disappear as movie or drama material. So, I started working on a script based on a caper genre surrounding ultra-precise counterfeit money.” He added, “This work was born through many discussions with director Jin Hyuk, and I am looking forward to it.”

〈Villains〉 will meet global viewers through Disney+ Japan and HBO Max. In this regard, director Jin Hyuk expressed, “I feel both excitement and a sense of weight. If this story can resonate with viewers around the world, it would be a very special responsibility and joy as a director.” Director Park Jin-young added, “As global interest in Korean dramas and genres is high, I feel a sense of responsibility. I am very curious about how viewers from different cultural backgrounds will accept the personalities and relationships of the ‘villains.’”

# It’s More Fun When You Know! Directing and Writing Points from the Production Team

Director Jin Hyuk described 〈Villains〉 as “a work focused on human instincts and desires,” stating, “I wanted to delicately handle the psychology of the characters, the consequences of their choices, and the human fractures that emerge within that. While genre-wise it is based on crime action, I focused on creating emotional reality in my direction.” Director Park Jin-young also responded, “I paid the most attention to balancing speed and emotional lines. I tried not to miss the emotions the characters experience in the rhythmical development.” Writer Kim Hyung-jun identified ‘money’ and ‘human desire’ as the core keywords that penetrate the work. “While it offers fun through the grand spectacle of ‘villains’ tearing each other apart with fake money that looks real, it will make you realize that it is embedded in the story of the masses addicted to money,” he explained.

# The Birth of Ultra-Precise Counterfeit ‘Supernotes’! Differences of the Dimensionally Different Crime Action 〈Villains〉

When asked about the differences from existing crime action genres, director Jin Hyuk pointed out “the unpredictable development that makes you curious about the next story” as the first difference, and “the catharsis of desire expressed through enormous money and counterfeit money” as the second difference. He stated, “Instead of predictable heroes or villains, I wanted to show the texture of those who collapse and endure for their own reasons. It features an uneasy empathy where it is not easy to judge which side is right.” Director Park Jin-young also emphasized, “While it has the external framework of crime and action, it is essentially a psychological drama that deals with the human inner self. Instead of following a single absolute good or evil, the structure is that various ‘villains’ lead the story with their desires as if they are the protagonists.” He confidently added, “There will be fun arising from the relationships between the ‘villains’ that become entangled.” Writer Kim Hyung-jun stated, “It follows the elements of the caper genre but provides a satisfying conclusion without justifying the criminal acts of the protagonists, and as you follow the relationships of the ‘villains’ surrounding money, you will be able to see the masses of humans living in the world at a glance.”

# Yoo Ji-tae X Im Min-jung Dive into the Game of Deceitful Desires, Promising a ‘Trustworthy’ Acting Ensemble

The production team’s trust in the actors was absolute. Director Jin Hyuk praised, “Actor Yoo Ji-tae has a weight that fills the scene even without lines. His hidden explosive power within a calm expression creates a tension that cannot be explained in words.” Regarding actress Im Min-jung, he stated, “She perfectly completed a character with both delicate lines and decisiveness. I think she showed a performance that takes the audience’s breath away in moments where vulnerability and coldness intersect.” He expressed special affection, saying, “Both actors had a very high understanding of their characters, pouring out a lot of creative energy, and as a result, they created a wonderful ensemble.” Director Park Jin-young also mentioned, “The chemistry between the two actors was very good. The tension between the characters and the subtle flow of emotions were convincingly completed through the synergy of Yoo Ji-tae and Im Min-jung.” Writer Kim Hyung-jun also revealed his deep trust in the actors, stating, “The charm of actor Yoo Ji-tae is that various images coexist on his face,” and “I thought actor Yoo Ji-tae would be ‘Jay’ in the script, as he well portrays the hidden villain behind a good face.” He continued, “Actress Im Min-jung skillfully blended her bold real personality with the inscrutable aspects of ‘Han Soo-hyun’ to draw out important points of the character.”

# D-2, Points to Watch Ahead of the First Release

Finally, director Jin Hyuk pointed out, “Please look forward to the wonderful acting ensemble of the actors, where you can see the twists and brain battles that follow one after another, and the faces of human masses faithful to their desires.” He added, “I put my heart into creating a wonderful Korean-style crime drama. I ask for your interest and love.” Director Park Jin-young stated, “Please pay attention to the psychology of humans heading towards ‘evil’ as the ‘villains’.” He conveyed, “You can expect the deepening emotional lines of the characters while maintaining a sense of urgency and tension, as well as the visual reality and the actors’ actions.” Writer Kim Hyung-jun shared, “It is a work that faithfully adheres to the advantages of the caper genre, but instead of justifying the windfall of the ‘villains’ chasing desires, it is a story of revenge against them,” adding, “Each episode will have twists and turns in the unfolding of deceit.” He also pointed out, “Please look forward to the visual charm that captures the process of counterfeit money production from manual to advanced methods,” stimulating curiosity.

Meanwhile, the TVING original 〈Villains〉 will be released for the first time on December 18 (Thursday) at 6 PM, with episodes 1-2 available through TVING, and can also be viewed in 17 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific through HBO Max and in Japan through Disney+ Japan.