[Interview] Jin Sun-kyu, Part 2: 'I'll keep doing action as long as my body holds up, and I want to keep making bright projects my children can watch'

※〈Husbands〉 actor Jin Sun-kyu interview continues from Part 1.

Netflix film 〈Husbands〉 brings together a seven-member cast led by Jin Sun-kyu and Gong Myung, alongside Kim Ji-seok, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Han-na, Lee Da-hee and Jeon So-min. What did you expect as that lineup came together?

I thought it was going to be a lot of fun. Since I was mostly paired with Myeong and Kim Ji-seok, I only saw the actresses playing the wives once or twice. When I saw the film, I could see that everyone was doing their part to keep the whole thing running smoothly, which is what I'd believed from the start.

We're also curious about your chemistry with the other actors aside from Gong Myung. Yoon Kyung-ho, one of the busiest actors these days, adds to the film's humor as "Yong-gang." What did you observe about his comic timing and personal charm while working with him on set?

When Kyung-ho is around, the mood on set changes. If I keep talking, people start to drift off — it turns into a documentary or a Christian TV program (laughter). Kyung-ho speaks so entertainingly that I'm almost envious — I want to learn from him. We shot the final freezer scene over about a week, and that was one of the times all the actors were together. Whenever Kyung-ho started telling a story, everyone gathered and burst into loud laughter. Ironically, the quietest moments were when Kyung-ho started shooting. It could have been an intense scene, but the atmosphere on set was really good. I was also surprised at how skilled and agile Yoon Kyung-ho is at action. Like his acting, his physical language showed a considerate awareness of his scene partners.

Working with Jeon So-min, who viewers know from 〈Running Man〉, and Kim Ji-seok, who plays a villain despite a gentle public image, must have created an interesting dynamic. Did you notice any unexpected charms from those two on set?

I knew So-min from 〈Running Man〉 and her distinctive variety-show persona, so I was very surprised by her approach to acting. Even with a small amount of screen time, she consistently arrived well prepared, which let us talk through scenes and build funny ad-libs together. I like people who have qualities I lack — cerebral types — and Ji-seok is really smart.

Personally, I found the scene where Ara (Jeon So-min) and Chung-sik first meet at the police station very entertaining. It felt almost like a kiss scene, with them tilting their heads and saying "I like you, I like you" — it was refreshingly unexpected.

That was an on-set ad-lib. When I first read the script, Ara's feelings about Chung-sik were ambiguous — she seemed to like him and not like him at the same time. So on set we kept changing the lines with the director. I started with a line along the lines of, "Do you still like him?" and matched head angles with So-min as we acted. The director liked the first take so much that it stayed in the film.

Were many scenes created like that on set?

The overall flow remained the same, but we discussed the less-defined bits with the director and shaped them together. For example, the moment in the car when Chung-sik pretends not to hear Ma Do-jun (Kim Ji-seok) during the blood-transfusion scene was developed during rehearsal. I remember Myeong and Ji-seok laughing a lot while we shot that. The little "ding" moment in the freezer was another scene we gradually built on set.

The freezer sequence late in the film was striking. The desperate bit where Chung-sik and Min-seok, tightly bound, use their toes to tear plastic in the freezer is clearly the movie's comic climax. What's the behind-the-scenes story of that scene?

During rehearsals we realized how difficult it is to tear plastic with your toes. We tried it in rehearsal with Myeong, and you really have to put your toes deep into your mouth to get the plastic to rip. Of course, if a senior and junior actor weren't comfortable with each other yet, you can't be putting toes into each other's mouths during rehearsal. We washed our feet and showed each other (laughs). That's how we found the best method, and because we had a shared trust to create the scene, I think it was possible. It's also my favorite scene.

You also show handcuff arrest techniques and full-body stunts in 〈Husbands〉. You've consistently taken on action roles — why do you do action, and how do you manage your fitness for it?

I want to do action as long as I can — while my body holds up. I also feel I can't avoid action because of the look my face gives. I enjoy exercise like running and cycling, and playing with my kids is actually exercise too. It's time to take care of my health. When you eat, have vegetables first, then protein, and then carbohydrates.

At the end of 〈Husbands〉, actress Yoona appears in a cameo as Yong-gang's wife. Did her cameo come about after your cameo in 〈King the Land〉?

Yes. I worked with Yoona on 〈Confidential Assignment〉, and when she was doing 〈King the Land〉 she called to ask if I could do a cameo. She must have felt so grateful that she said, "Someday I'll give you my cameo card, too." So I used that big card this time. I can't tell you how thankful I am.

Some have suggested that Yoona's final appearance hints at a sequel to 〈Husbands〉. Is that the case?

That scene was in the script. While shooting, we thought that if there were a sequel, we'd prefer to call it 〈Wives〉 rather than 〈Husbands 2〉 — after all, by then Yoona and the wives would be the focus. It would be wonderful if the opportunity arises; I should call Yoona quickly then (laughs).

You are set to return to the small screen this fall in the drama 〈100 Days of Lies〉. It almost feels like you're getting your comedy in before taking on another villain role (laughs).

It's been a while since I've played someone on the bad side rather than the good. Because the character is Japanese, I prepared the Japanese dialogue diligently. It is scheduled to air around October, and I hope viewers will get to see a different side of me. At the same time, I want to keep doing bright projects my children can watch, and I'd like to try TV programs that kids can enjoy. Making that kind of variety is my happiness.