[Interview] Park Hee-soon "No Matter the Cost, It Had to Be Sexy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] There is a saying that the biggest beneficiary of 'My Name' is Park Hee-soon. When he heard the online reaction calling him "sexy," he laughed and said, "I wish I heard that kind of compliment more often so I could be proud, but I was far from that." This is a testament to director Kim Jin-min's craftsmanship. Before filming, he ordered, "No matter how much money it takes, make it absolutely cool and sexy," and thus a captivating character was born.

In a non-face-to-face interview on the morning of the 22nd for the Netflix original series 'My Name,' Park Hee-soon said, "Thanks to the previously released 'Squid Game,' it feels like the follow-up works are getting attention," and added, "I hope the K-drama wave continues."

'My Name' tells the story of Ji-woo (played by Han So-hee), who infiltrates a criminal organization to find the person who killed her father and then goes undercover in the police under a new identity, facing harsh truths and seeking revenge. The series is directed by Kim Jin-min, who also directed 'Time Between Dog and Wolf' and 'Extracurricular.'

Park Hee-soon plays Choi Moo-jin, who accepts Ji-woo into the organization and sends her undercover into the police. Having mainly appeared in films, this is his first drama series role in two years since 'Beautiful World' (2019), and his first work on an online video service (OTT).

Sharing his recent status after self-quarantine until a day before the interview, Park Hee-soon said, "I was only inside the room, so this is the first time I’m meeting you reporters," and greeted, "I missed people."

'My Name,' released on the 15th, ranked third in the global Netflix rankings. He said, "It doesn’t feel real," and added, "If Netflix is the gateway to the world, 'Squid Game' opened that door wide. Thanks to that, the follow-up works are getting attention. Just as K-pop has gone global, I think the K-drama wave will begin," giving it a special meaning.

He cited clich?s as the secret to its popularity. Park Hee-soon said, "The word 'undercover' itself is a clich?. The key is how to present it freshly, and having a female character as the protagonist was refreshing," he self-assessed. He continued, "Choi Moo-jin is cold and ruthless. He is a character who moves forward without hesitation. Unlike the American psycho, the Korean psycho is very shaken. He has complex emotions and is ruthless, but he struggles and agonizes in each situation. I think his wavering side came across as something new."

Although familiar with the action genre, Park Hee-soon said 'My Name' was challenging. "I have consistently done action, but this was the first time doing it in a series like this. The amount was more than in movies. Previously, I trained at an action school two weeks before filming, but this time it was about two months. By the time filming started, I was already close with my colleagues. Our teamwork was good, so there were no major injuries."

Park Hee-soon said he got goosebumps reading 'My Name' reviews online during self-quarantine. He said, "There were writings that seemed to have read my mind. I felt exhilarated," and added, "It’s a complex and difficult role, but the fact that it invites various interpretations is also attractive."

Earlier, Park Hee-soon acknowledged his relationship with actress Park Ye-jin in 2011 and married her in 2015. He shared, "At some point while watching the work, she became a Dongcheonpa and cheered me on," referring to his wife’s reaction.

He cited Dong-hoon’s funeral scene as memorable. Park Hee-soon recalled, "It was very difficult to act because I felt complex emotions. It was my first time acting with Han So-hee, and I delivered my lines without looking at her face. But the director asked me to look at her face. At that moment, I was no longer Choi Moo-jin but Park Hee-soon. Han So-hee’s face looked sad, and I cried so much that I couldn’t deliver my lines. I gave an NG and cried my heart out."

Han So-hee took on her first action role in 'My Name.' She showed a different image from her popular portrayal of a precarious youth in the drama 'The World of the Married' (2020). Park Hee-soon praised Han So-hee’s passion.

"When she was cast and training at the action school, I went to see her because I heard she was training nearby, and I was surprised. She was different from the pretty image that popped out from the commercials I had seen on TV. She had been training for only ten days, but her boxing form was impressive. It felt like a lie when she said she had never exercised before. Even though she was sweating profusely, she looked happy and enjoyed it. After that, during filming, I never thought about her looks. Her passionate actions and attitude toward the work were very beautiful."

Photo = Netflix