Actor Ha Jung-woo / Courtesy of Barunson E&A
By Baek Byung-yeul
Renowned actor Ha Jung-woo described his upcoming thriller “Nocturnal” as a raw and intense take on the familiar theme of revenge, promising that its director Kim Jin-hwang would bring a fresh perspective.
"The revenge plot isn't new, but I believe that even the same theme can provide new enjoyment depending on how the works change in form and background," Ha told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Friday.
He expressed great interest in the director's unique vision, which was a significant factor in his decision to take on the project.
"I was drawn to Kim. His personal experiences are woven into the script, and I was intrigued by his attitude towards the characters in the film," the 46-year-old actor explained. "I felt this director had tremendous anger and lava-like energy boiling beneath his gentle demeanor. I felt he wanted to unleash those emotions through this film."
"Nocturnal" follows Min-tae, a former gang member, on a relentless pursuit to uncover the truth behind a night where everything becomes entangled — his brother dies and a best-selling novel eerily foretells his brother's death. Ha portrays Min-tae as a man driven to find answers after his brother's death.
Actor Ha Jung-woo performs Min-tae, a former gang member who seeks revenge for his brother’s death, in the upcoming thriller movie “Nocturnal.” Courtesy of Barunson E&A
The actor acknowledged the extreme violence displayed by his character in the film, emphasizing that it was a deliberate choice by the director.
"There are parts where Min-tae resorts to excessive violence, under the pretext of his brother's death. I found it interesting that the director created this character with that perspective. It felt different from the characters I've played in recent years," he said.
Ha is widely regarded as one of the most iconic actors here since his realistic portrayal of the injustices within the military in the 2005 indie film "The Unforgiven" left a lasting impression on audiences.
After rising to stardom with the 2008 film "The Chaser,” he has since delivered memorable performances in numerous blockbusters, including "Take Off" (2009), "Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time" (2012), the "Along with the Gods" series and 2022 Netflix series "Narco-Saints."
Despite his established career, Ha revealed his continuous pursuit of new challenges and transformations in his acting journey.
"When choosing projects, I don't differentiate between established and rookie directors," he said. "In recent years, I've felt the need to work with various people I haven't collaborated with before."
He added he worked with an entirely new crew on "Nocturnal," who helped him discover new facets of himself.
Actor Ha Jung-woo in a scene from "Nocturnal" / Courtesy of Barunson E&A
Since creating an Instagram account last year, Ha has actively engaged with fans on the online platform. His trademark blunt yet humorous interactions have gone viral, further solidifying his persistent appeal.
Regarding his social media activity, he expressed enjoyment in connecting with people and gaining new experiences.
"Fans had been requesting me to create an Instagram account for a long time. I started it to communicate with them. People really liked it when I replied to comments on my posts, so I've continued to do so," he said.
"People now view the world through their own algorithms. I feel I need to inform my fans about my activities, so I want to increase the number of followers on my account to promote my work more widely."
“Nocturnal” will hit local theaters on Feb. 5.
English (United States) ·