[Photo]"I emptied my mind as a newcomer" Jung Il-woo holds news conference for "Criminal" after debut

Jung Il-woo's first foray into Japan, "Criminal" tops the chart for three straight weeks… Finished after 30 rehearsals

Amazon Prime released on the 17th, adding Korean character settings to maximize the details

Amazon Prime sweeps No. 1, as Jung Il-woo's successful approach to capturing the audience pays off

Actor Jung Il-woo announced a successful push into Japan through 'Criminal', his first global over-the-top (OTT) original series and his Japanese debut. At a news conference for the Amazon Prime Video original series 'Criminal' held on the 30th at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Jung shared his reflections on approaching the project with a rookie's mindset, along with his distinctive aspirations. Released first on the 17th, the series has held on firmly to the No. 1 spot in Japan's Prime Video viewing rankings for three straight weeks, drawing explosive reactions from local viewers. Jung said, "Once you start, it's an addictive drama you can't stop midway."

From military boots to walnut kernels, a mystery crafted with 'Korean-style details'

'Criminal' is a crime mystery thriller that carefully depicts how a survivor, a detective, and a reporter move toward the reality of a vast conspiracy surrounding a random stabbing incident that erupts at midday at a station platform. In the series, Jung Il-woo plays 'Takigawa', an unidentified figure who holds the key to the case, and delivers a standout performance. In the original work, the character was Japanese, but after Jung joined the cast, the setting was changed to a Korean character, giving the role a richer, more varied texture. He studied the original three times, analyzing in detail a figure whose lines between good and evil are deliberately blurred. In particular, he personally proposed 'Korean-style details' to heighten the character's dimensionality, such as wearing the combat boots he used to wear during his military service, and using walnut kernels like a fingertip pressure point during moments of worry.

Director Matsunaga's high praise, perfect rhythm created by 30 rehearsals

Director Daishi Matsunaga, who had previously spotted Jung Il-woo's hidden potential through the film 'Highway Family', also showed deep trust on set this time around. Matsunaga praised him, saying, "The passion for acting he displayed in the actual production process was astonishing. Watching him offer a wide range of opinions for every scene made me certain that he truly loves acting."

Behind the two actors' perfect ensemble was relentless effort. Jung Il-woo matched Director Matsunaga's meticulous directing style, going through at least '30 rehearsals' for every cut so he could fully inhabit the character. He said he kept returning to the director's advice—"Don't force anything; empty yourself out."—and added a mature vision that he hopes collaboration with multinational actors becomes a new bridge that will raise the global standing of Korean content.