Park Jung-min Breaks Genre Mold with Nuanced Performance in Spy Thriller ‘Humint’
The acclaimed actor Park Jung-min, known for his work in genre films, steps into uncharted territory with his role in the upcoming spy action film ‘Humint,’ revealing a surprising willingness to embrace emotional depth and challenge his own artistic boundaries. Set for release on the 11th, the film, directed by Ryu Seung-wan, marks a significant shift for the actor, who previously hesitated to engage with the melodrama genre.
Park Jung-min explained his initial reluctance stemmed not from a dislike of melodrama itself, but from a concern that audiences might perceive his portrayal as inauthentic. “I can explain that it’s not that I’m allergic to the melodrama genre, but that I developed an allergy because I was worried that people who watch my melodrama would feel allergic,” he stated. He added, “It’s not like, ‘I hate melodrama so much,’ but I just want to challenge myself and make a good movie.”
‘Humint’ unfolds in Vladivostok, a city steeped in secrets, and centers around a complex web of characters with conflicting objectives: National Intelligence Service agent Manager Cho (Jo In-seong), North Korean State Security Service chief Park Geon (Park Jung-min), North Korean restaurant employee Chae Seon-hwa (Shin Se-kyung), and North Korean Consul General Hwang Chi-sung (Park Hae-joon). The film draws inspiration from ‘HUMINT’ – a real-world espionage concept centered on human intelligence – to explore themes of salvation and sacrifice.
What initially drew Park Jung-min to the project was its “straightforwardness.” He was intrigued by director Ryu Seung-wan’s approach to the narrative. “The way the story itself flows is straight forward. I was curious about how director Ryu Seung-wan would create that directness,” he said. He confessed to being surprised by the opportunity, questioning why he was chosen for such a compelling role. “I thought that the story was being overturned depending on Park Geon’s emotional state. I was just grateful, wondering why?”
Park Geon, the character Park Jung-min embodies, is a North Korean intelligence officer defined by his cool composure and calculated actions. However, his carefully constructed emotional distance begins to fracture with the introduction of Chae Seon-hwa. Initially, Park Jung-min didn’t perceive the role as a foray into melodrama. “At first, I didn’t think of this work as a melodrama. I thought it was just a story about rescuing someone. I had no idea it would be expressed so deeply,” he explained, noting that the emotional complexity of the story only became apparent midway through filming.
The actor emphasized his belief that acting is not about conjuring emotions from nothing, but rather a process of “a fight to calmly search and discover” within oneself. He described how, as filming progressed, the character became increasingly ingrained in his physicality. “After about the 10th episode, you find that it comes out naturally. From then on, it just keeps going.” He actively sought to understand and portray the “pure love” that motivated Park Geon, acknowledging that it required tapping into deeply personal memories and emotions.
Park Jung-min admitted to initial anxieties about watching the finished film, fearing a disconnect between himself and the character. “A year after filming, I thought Park Jung-min and Park Geon would cringe in my eyes, even though they are two different people,” he said. Fortunately, his fears proved unfounded, and he found the final product surprisingly authentic.
He highlighted the challenges of portraying emotion through silence, a skill he doesn’t typically rely on as an actor who favors dialogue. “I am an actor who relies on my lines. It is very difficult to watch without saying anything,” he confessed. He overcame this obstacle by meticulously crafting his facial expressions, using them to convey the character’s internal struggles.
A deliberate choice was made to minimize physical intimacy between Park Geon and Chae Seon-hwa. Park Jung-min explained that any display of affection felt incongruous with the character’s reserved nature. “I felt that skinship without justification is not like Park Geon. Holding hands for fear of appearing sad is completely different from holding hands based on the character’s purpose.” He experimented with physical contact during rehearsals but ultimately found it detracted from the authenticity of the scene.
Park Jung-min praised his co-star, Shin Se-kyung, for her captivating presence. “Even when the camera is not rolling, it has the power to overwhelm people with its atmosphere,” he said, describing her as possessing both beauty and strength. He acknowledged leaning on her energy during their shared scenes.
Prior to ‘Humint,’ Park Jung-min gained attention for his appearance in singer Hwasa’s music video for “Good Goodbye,” which led to a memorable moment at a film awards ceremony. He chuckled, “Hwasa’s song is really good. But I’ve heard it too many times, so I don’t listen to it anymore.” He added, “It’s a song I’m thankful for, and it’s probably a blessing in disguise for Hwasa as well.”
The film also features Shin Se-kyung’s rendition of Patty Kim’s classic song, ‘Farewell.’ Park Jung-min revealed that he often found himself humming the tune during filming. “When I first heard Shin Se-kyung’s ‘Farewell’, I wondered why she sings so well. I was amazed that she sang in dialect. I also thought that if I had known the true value of this song when filming, my acting would have been more heartrending.”
Park Jung-min also candidly discussed a moment of personal struggle during the shoot, admitting to a day where he lost his temper for no apparent reason. He described it as his “most disappointing moment,” leading to a period of self-imposed isolation. It was the director’s support that helped him regain his composure. “If someone knows that you’ve fallen, you can get back up,” he said, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and support on set.
Ultimately, Park Jung-min drew a clear distinction between himself and his character, acknowledging that Park Geon possessed a capacity for self-sacrifice that he himself did not share. “Park Geon could risk his life, but I can’t,” he stated. This realization served as a crucial starting point for his performance. He believes that even action sequences are fundamentally expressions of emotion. “Even while shooting, I kept thinking about who I was protecting. In the end, I wanted to show my heart by combining the two genres.”
He characterized ‘Humint’ as a more classic spy film than Ryu Seung-wan’s previous works, noting that audiences have described it as something entirely new from the director. He also highlighted the novelty of playing a character motivated by romantic love for the first time. “For the first time, I played a character whose goal is to fall in love with the opposite sex.” While he remains cautiously optimistic about the film’s reception, he expressed a sense of contentment with his performance. “I’m not sure if I’m satisfied, but I hope the audience sees it well. When I saw it, it didn’t look too strange, so I’m comforting myself by saying, ‘Okay, that’s it.’”
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