[On the Record] Jinyoung "I Feel Responsible for All Actions... I Do Not Cross the Line"

Actor Jinyoung Interview

Netflix 'Sweet Home 2' Chanyeong Role
Exercising Like a Model Student... Lost 7kg and Bulked Up
"I Want to Play a Cool Villain Like Joo Ji-hoon"

As the number of responsibilities increases, so does the sense of accountability. Actor Jinyoung (32, Jung Jin-young) experienced this as well. As the leader of the group B1A4, he worked hard to create music and protect his team. After starting his acting career, he has sacrificed much for his life as an actor and continues to strive to uphold it. The greatest strength discovered through consistently observing his journey since debut is 'diligence.' He works hard to keep promises made to himself and live without shame. In this way, he has protected himself.

Recently, when we met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Jinyoung said, "Every task I undertake comes with responsibility," adding, "I have lived trying not to cross the lines I set for myself." The 'line' he referred to is a sense of responsibility toward his work. He added, "I believe my actions are important. I cannot disappoint those who watch over me."

Actor Jinyoung [Photo by Netflix]

Jinyoung debuted in 2011 as a member of the male group B1A4 and gained popularity. He also worked as a producer, creating many hit songs. Although he made a name as a singer, his true dream was to become an actor. He moved from Cheongju, Chungbuk to Seoul and learned acting at an academy. His dream became firmer as he took on background and minor roles. Later, a photo he uploaded online caught the eye of an agency official, leading him to become a trainee singer. His talent as a singer was exceptional; he stood out by taking charge of songwriting, composing, and producing.

In 2016, he played the role of Kim Yoon-sung in the KBS2 drama "Love in the Moonlight" and won the Rookie Award at the 'Drama Awards' that year. Many first noticed him again through the film "Miss Granny" (2014), where his natural acting caught attention. Even without the outdated label of 'idol-turned-actor,' he was outstanding. He later appeared as an actor in the Netflix series "Because This Is My First Life," the film "The Dude in Me" (2019), and others.

After his military discharge in 2021, he tightened his shoelaces even more. He immediately began filming the KBS2 drama "Police University" and was also cast as the lead in the sequel to the popular Netflix series "Sweet Home." The success of the previous season must have been a burden. Jinyoung laughed, saying, "I enjoyed watching Season 1, so rather than feeling pressured, I genuinely liked it." He added, "I was happy to hear that there would be two or three more seasons of a series I like. After meeting the director and hearing about the character, I liked it and immediately said I would do it."

[Photo by Netflix]

However, the joy was brief, as Jinyoung said he felt pressure during filming. He recalled, "When I went to the Mungyeong set, they had built the Jamsil Main Stadium, Green Home, as a set. I expected it to be created with CG (special effects), but they actually built the ruined stadium entrance as a set. From that moment, the pressure suddenly hit me. I thought, 'Right, this is Sweet Home. I have to work hard.'

The Netflix OTT series "Sweet Home 2" depicts a world where desire turns into monsters, following Cha Hyun-soo (played by Song Kang) and the survivors of Green Home as they fight to survive in a new place, along with the appearance of other beings and mysterious phenomena, portraying new desires, incidents, and struggles.

Jinyoung plays Private Park Chan-young, a righteous soldier tasked with transporting survivors. Director Lee Eung-bok took special care with the character Chan-young, whom Jinyoung portrays with affection.

"Chan-young is a necessary presence in the world. Wouldn't it be tough and bleak if everyone only fought to survive? I saw a message in Chan-young. In a situation where people kill and fight, he is someone who decides to save and protect others. I think he represents the idea that beauty still exists in humanity. He was like a rose blooming on asphalt."

In response to the director's trust, Jinyoung answered with effort. To realistically portray a former baseball player turned soldier, he lost 7kg and bulked up by building muscle. He went to the gym every day without missing a single day and received personal training sessions. He also followed a diet, preparing for the role like a model student.

"I gained a lot of weight in the military. I ate five regular meals a day and gained about 10kg. People around me said my shoulders looked like 'Captain America.' But industry insiders told me my face had gotten too chubby. I was shocked when they said my neck had become straight, so I started losing weight. I cut the fat on my face with a protein-focused diet. After losing about 7kg, my face looked better."

Actor Jinyoung [Photo by Netflix]

Jinyoung meticulously shaped Chan-young's appearance. He said, "I bulked up like a baseball player. But I couldn't let my face get too chubby. I thought it wouldn't suit the character if he looked like someone living a prosperous life during the monster outbreak. Building muscle was not easy. I went to the gym every day without fail and took all the personal training sessions I paid for. Thanks to that, I became a VIP at the gym," he laughed.

He continued, "I exercised consistently throughout the six months of filming. I felt anxious if I suddenly stopped working out. I kept managing myself because I was afraid the effort I put in over a year would disappear."

Chan-young is particularly concerned about Eun-yu (played by Go Min-si) and stays by her side. Although there are no scenes where he explicitly expresses his feelings, it is portrayed like love. Jinyoung said, "It feels more like comradeship than love."

"At first, I didn't think Chan-young was chasing Eun-yu because he loved her. Initially, I thought he was somewhat attracted to Eun-yu. It's like an attraction to a person. There's a scene where Eun-yu helps Chan-young in an extreme situation, and he must have felt she was a truly grateful friend. In this harsh, absurd world, he must have found a different charm in Eun-yu. Everyone else is bad and fighting to survive, so it's not easy for someone to do that. Those feelings must have accumulated."

"Sweet Home" has completed filming Season 3 consecutively. Jinyoung asked viewers to look forward to the sequel, which will be released around next summer. He hinted, "There are many good scenes between Chan-young and Eun-yu in Season 3. Chan-young has little motivation for life during the monster outbreak, but he has a strong sense of justice. What if he gets some motivation? How will he act when terrifying incidents and huge events occur? Those things will come out."

Principles and beliefs are important to Chan-young. However, he changes in front of Eun-yu. His lively and bold words and actions, which sometimes cause a stir, have received viewers' support. Jinyoung said, "I focused on Chan-young's change as he develops feelings for Eun-yu."

"Chan-young is a person who only says what he needs to and is decisive, but when he's with Eun-yu, he talks more. He has many grievances. Even when leaving at the end, he says one more thing and keeps asking questions, continuing the conversation. I felt he becomes a completely different person in front of Eun-yu. He can't be firm with her. It's more like persuasion or a request. It's strange. He's someone who never reaches out, but he even asks Eun-yu for help."

Actor Jinyoung [Photo by Netflix]

Jinyoung said he enjoys acting these days. When asked what kind of monster he would be if he became one like in the world of "Sweet Home," he laughed and said, "A workaholic monster." He added, "If I became a monster, one would be working on music, and the other would be acting. Acting is fun these days, and I want to do it a lot. My desire for acting is growing."

He said, "This is an important time in my life. Acting is the most important thing to me. I want to challenge various roles in the future. I've never played a villain, but I definitely want to try it."

He named Ju Ji-hoon from the film "Dark Figure of Crime" (2018) as his role model. They are close enough to exchange coffee trucks. He also mentioned Park Hae-il from Bong Joon-ho's "Memories of Murder" (2003).

"Sometimes I hear things like this: my face and vibe are innocent, but there seems to be something else in my eyes. Villain roles that can reveal a cold face are attractive. Will there be an opportunity to act one someday? Recently, I'm filming the drama version of 'Miss Granny,' and after 10 years, I'm playing the role that senior Lee Jin-wook played back then. I always check how much I've grown in acting and work hard, and I feel proud when I discover changes in myself. My goal is to enjoy acting in various roles in the future."