Park Jung-min Reveals 15–20kg Weight Loss for ‘Humint,’ Says He Ran Daily Throughout Filming

Actor Park Jung-min has shared details about the physical transformation he underwent for his role in the upcoming film ‘Humint,’ revealing that he lost between 15 and 20 kilograms compared to his appearance in director Ryoo Seung-wan’s previous film ‘Smugglers.’

A Deliberate Shift From His Previous Role

Park spoke about the process during an interview held on February 9 at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, ahead of the film’s theatrical release. Reflecting on comments that he appeared particularly sharp on screen in ‘Humint,’ Park responded with humor, emphasizing that the visual choices were rooted in character rather than personal styling.

“The director didn’t film me that way because he wanted me to look good,” Park said. “He filmed me that way because Park Geon needed to look that way. If he liked me that much, he wouldn’t have shot my character in ‘Smugglers’ like that.”

Park reunited with director Ryoo for ‘Humint’ after their collaboration on ‘Smugglers,’ but the two projects required vastly different physical approaches. While his role in ‘Smugglers’ allowed for a heavier build, ‘Humint’ demanded a far leaner presence to suit the character of Park Geon, an officer within North Korea’s State Security Department.

“I don’t remember the exact number,” Park explained, “but there’s about a 15 to 20 kilogram difference between my weight in ‘Smugglers’ and ‘Humint.’ During ‘Smugglers,’ I was close to 80 kilograms and honestly, it was a happy time.”

Running Before the Camera Rolled

To maintain the sharper silhouette requested for the role, Park committed to a strict routine throughout filming. Rather than relying solely on pre-production preparation, he kept the regimen going every day on set.

“I ran every single day during filming,” he said. “If you ask whether it was miserable, maybe it was. I had to control my diet and keep running constantly.”

What stood out most, Park added, was the timing. “For the first time in my life, I ran before going to work. I never imagined running before filming. Filming itself is exhausting, so I always thought that was impossible. But for ‘Humint,’ I ran 10 kilometers before every shoot, no exceptions.”

Grounding the Performance in Discipline

Rather than framing the weight loss as a transformation for spectacle, Park described it as a practical extension of character work another layer of preparation that helped him inhabit the role more fully.

‘Humint’ is set in Vladivostok, where secrets and truths collide beneath an unforgiving atmosphere. Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan known for films such as ‘Veteran,’ ‘The Berlin File,’ ‘Escape from Mogadishu,’ and ‘Smugglers’ the film centers on individuals with conflicting motives navigating a tense geopolitical landscape. Park portrays Park Geon, a North Korean State Security officer, a role that required both physical restraint and controlled intensity.

As ‘Humint’ approaches its February 11 release, Park Jung-min’s remarks offer a glimpse into the discipline behind the performance less about transformation for its own sake, and more about aligning body, routine, and mindset with the demands of the character.