[TF Interview] 'Married Woman Killer' Jung Joon-won, Stronger After Overcoming Two Waves
Played the role of Kwon Tae-seong, a reporter for the investigative reporting team"I want to be an actor who makes people curious and interested."Actor Jung Joon-won recently met with
at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to discuss MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Yubunyeo Killer'. /Companyon[THE FACT|Reporter Choi Soo-bin] For actor Jung Joon-won, 'Yubunyeo Killer' was a 'challenge' in itself. It was a test he faced as the lead role for the first time, and unexpected controversies followed from the casting stage to promotional activities. However, Jung Joon-won chose to confront them head-on rather than avoid or hide them. He responded to concerns with his acting and acknowledged areas where he fell short, promising better performance next time. Thus, 'Yubunyeo Killer', which he passed through multiple tests, remains a work that allowed Jung Joon-won to grow further as an actor.Jung Joon-won recently held an interview at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with to commemorate the finale of MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Yubunyeo Killer' (written by Kim Eun-hee, directed by Yoon Jong-ho). Playing the role of Kwon Tae-seong, he shared various stories related to the drama.'Yubunyeo Killer', based on a webtoon of the same name, is a drama that depicts the struggles of a 'working mom' (a woman who works while raising children) with the most dangerous job in the world, as she strives to maintain her 'work-life balance' (balance between work and personal life). The 14-episode series concluded on the 12th.The drama started smoothly with a viewership rating of 7.4% for the first episode (Nielsen Korea, nationwide household basis) and soared to its highest rating of 10.7%, ending on a high note. Jung Joon-won expressed his gratitude, saying, "We filmed for a long time, and it feels like all of that was rewarded because the viewers liked and empathized with it so much. I am very thankful."Kwon Tae-seong, played by Jung Joon-won, is Yoo Bo-na's (Gong Hyo-jin) husband and a passionate investigative reporter. He is a reporter who persistently investigates 'Kingfisher' (Gong Hyo-jin) and, at the same time, a sincere character who embraces his wife's secrets. In the final episode, he made an unwavering choice to protect his beloved wife even after facing all the truths, leaving a warm lingering impression.However, Jung Joon-won was not initially welcomed as Kwon Tae-seong. As 'Yubunyeo Killer' is based on a webtoon with a strong fan base, some original fans expressed concerns about the casting after the live-action adaptation was announced. Negative views also coexisted regarding the synchronization with the original character.Jung Joon-won led the drama as Kwon Tae-seong, a passionate investigative reporter, in 'Yubunyeo Killer'. /Broadcast screen captureHowever, Jung Joon-won focused on creating his own character rather than perfectly replicating the original Kwon Tae-seong. Jung Joon-won explained, "When I received the script, the part that felt more like fantasy was 'Could there really be a husband and father this affectionate?' I focused on how I could portray this character well and acted accordingly.""I had a strong desire to show a completely new Kwon Tae-seong that only Jung Joon-won could portray. If I looked at the original work, I felt like I would unconsciously imitate it, so I didn't try to reference it. Kwon Tae-seong is a kind father and husband, and a reporter who works hard at his job. I thought those aspects alone were enough to make him look cool. I believed that if I expressed it well, the viewers would be sufficiently convinced."That belief led to results. Jung Joon-won added warmth to Kwon Tae-seong's character at home with his signature affectionate smile and relatable acting, and switched the mood when he appeared as a reporter with sharp eyes and a deep tone. He completed a Kwon Tae-seong with his own unique color, oscillating between the multiple faces of a husband, father, and reporter.In that process, the emotion Jung Joon-won focused on the most was 'love'. Jung Joon-won recalled, "I focused most on my love for Bo-na while acting. I thought that if the initial narrative was well-established, Tae-seong's choices and extreme emotions later on would be convincing to the viewers. The sense of duty as a reporter and the desire to protect his wife were incomparable. I think I viewed the drama with a focus on Bo-na from beginning to end.""Acting is always very difficult and hard. (Laughs) Fortunately, we were able to film the latter scenes towards the end of the actual shooting. I had accumulated a lot of emotions for the character and the drama by then. I think I was able to finish well thanks to the great support from senior Hyo-jin."Jung Joon-won confessed, "As it was my first leading role, the pressure was immense." /Broadcast screen captureThus, Jung Joon-won gradually dispelled the concerns directed at him before the broadcast. The question marks regarding his synchronization with the original character turned into praise for his acting with each episode. The fact that he was able to convince some viewers with his acting, even if he couldn't satisfy everyone, became another source of confidence for him.Jung Joon-won cautiously said, "Although I can't resolve all the parts that viewers find disappointing or unsatisfactory, I am truly relieved that I was able to persuade some of them. I don't think there's a better compliment for an actor than 'they portrayed the role well.' I gained a little more confidence in that regard.""As it was my first leading role, I naturally felt pressure. I was worried and anxious, but also excited and looking forward to it. Fortunately, I think I finished it well. In the past, I thought I just needed to play my given role well, but this time I learned a lot about responsibility. In that sense, I think it's a work that allowed actor Jung Joon-won to grow."However, there was another mountain to climb to complete the drama safely. During his appearance on MBC's entertainment program 'Hangout with Yoo?' to promote 'Yubunyeo Killer', he was embroiled in an unexpected controversy over his attitude. Due to nervousness and pressure from his first variety show appearance, he showed a passive attitude, which led to criticism from some viewers.Jung Joon-won did not shy away from this either. He said, "As I took on my first leading role and appeared to promote the drama, I think the pressure to do really well was immense. I was very upset and regretful from my perspective. If I get such an opportunity again, I want to do my best and show a good performance with a changed attitude."Jung Joon-won expressed his determination, saying, "I want to become an actor who makes people curious about how he will act this time." /Broadcast screen captureFrom concerns surrounding the casting to the controversy over his attitude on a variety show, 'Yubunyeo Killer' was a time for Jung Joon-won to constantly prove himself both inside and outside of acting. However, he did not blindly ignore the attention directed at him or try to cover it up with excuses. He responded with acting where he could, and acknowledged his shortcomings. And he turned those experiences into 'growth'.His attitude of quietly navigating the challenges he faced was not formed overnight. Jung Joon-won, who debuted in the 2015 film 'The Bird That Drinks Tears', made a name for himself to the public as Gu Do-won in 'Hospital Playlist' last year after a long period of obscurity. It would be a lie to say it wasn't difficult, but Jung Joon-won defined all of this as "necessary time.""I asked myself, 'If I went back 10 years with my current memories, could I create a better outcome than now?' But I never got a 'YES' answer. I believe that the present moment is possible because of that time. Of course, there were many difficult parts, but I was so happy just acting and filming movies, and I had my own fun. I want to tell myself thank you for enduring and persevering."In that sense, 'Yubunyeo Killer' will be remembered as more than just a drama for Jung Joon-won. He said, "I was able to reach my current position through my previous work, and after emerging into the spotlight at a late age, I had to learn a lot in a short period of time. Looking back, it was confusing, but I feel like all those processes are contained within 'Yubunyeo Killer'. It was a time when I experienced and learned so much.""In the future, I want to become an actor people are curious about. When I appear in a new project, I want to be an actor that people are curious and interested to see how I will act this time."subin7134@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]
