[Interview] Gong Myung on His First Husband and Father Role: 'I Got a Lot of Help From Jin Sun-kyu, Who's a Real Romantic'

In Netflix's 〈Husbands in Action〉, released on the 19th, Gong Myung delivers a performance that most fully showcases the actor’s coined "bright-eyed mania" charm. The film is a comedy-action story about an unpredictable rescue mission in which an ex-husband and a current husband, who unexpectedly join forces, try to save a wife kidnapped by a crime syndicate. In the film, actor Gong Myung plays Min-seok, a young, handsome veterinarian and the current husband of Si-nae (Kang Han-na). Min-seok enjoys extreme sports and has a surprising side; he throws himself into danger without hesitation when it comes to protecting his wife.

The actor who plays the ex-husband, Chung-sik, is none other than Gong Myung's close friend, actor Jin Sun-kyu. Reuniting seven years after 〈Extreme Job〉, Jin Sun-kyu and Gong Myung build a delightful "buddy chemistry" in 〈Husbands in Action〉 as they clash and bicker repeatedly yet ultimately learn to trust each other.

Moving from youth roles to playing a husband and father, Gong Myung now takes on his first husband-and-father role in 〈Husbands in Action〉. How did he approach this new challenge? On the afternoon of the 22nd, at a location in Jongno District, Seoul, lead actor Gong Myung met with Cineplay to talk about the film. Below is the full transcript of that conversation.

What about Min-seok attracted you to choose 〈Husbands in Action〉?

I have active hobbies, too, and Min-seok is a character who enjoys extreme sports. So the chance to try things like paragliding and rock climbing, to learn and attempt new activities, appealed to me. Also, I felt I could take on the role of a "husband," which I had never played before. And I thought it would be fun to show the chemistry of a buddy duo with Jin Sun-kyu.

I heard a casting behind-the-scenes story: when Jin Sun-kyu heard during casting that you had received the script, he called you right away to ask if you were interested. How much did Jin Sun-kyu influence your decision to appear?

I'd say about 80%. Saying that might make the director feel a bit slighted. I almost worked with Director Park Kyu-tae on 〈6/45〉, but the timing didn't work out. So I had been wanting to work with Director Park, and I found the 〈Husbands in Action〉 script entertaining. Then Jin called and asked, "Are you doing it?" and hearing that, I felt I absolutely had to do it too.

You reunited with Jin Sun-kyu seven years after 〈Extreme Job〉. Did you feel any pressure from the huge success of that previous film, and how was it to find your rhythm together again after such a long time? You are known to be very close despite a 17-year age gap.

I didn't feel pressured. It's a completely new project, so I didn't expect people to immediately think of 〈Extreme Job〉. Now, with promotion and the film's release, I understand why audiences make that connection. At the time I chose the project, rather than feeling pressure, I was excited at the prospect of having fun with Jin. I honestly didn't realize 〈Extreme Job〉 was seven years ago. Jin and I have met often in the intervening years and kept in touch, so it didn't feel that long. It's surprising that there's a 17-year age gap between us — I didn't expect that much of a difference, and Jin told me the same. What sets Jin apart is his capacity to embrace both me and even juniors below him; he can include everyone. I hope to be that kind of senior actor. During the shoot I learned a lot about leadership from Jin that I didn't notice back in 〈Extreme Job〉. If that film had many scenes with the five Eagle brothers together, this time there were many scenes with just the two of us. That let me see how Jin handles certain expressions, acting choices and rhythms up close. I joke around with him a lot because I'm comfortable with him, but he's a senior I learn a lot from.

You said you chose this project because you wanted to play a husband. Until recently you were still wearing school uniforms as a high school student on screen, and now suddenly you're the head of a household and a husband. Did you feel disoriented by this rapid image shift, or did you face any difficulties playing the role of the family head?

I didn't feel much disorientation. If anything, when I played high school roles I sometimes thought, "Is this right?" (laughs). I wasn't confused about the acting, but tackling the role of a husband for the first time meant there were elements I couldn't fully relate to or understand. Since I haven't experienced those things yet, I asked Jin — who is the most affectionate husband among those around me — a lot of questions and got a lot of help while filming. While reading the script I asked him many times what a situation like this would actually feel like, and what it would feel like from a father's perspective, and he helped me a lot.

Min-seok isn't just any husband role — he's explicitly young and handsome. There's even a line saying, "Some people look like deer, like me." Compared with the ex-husband, what do you think are the charms of the current husband?

From the script onward, the current husband is shown in a very favorable light. It's not in the film, but Min-seok works at his own clinic in Cheongdam. (laughs) That's one of the things that makes the ex-husband, Chung-sik, jealous of Min-seok. In that regard, the current husband is the best, isn't he? (laughs) The line you mentioned was actually created on set. Jin first suggested the idea of comparing himself to a monkey and me to a deer, and that spawned the line.

The freezer-storage sequence in the latter half of the film was especially striking. It felt like a scene where both actors were determined to make it funny. You must have given that moment a lot of thought when filming with Jin Sun-kyu.

It was hard to do many takes. When we put the plastic over our heads, we didn't do it loosely — we did it for real, and it was really tough. Tearing the bag with our feet was also difficult. But because I was doing that scene with Jin, we could try different things without hesitation. Being that comfortable with each other let us get it in one take. It wasn't so much written in the script as it was a chemistry that came from working with Jin. I didn't have one of those moments where reality suddenly hits you. I was too immersed, so we were able to shoot it without any failed takes.

※〈Husbands in Action〉 actor Gong Myung interview continues in Part 2.