'Assassin(s)' Park Hae-il showed an embarrassed expression at the phrase "eternal baby face."
On the afternoon of the 10th at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, an interview was held with lead actor Park Hae-il of the film 'Assassin(s)'.
The film 'Assassin(s)' (director Heo Jin-ho, produced by Hive media corp, distributed by Hive media corp) depicts the pursuit of the suspicions and those behind the first lady shooting incident that shocked Korea on Aug. 15, 1974. It adds some imagination to facts surrounding the assassination of former president Park Chung-hee's wife, the late Yuk Young-soo. Director Heo Jin-ho, who opened a new horizon for Korean melodrama with 'Christmas in August' and also directed 'The Last Princess', 'The Astronomer: Asking the Sky', and 'A Normal Family', has once again produced a highly accomplished work with meticulous and refined direction.
Using a historic incident that shook Korea as its motif, the film expands the incident's underside with cinematic imagination, adding tight suspense and deep emotional layers to complete a high-density mystery chase. It was officially invited to the gala section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, receiving recognition for its artistry, and delivers intense immersion and a deep aftertaste.
Park Hae-il passionately played Jae-hwan, a reporter for Dongsimilbo and head of the social affairs department. He returned to the screen after four years following the 2022 releases that drew cumulative audiences of 7.26 million for Hansan: Rising Dragon and 1.91 million for Decision to Leave.
Back on the screen after quite some time, Park Hae-il said, "Maybe I was waiting for director Heo Jin-ho. I think I was waiting to do this," adding, "Occasionally I would drink makgeolli with the director and we would talk about life. While meeting so comfortably, he offered the project and gave me the script. After reading it, I thought, 'Was I waiting to do this?' I told him about a week later that I would do it."
Although the film does not present a narrative of reporter Jae-hwan, it details the story of Detective Cheol-gu (played by Yoo Hai Jin), who witnessed the first lady shooting at the scene. He said that this allowed him to concentrate more on the character while acting, noting, "I realized I didn't have to think so much about a character's entire history. I thought I could go deeper into the 사건 given to me and the professional aspects of the role. With much of the surrounding past excluded, I felt it was right to stay true to the character. Cheol-gu is rich, and that contrasts with it. I think the director did that deliberately," calling it an artistically good choice.
Park Hae-il was born in 1977 and debuted in 2000 with the play 'Ode to Youth.' He is already approaching his 30th debut anniversary. Nonetheless, because he never appears on variety shows and due to his youthful-looking face, he has acquired nicknames such as "eternal baby face" and women's "millennium ideal type."
When talk turned to secrets of maintaining a youthful appearance as he approached his 50s, he blushed, saying, "Eiit~ gosh," and added, "I'm just grateful. When filming Decision to Leave, makeup director Song Jong-hee did my makeup, and I worked with her consecutively. She probably did makeup suited to the flow, so when you watch the film I think I appeared more (like I have a baby face). It's thanks to the veteran makeup director. I'm aging well, right?" he said with a pleased smile.
Meanwhile, 'Assassin(s)' opens on the 23rd.
[Photo] Provided by Hive media corp
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