Ha Jung-woo Returns in 'Suriname', Will He Regain the Title of '100 Million Actor'? [Comprehensive]

Netflix 'Suriname' Production Presentation
Ha Jung-woo, Hwang Jung-min, Director Yoon Jong-bin
6-Episode Series Premieres September 9

Ha Jung-woo / Photo by Netflix

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] The '100 million actor' Ha Jung-woo (Kim Sung-hoon, 44) is making a comeback. The pressure is heavy. The flashes were brighter than ever. It has been two years since he was fined in August 2020 for illegal administration of propofol, and two and a half years since the movie 'Closet'.

On the morning of the 7th, at the Netflix film 'Suriname' production presentation held at Chosun Palace Seoul Gangnam on Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Ha Jung-woo said, "I hope many people watch the work, talk about it, and it becomes a hot topic."

'Suriname,' which will be released on the online video service (OTT) Netflix on the 9th, is a six-episode series depicting the story of a civilian who is falsely accused due to an all-powerful drug lord controlling the South American country Suriname and accepts a secret mission from the National Intelligence Service.

Director Yoon Jong-bin, who took the megaphone, had refused to direct 'Suriname' five years ago but accepted the offer again and started working after 'The Spy Gone North.' He said, "When I first read the script, the subject was interesting," adding, "It was difficult to fit such a vast story into two hours, so we decided to complete it as a series."

Ha Jung-woo was prosecuted from January to September 2019 for illegally administering the psychotropic drug propofol at a plastic surgery clinic in Gangnam, Seoul (violation of the Narcotics Control Act regarding psychotropic substances) and was fined in August 2020. Attention is focused on what kind of response he will receive as he returns with 'Suriname' after two years. Will he regain the title of '100 million actor' again?

Ha Jung-woo, who has been interested in and involved with 'Suriname' since its early development stage 7 to 8 years ago, plays the role of Kang In-gu, a resourceful businessman in the drama. After being falsely accused as a drug offender and unjustly imprisoned, he joins the operation. He said, "The setting of a Korean running a drug business in a small South American country was interesting. I hoped it would be completed as a work in some form. I felt the power of the story." Hwang Jung-min expressed satisfaction, saying, "Watching the completed series, I felt great energy. I was surprised by how excellently each character was portrayed. Each actor's aura was impressive."

Director Yoon cited the true story aspect as the difference from existing drug films. He said, "It will feel like a story grounded on the earth," adding, "There is a character who is a drug lord disguised as a pastor who commands his followers." Park Hae-soo expressed confidence, saying, "The relationships of mutual deception among the characters are interesting. Please watch this spicy work with your family during the Chuseok holiday while solving the mystery."

To recreate the South American scenery, filming took place in Jeju Island, Jeonju, Anseong, and the Dominican Republic. Although the nine-month shoot was intense, Ha Jung-woo recalled that the Dominican Republic shoot was impressive, saying, "The atmosphere of people dancing and chatting freely on the streets was great." Jo Woo-jin added, "I realized that this could be achieved through location and art technology," and said, "I was busy taking pictures on set."

Director Yoon and Ha Jung-woo first met during their university days on the set of 'Unforgiven' (2005) and later reunited for 'The Beastie Boys' (2008), 'Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time' (2012), 'Kundo: Age of the Rampant' (2014), and now 'Suriname.'

Ha Jung-woo said, "Director Yoon's works are particularly cautious and difficult. I tend to prepare a lot." He added, "During the previous work 'Kundo,' it was really tough, but I tried not to repeat the mistakes by reviewing them at the time." Director Yoon said, "I thought hard about showing a new side of the actor."