'Murderer Report' Jeong Seong-il confessed that he balanced a part-time job with his main profession until three years ago.
On the afternoon of the 4th, an interview with the movie 'Murderer Report' lead actor Jeong Seong-il took place at a cafe in Sokgyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
'Murderer Report' (directed by Jo Young-jun, provided by A2Z Entertainment and Sony Pictures International Productions, produced by With Ace Studio, MIK Studio, and Pluto Story Group, distributed by Sony Pictures Entertainment Korea) is a thriller that depicts the story of a veteran journalist Sun-joo (played by Jo Yeo-jung), who thirsts for a scoop and is approached for a dangerous one-on-one interview by psychiatrist Yeong-hoon (played by Jeong Seong-il), who confesses to a series of murders.
Jeong Seong-il played the role of psychiatrist and serial killer Yeong-hoon in the film. He is a character who suggests a dangerous one-on-one interview to veteran reporter Baek Sun-joo, who is desperate for a breaking story. This film marks his first leading role on the screen, reuniting with Jo Yeo-jung after six years since their appearance in the KBS2 drama 'Woman of 99 Billion' aired in 2019.
Jeong Seong-il is set to release Disney+ 'Trigger', the movie 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet', and the new Disney+ series 'Made in Korea'. He is actively working on his next project, which is confirmed to be titled 'Jafile' (working title).
Recently appearing on the variety show 'Jun Hyun-moo's Plan', Jeong Seong-il noted that while 'The Glory' was a hit, he had been juggling various part-time jobs, including driving for a ride service, valet parking, and delivering for Coupang.
He said, "I went out on the show to talk about that; now I live leisurely. (laughs) It's not like I have tremendous wealth, but while talking about those part-time jobs, that came up naturally. That was true. Although 'The Glory' did well, I had to do it to survive. I had debts I had incurred in advance and money to pay back. In the past, even as an actor, I wasn't making enough to live on. The pay for 'The Glory' wasn't tremendously high either. While the works went out as they should, I still had to live, so I worked part-time," recalling his past.
After 'The Glory' became a hit and with titles like 'Our Blues' released in 2022, Jeong Seong-il stated that he is now focusing on his main profession without part-time jobs. He said, "What has changed since getting popular is that I can eat what I want freely. Before, I thought three or four times before buying a pair of sneakers, but now I can buy them without worry" adding, "My life has become stable enough to live on acting alone. I'm not someone whose standards are particularly high. (laughs) The best thing since 'The Glory' is that financially, I don't have to audition anymore. The process of auditioning and waiting is really tough. The countless auditions I went through and the waiting process were challenging. Honestly, it was tougher than the financial side," he said.
He added, "It's not just me; many young actors spend a lot of time preparing for auditions. It seems to require investments of too many hours, and it's a painful time. Even though I enjoy showcasing my acting, it feels like going through a job interview every time, unsure if I'll get into a project. It's not easy, even after knocking hundreds of times. Now, just the idea of being offered a project is joyful. I'm finally able to live a bit. (laughs) It's like I've become a regular employee from being an irregular one, yet I still feel anxious. I still worry. Since it's a job that requires someone else's interest, I wonder if I can continuously work on projects like this. I'm worried about that," sharing his realistic concerns.
Meanwhile, 'Murderer Report' is set to premiere on the 5th.
[Photo] A2Z Entertainment, Sony Pictures provided.
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