[Interview②] Actor Park Hae-jun (49) remarked, “Even my wife tells me I’m like Gwan-sik, suggesting I’m quite a family-oriented husband.”
In an interview with Sports Chosun on the morning of the 15th, Park Hae-jun shared behind-the-scenes episodes from the crime action film “Opposition” (directed by Hwang Byung-guk, produced by Hive Media Corp).
“Opposition” illustrates the story of a broker designing South Korea’s drug trade, a prosecutor aiming for a higher position, and a detective devoted to eradicating drug crime, each entangled with different motives. In the film, Park Hae-jun plays Oh Sang-jae, the head of a narcotics investigation unit.
Park Hae-jun recently garnered worldwide attention for perfectly portraying the middle-aged Yang Gwan-sik in the Netflix original series “You Tricked Me.” Regarding this, he commented, “Thanks to the series, I’ve been receiving a lot of attention, which is pleasant, but with the movie featuring a completely different genre coming out, it’s challenging to adapt and somewhat confusing. The series has its own lingering effects, and I want to maintain my role as Gwan-sik, but I also feel the need to transition to the movie. I’m curious about how the audience will perceive the film and me.”
He continued, “There are no concerns that fans will be confused because the characters are so different. In a way, it’s what I personally wanted. Rather than remaining stuck with a character an actor played, I’d like to quickly transition to show that this actor has such diverse facets. ‘Opposition’ has become a thankful project for me. As I am currently shooting another project, it seems to allow a fast escape. I’m grateful to those who remember me for one project, but I hope people think of me as an actor who can handle various roles across different filmographies. That would be such an honor as an actor.”
Regarding the meme about “Gwan-sik-itis,” he said, “I’m an old-timer, so outside, there’s still a bit of boasting about how men get treated at home. Doesn’t that exist at drinking gatherings where someone says, ‘I didn’t tell my wife I came out’? There was a time when boasting that your wife serves you a seven-dish meal or that you’ve never been to the kitchen was common, but nowadays, being ‘like Gwan-sik’ is a boast-worthy trait.” He added, “My wife actually told me, ‘You’re quite similar to Gwan-sik.’ Recently, I enjoy being with the kids and wonder if there’s anything I can help with when my wife’s in the kitchen. I often feel sorry for my wife since I spend a lot of time working outside. It seems like I might have a case of Gwan-sik-itis myself. Over 50% of people may see me as quite family-oriented.”
“Opposition,” featuring Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, and Park Hae-jun, was directed by Hwang Byung-guk, known for “My Wedding Campaign” and “Special Investigation: The Life and Death Story. It is set to be released on the 23rd.