[Interview] Oh Jungse: "A Monster Created by Black Money and Power Needs No Sympathy"

A Chilling Villain Disguised as a Customs Officer in "Good Boy"
28-Year Veteran Actor: "Acting Is About Understanding People"

Oh Jungse is taking photos ahead of an interview commemorating the end of "Good Boy" on the 17th at Prain Villa in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Prain TPC

"I hope that the abundance of justice will overcome the abundance of evil."

On July 17, at Prain Villa in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Oh Jungse handed over a handwritten letter during an interview ahead of the finale of JTBC's drama "Good Boy." The single, neatly written sentence on white paper revealed the attitude with which he approached his role. He said, "I didn't want to give evil a backstory," adding, "I wanted Min Juyeong to simply come across as a monster."

Min Juyeong, played by Oh Jungse, is a character who shakes up Inseong City through all kinds of crimes, including used car, drug, and firearm trafficking. He possesses a duality, threatening others with a gentle face and soft voice. Oh Jungse said, "Usually, villains reveal their true identity in the later part of the story, but this time, the character was exposed from the beginning. I struggled with how to design him."

From the moment he received the script, he hoped that as the story progressed, the left and right sides of Min Juyeong’s face would become increasingly extreme, like 'Jekyll and Hyde.' Min Juyeong gradually sheds his mask and transforms into a monster as he confronts the Good Boy special team. "At first, he appears tidy, buttoning his shirt up to the neck, but as the episodes go on, his appearance and demeanor fall apart," he explained. "I also hoped the vertical scar above his eyebrow would become a symbolic mark of his villainy."

In the drama, Min Juyeong wears expensive clothes but never reveals the brands. His outfits appear ordinary, but in reality, they cost several million won. Oh Jungse interpreted this as, "He doesn't show off outwardly, but he is a person with strong self-assurance. His conviction that the world he controls would never collapse was his weapon."

Despite playing a villain, he deliberately excluded any backstory or sympathy. "I didn't want Min Juyeong to be understood," he said. "I just wanted to leave a warning that black money and power can turn even ordinary people into monsters." Regarding the scene where he receives a gold watch and commits murder, he added, "It's a symbol of how even a small temptation can change a person."

"The relationship with the protagonist Yoon Dongju (Park Bogum) was also designed to be complex. At first, Min Juyeong was outside his interest, but gradually entered his radar. He watched him as if observing a toy, and at some point, his world began to crack. Min Juyeong ultimately senses the collapse of his own world and becomes a character who desperately struggles against it."

He also put a lot of effort into the action scenes. "While the Good Boy team delivers exhilarating action, I wanted Min Juyeong to create a sense of dread with subtle movements," he said. Even in violent scenes, "It was just a light touch, but I tried to create fear through facial expressions and movement," he explained.

In "Good Boy," customs officer Min Juyeong (Oh Jungse) faces the risk of having her identity exposed. SLL, Studio&New, Drama House Studio

Oh Jungse said he did not take the role simply because it was a villain. "I don't know what kind of opportunity will come my way in the next project, but whether it's comedy or a villain, I think it's just like encountering things in life," he said. "Just as I start each day with anticipation and excitement, that's how I approach new projects."

Now in his 28th year since debut, he started his career in the 1997 film "Father" and gained recognition as Reporter Kim in "The Unjust" in 2010. After a long period of obscurity, he took on major roles in "When the Camellia Blooms" (2019), "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" (2020), and the film "Cobweb" (2023). He recalled, "I wasn't confident I could be a good actor from the beginning, but I was confident I could do it for a long time. I had a vague belief that after 40 or 50 years, I would be a better actor than I am now."

"I enjoyed it back then, and I still enjoy it now. I don't know if I will run out of projects or be forgotten in the future, but I want to be an actor who lasts a long time. It's still amazing to me that, through this profession, I can become a part of someone's day."

He said, "Whether I have many or few projects, whether I receive attention or not, what matters in the end is to enjoy this work for a long time and keep going. I want to convey the feeling that both Oh Jungse as an actor and the characters he has played continue to live on."

For Oh Jungse, acting ultimately means understanding people. "I'm realizing more and more that you can't persuade others through acting without affection for humanity," he said. He added that representing someone's pain, bringing joy to one face, and awakening awareness in another are what make the profession of acting special.

"When I hear that a character I played has been a comfort to someone, I find a reason to keep doing this job. Every time that happens, I realize again that acting is not something you do alone. It's only possible because there are people who breathe with you and watch you. I want to be an actor who performs not because I want attention, but because I have stories I need to express. If even a small emotion is sincerely conveyed and changes the mood of someone's day, that's enough for me."