[Interview] Kim Jun-han "Anna, Who Unveiled Me, Feels Like Living Life Twice"

Coupang Play's 'Anna' Jihoon Role
Debuted with Group izi, Then Transitioned to Acting
"Approaching as an Ordinary Person, Not a Villain... Still Excited When Acting"

Kim Jun-han / Photo by Coupang Play

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "Are you confident you can live like before? If things go wrong, I won't let it slide."

The ruthless image on screen made me feel betrayed. Where did the kind and shy Ahn Chi-hong from 'Hospital Playlist' go? Actor Kim Jun-han (39) plays Choi Ji-hoon, a goal-oriented startup entrepreneur with extraordinary ambition, in the Coupang Play series 'Anna' (director and writer Lee Ju-young). When his bright smile fades, his dark ambition reveals itself. Despite verbal abuse, physical violence, and infidelity, he pursues his political ambitions relentlessly.

On the 7th, Kim Jun-han met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and said, "Playing Ji-hoon, who doesn't hesitate to use any means, helped me shed a layer of myself," adding, "It was good to break the mold and have a new experience." He said, "While reading the script, I thought, 'I have to do this.' When I find an interesting work, I just want to participate."

He said curiosity came first regarding the role. Kim Jun-han said, "From a third-person perspective, I thought it was an unexpected casting. The character enters politics at a young age, but I wondered if I looked too young," laughing. Then he added, "Young people can become politicians and take on big roles. The times have changed a lot, and perhaps that is reflected in the work."

Ji-hoon is a difficult character to understand, firing his driver for being late with verbal and physical abuse, and calmly driving under the influence with another woman in the car. Kim Jun-han said, "As an actor, I didn't want to judge him as evil or good."

"If I acted only to portray the image I want to see, it would be a very narrow-minded character. He doesn't act that way because he's bad; he's very intelligent but chooses to survive. However, his way of thinking and decisions are not typical. Ji-hoon is someone for whom the goal is extremely important, and as he goes, he doesn't care what he looks like. Only the goal matters."

How was Kim Jun-han convinced himself? He viewed Ji-hoon as "an extremely ordinary person" and said, "It was just the situation." "He is not someone you see often in everyday life, and he is in a situation most people don't experience, so it was not easy to portray. At first, it was a burden. In the end, isn't it the situation that makes the person?"

"Even if not a politician, we all have images we want to show others in daily life, and we all wear masks. I approached the role imagining how Ji-hoon would act to appeal to many people."

Ji-hoon chooses a loveless marriage with Anna (played by Suzy), who shares similar traits. He shows a cool and warm smile in public but reveals a nasty true face after marriage. What he wants from Anna is nothing more or less than a partner who will solidify his political position. Even the sign language interpretation she provides is just an opportunity to make himself look better.

"There is an edited scene where he looks at Anna and then at the audience. I thought this instinctively worked on Ji-hoon. He sensed his wife would be a great weapon, so she looked even more beautiful. He saw something he didn't have and felt that he and Anna worked well together."

Unlike Ji-hoon, Kim Jun-han said he is a romantic type in real life. "I like relationships where you see each other as you are. There are relationships where you accept and understand each other no matter what. Even flaws are very lovable. I just like the person as they are. I want to meet someone like that in the future."

Kim Jun-han debuted in 2005 as a member of the group izi and later transitioned to acting. Starting with short films in 2012, he appeared in films such as 'Anarchist from Colony' (2017), 'The Drug King,' 'Beasts Clawing at Straws,' 'Herstory' (2018), 'Collectors' (2020), and dramas including 'Prison Playbook,' 'Time,' 'One Spring Night,' and 'Hospital Playlist.'

He said, "Every moment has been amazing, exciting, and educational. Acting is still fun. I started acting after doing music, so it feels like living life twice. I'm grateful that I have another life to compare with my acting career. I'm excited and looking forward to what projects I'll meet next."