[On The Record] "To Always Be Proud and Unashamed" Kim Sung-kyu's Conviction

Actor Kim Sung-kyu Interview

Yi Sun-sin Movie 'Noryang' as Japanese Soldier Role
"It Was Burdensome but Affection and Responsibility Were the Driving Force"

Actor Kim Seong-gyu Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works · Lotte Entertainment

"My hobby is going to charcoal kilns near Seoul. Maybe because everyone wears ochre-colored clothes, no one recognizes me. (laughs) I like resting in quiet places. Without any thoughts."

Actor Kim Seong-gyu (38) has recently become excited about a new hobby. Contrary to his soft-spoken and shy manner, he exudes tremendous energy when acting. He overwhelms the audience as if tearing through the screen. His gaze carries a unique intensity. He debuted with a minor role in the movie The Technicians (2017) after performing in Daehangno, and gained recognition as Yang Tae-ro in Crime City (2017). His portrayal was so realistic that viewers asked if he was actually of Joseonjok descent. In Kingdom (2019), he played Young-shin, a character with tremendous combat power, and in The Villainess (2019), he embodied a psychopathic murderer, breathing life into characters unlikely to exist in reality.

Following director Kim Han-min’s second installment of the Admiral Yi Sun-sin trilogy, Hansan: Rising Dragon (2023), Kim Seong-gyu appeared consecutively in the final series about the Battle of Noryang (1598), Noryang: Sea of Death. He plays Jun-sa, a Japanese soldier, expressing a deeper conviction. In the previous film, he portrayed an important role representing the theme of "the battle between righteousness and injustice," standing by Yi Sun-sin’s side. This time, he talks about responsibility and trust.

In a recent meeting at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Seong-gyu said, "Jun-sa didn’t so much follow Admiral Yi Sun-sin as he tried to follow the conviction Yi spoke of. I focused on portraying the human side and the trust as a soldier from the perspective of the Japanese army, not the Joseon army."

Character burdened with responsibility for countless deaths

Actor Kim Seong-gyu Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works·Lotte Entertainment

Kim Seong-gyu continued, "I hoped the film would clearly show the meaning of war and battle beyond the country, the harsh reality, and the human aspect beyond nationality." He added, "While Jun-sa follows Admiral Yi as a soldier, he might also see him as a father figure who is not related by blood, or feel a poignant sense of camaraderie." He said the impact was greater watching the film on screen than while acting in it. Kim recalled, "I felt sorry."

"I had vaguely thought of Admiral Yi as a great figure, but watching the film made me feel apologetic. I sensed his loneliness and responsibility. Although it’s a historical story, it felt like a good film because it showed him as a person, not just a commander in battle."

Jun-sa follows Yi Sun-sin’s conviction that "this war is a battle between righteousness and injustice." At its core lies strong trust. Kim said, "He must have seen countless deaths through war, and watching the person he serves abandon his soldiers, he must have felt not just disappointment but human sorrow." He added, "Yi Sun-sin’s conviction could be trusted and followed beyond nationality because it was empathy for the sorrow and anguish felt by Yi as a human being, and because the direction Yi wanted to go was not different from mine."

Kim identified "responsibility" as the keyword for Jun-sa in Noryang. He explained, "He must have felt responsibility for the countless people he killed in war, the need to make those deaths meaningful, and the responsibility for abandoning his country. In a way, these are very human and natural emotions." Kim also spoke about his own convictions.

"I hope I’m not ashamed. To myself and to those who believe in me. Sometimes I receive more love than I deserve for my efforts, but I wonder if I’m doing well. Watching Yi Sun-sin in Noryang, I thought I was doing my best, but I asked myself if I’m not ashamed, if I truly understand, if I’m doing well. I always hope my life is honorable."

Empathy for a passionate yet warm Yi Sun-sin

Still from 'Noryang: Sea of Death'
[Photo by Lotte Entertainment]

What was different about Park Hae-il and Kim Yoon-seok’s portrayals of Yi Sun-sin? Kim Seong-gyu said, "In Hansan, Park Hae-il’s Yi Sun-sin had a halo around him, whereas in Noryang, Kim Yoon-seok’s Yi Sun-sin was like charcoal glowing faintly, emitting a mysterious light. I felt both heat and warmth."

Director Kim Han-min closely observed Kim Seong-gyu while filming Hansan: Rising Dragon. During filming, he casually handed him the script for Noryang: Sea of Death saying, "Take a look." Trust was built through their work together. Kim Seong-gyu laughed, "I felt like I was being told to plant a stake even though my discharge was near."

"Jun-sa is a character who carries a big message and follows a great meaning. I actually thought about it simply. It was a feeling of fulfilling responsibility to end a brutal war. As an actor, it was the same. I wanted to finish the film well and take responsibility. Like the war in the film, I sometimes wondered when the filming would end," he laughed again. He added, "Director Kim Han-min quietly watched over and trusted me like the relationship between Jun-sa and Yi Sun-sin, which became the driving force for the year-long filming."

"The director is honest rather than authoritative. He communicates without formality rather than putting on weight on set. After filming, we played catch together and briefly shared personal stories. He was warm. Watching the film, I realized again what an amazing person he is."

"I want to act roles grounded in reality"

After running non-stop, Kim Seong-gyu recently took a pause to catch his breath. It was a precious time to recharge his acting motivation. He laughed, "I don’t choose projects excessively." Then he said, "Recently, I unintentionally recharged and received good energy."

Actor Kim Seong-gyu Photo by Ace Maker Movie Works · Lotte Entertainment

In reality, Kim Seong-gyu’s personality is not very cheerful. He is quite shy. Although he debuted in theater with 12 People (2011) and has been acting for 13 years, he still feels shy when fans ask to take pictures. He laughed, "When someone asks me to take a selfie alone, I get human confusion and feel embarrassed."

He recalled, "There were times when I separated acting (film) and life well, and times when work and personal life were mixed." He added, "I sometimes wondered why I couldn’t enjoy it. I remember when I was young, if a female middle school student walked down the alley opposite my house, I would turn around. Maybe because I went to all-boys middle and high school, I was shy. Even during theater, I was scolded a lot to smile more during curtain calls."

Recently, he has taken on intense roles in genre-heavy works including historical and action films. Now, he said he is envisioning a slightly different picture. "I’ve become curious about everyday stories. I’ve played many very cool roles, but I want to act characters who are nothing special. I want to tell ordinary and small stories."