‘Count’ Jin Sun-kyu, “I have to overcome to pressure of first time having a leading role.”

▲ This photo, provided by CJ ENM, shows actor Jin Sun-kyu. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 17 (Yonhap) – “It felt strange to see my face on the poster. I feel embarrassed and burdened. I think I will go through this kind of pressure even after the release of the film.”

The movie “Count,” which is set to be released on the 22nd, is the first starring film by actor Jin Sun-kyu.

The film is based on the story of Park Si-heon, who won a gold medal in boxing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics but disappeared from others memories after controversy over the referee’s call.

In the film, Jin Sun-kyu plays Park Si-heon, who came down from the ring and became a high school physical education teacher in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province.

Jin Sun-kyu, who we met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on Wednesday, has confessed the burden of his first time to be a lead role and said, "Shouldn't we overcome it now?" "It's okay because my colleagues gave me strength," he said with a big smile.

At recent press conference, he has shown tears in the process of exchanging questions and answers with reporters, perhaps due to the heavy burden of his first film with a leading role.

Jin Sun-kyu reportedly told athlete Park Si-heon, who shared many opinions during the filming process, that he was "nervous" on the morning of the premiere.

Since then, Park has sent a text message of support, and he smiled shyly, saying, "I felt emotional while delivering the text at the meeting site."

After a long period of obscurity at Daehak-ro Theater Company, Jin Sun-kyu has become an actor who everyone knows.

He played a Korean-Chinese gangster in the movie "The Outlaws" and a drug detective in "Extreme Job." In the action film "Confidential Assignment 2: International," he played the role of a global crime leader and was reborn as a "popular trend" actor.

It is said that he originally dreamed of becoming a physical education teacher like “Teacher Si-heon.” “When I was in my third year of high school, I remembered that I had a new dream of learning after watching a small theater company's stage where I followed my friend ahead of the CSAT,” he said.

"When I was in my third year of high school, I continued to visit the theater company instead of studying in school. I memorized three monologues for just a month and went to take the entrance exam of Korea National University of Arts, and I passed. I didn't know anything about acting at the time."

Starting with a minor role in Daehak-ro, he slowly began to promote the name "Jin Sun-kyu" by spending about 10 years, and actors Oh Na-ra and Go Chang-seok, who worked together as wife and principals, respectively on this film, are those he met during that time.

"When I had nothing, I talked to Na-ra and Chang-seok about doing movies and dramas together later and dreamed about it. ‘Count’ was the moment when that dream came true nearly 20 years later. I think I had more fun acting than ever."

When asked if he had any special acting techniques, he said, "Just because I'm acting hard, doesn't mean the other actor can act well," adding, "It's good to have the shooting run organically so that the other actor can act naturally."

"All minor actors are selected from among good actors. I tried to meet each person in advance to practice, talk, and have meal together when I have time so that they can act well in front of the main character. After that, we said hello and matched the lines. In this process, the characters of the actors were expressed well."

When asked when he believed that his value would be recognized while living as an unknown actor, he answered by summarizing his "acting life" in one sentence.

"I feel like I've been living as an actor because sincerity and consistency can be a talent and ability."

At the end of the interview, Jin Sun-kyu said he has already achieved 90% of his dreams.

When I was a minor actor, I wanted to be an actor who gets cast without an audition and I achieved my dream. I also wanted to have a space to live happily with my family, and this became a reality too.

"I don't want to dream big anymore. Cannes, Oscar, Avengers? I don't think that's right. Now I want to give the baton of my dreams to our children. Also, I want to maintain the environment so that children can achieve their dream. (laughing)

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Yunhee Cho.)

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