[Interview] Kim Woobin at the Probation Office?..."For Close Monitoring of Electronic Bracelet Offenders"

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'Mudoshimugwan' stills [Photo by Netflix]

"Now my body is healthy. You saw Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan, right? That flying scene." Actor Kim Woo-bin (real name Kim Hyun-joong) was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in 2017 and, after a terminal battle, was declared fully recovered in 2019. We met at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where he greeted us with a playful attitude. When we met two years ago before the release of his comeback film, he looked noticeably thin, but now he has gained considerable muscle and his face looks vibrant. He appeared quite relaxed and at ease.

Kim Woo-bin played a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan, a martial arts officer who closely monitors electronic anklet subjects 24/7, in the Netflix online streaming service (OTT) film Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan (directed by Kim Joo-hwan), released on the 13th. The story follows Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin), a 9th dan martial arts expert in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, who works alongside probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun) to prevent crime as a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan.

This is Kim Woo-bin’s return to action and comedy after a long time. He said he was drawn more to the meaningful subject matter than the genre itself. He said, "The script was fresh. At the first meeting, I asked the director if the film was meant to raise awareness of the hard work of Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan officers, and he said yes with satisfaction. At that moment, I felt relieved and looked forward to an enjoyable project."

"I was ashamed not to know about Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan," Kim Woo-bin’s sense of responsibility

Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan officers belong to the Ministry of Justice and operate in pairs with probation officers at probation offices. They analyze the movement paths of electronic monitoring (anklet) subjects, verify locations on-site, assist in capturing those who damage electronic devices or whose whereabouts are unknown, among other duties. Simply put, they track and supervise the locations and movements of those wearing electronic anklets to prevent recidivism. Although this has been covered a few times in documentaries, it is the first time it has appeared as a content subject.

Kim Woo-bin and actor Kim Sung-kyun, who plays the probation officer in the film, met actual Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan officers and received their help. He said, "We visited the probation office. We heard directly how the officers work. They showed us the site within what could be disclosed and explained about the electronic anklets. It’s a tough and demanding job. Throughout filming, I tried not to forget my gratitude to them, thinking, 'Thanks to them, we live safely today.'" He added, "It made me think about many unsung heroes in our daily lives, including Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan officers. I’m proud to be able to tell their stories."

In the film, there is a scene where those who were imprisoned for sexual offenses and released as electronic monitoring subjects easily cut off their anklets. Kim Woo-bin’s character chases those who cut off their anklets and run away, together with the probation officer. This reflects reality. Electronic anklets capable of real-time location tracking were first attached to 53 sexual offenders in 2008. Currently, they are used for specific crimes with high recidivism risk (sexual offenses, child abduction, murder, robbery, stalking, etc.). According to Ministry of Justice statistics, over 20% of released prisoners commit crimes again and are re-incarcerated within three years of release.

Being a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan requires a strong sense of social responsibility. Kim Woo-bin said, "Before filming, I didn’t know about the job of Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan, but I finally learned about it. I’m ashamed that I lived without knowing. I want to live without losing this feeling."

Viewers have commented that Kim Woo-bin’s real personality overlaps with the righteous face of Lee Jung-do. Kim Woo-bin waved his hand and said, "I’m not as self-controlled or polite as people think." He laughed, "I’m just an ordinary person, but maybe people see only one side and think I’m a good person. I don’t know where it went wrong."

The actual Seoul Eastern Probation Office posted a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan recruitment notice on the 28th of last month, requiring candidates to hold at least a 3rd dan in one of four martial arts: Taekwondo, Judo, Kendo, or Hapkido. The rank must be in a single martial art, not combined. In the film, Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin) holds 3rd dan in Taekwondo, Judo, and Kendo. To prepare, Kim Woo-bin underwent rigorous action training.

Actor Kim Woo-bin [Photo by Netflix]

Kim Woo-bin said, "I took more than three hours of action classes daily and reviewed for 1-2 hours at home. I hung a punching bag taller than me and practiced Kendo for an hour, Taekwondo for an hour, and did separate weight training." He added, "We spent about three days filming key action scenes like the butcher shop and the jangdokdae (traditional Korean earthenware jar stand), but they only lasted about a minute on screen, which felt a bit disappointing."

To portray the solid physique of a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan, he built muscle and gained weight. Kim Woo-bin recalled, "I gained 8 kg in 2-3 months before filming. I suggested this because I thought it would give a different look. I ate a lot from the food truck and even added chicken breast. I ate all day as if it was hard work." He continued, "In the middle of filming, as the character works as a Mu-do Sil-mu-gwan and the daily rhythm changes, I expected to lose 3-4 kg."

Another round as a novice farmer in Kong Kong Pat Pat?

Kim Woo-bin has recently been showing viewers a new side of himself. After appearing as a surprise guest on the tvN variety show Unexpected Business, he transformed into a novice farmer alongside actors Lee Kwang-soo and Do Kyung-soo (D.O) on the tvN variety show Kong Sim-eun De Kong Nago Pat Sim-eun De Pat Nanda (Kong Kong Pat Pat).

He said, "Unexpected Business unexpectedly became my comeback work after my illness. Before, I was reluctant to appear on variety shows because it felt strange and embarrassing to be in front of the camera as myself, not as a character, but recently I was surprised to see that the cameras were all hidden. As my fear disappeared, I thought, 'Oh? Maybe I can try this?'" He added, "I liked being with people I get along with well on Kong Kong Pat Pat. Like on the show, we often travel together in one car."

When asked about plans for Kong Kong Pat Pat season 2, Kim Woo-bin replied with a smile, "Producer Na Young-seok knew I was doing this interview today and sent me texts saying, 'Just say you’re doing it,' 'Say you want to do it.' We haven’t had a deep conversation yet, but I plan to meet soon and talk about it based on those messages."