'I, the Executioner' star Hwang Jung-min embraces new challenge with film series

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Sept. 10 (Yonhap) -- Veteran actor Hwang Jung-min, with an impressive 34-year career and extensive filmography, finds special significance in his lead role for the crime-action film "I, the Executioner." Despite his vast experience, Hwang admits to feeling particularly anxious about the film's opening.

"I thought I wouldn't be this nervous after so many films, but I'm as anxious as if it were my first. This project is particularly special to me," the actor said during an interview with local media Tuesday, three days prior to the opening of his latest film.

"I, the Executioner," a sequel to the 2015 blockbuster "Veteran," marks Hwang's first appearance in a film franchise. "Veteran" was Hwang's second film to achieve the impressive feat of drawing 13.4 million viewers in South Korea, a country with a population of 51.6 million.

Hwang reprises his role as Detective Seo Do-cheol, who leads the Violent Crimes Unit investigating a series of gruesome murders allegedly committed by a serial killer. The case takes unexpected turns when Seo's team recruits rookie officer Park Sun-woo, portrayed by Jung Hae-in. Park's involvement steers the investigation in surprising new directions.

Most of the cast members from "Veteran" reunited for the sequel, a collaboration Hwang described as "an indescribable joy."

"It had been years since we'd seen each other, so it was really great to catch up and ask how everyone had been," he said. "Once on set, it brought back so many memories from the first film, especially the energy we had back then. For the sequel, we didn't need to talk much about it as everyone just naturally fell back into their roles."

To create the illusion that his character had been living a continuous life since the first film, Hwang donned the same jacket from "Veteran," which had been preserved in storage far longer than anticipated.

In the nine-year interval between the original movie and its sequel, Hwang's career continued to flourish with starring roles in numerous blockbusters, including the supernatural horror "The Wailing" (2016) and the historical drama "12.12: The Day" (2023), which drew more than 6.7 million and 13 million, respectively.

"My profession is acting, and entertaining the audience is integral to it," he said. "I see my role as akin to an ice cream shop, offering various flavors through my performances for people to choose from.

"I pour my all into acting because it is the only area where I excel," he added with humility.

The 54-year-old Hwang acknowledged the demanding nature of the film's high-octane action sequences. In fact, after particularly intense fight scenes, he often found himself ad-libbing, "Ah, that was tough," reflecting his genuine exhaustion.

"I used to joke that I couldn't do action scenes anymore, but actually the scenes were so precisely choreographed, like finely tuned cogs in a machine. So we did those scenes in a comfortable setting," he said.

After the ending credits rolled, a post-credit scene hinted at a possible third installment of the series.

Although the actor is not yet aware of any confirmed plans, he has expressed a sincere desire to continue with the "Veteran" franchise.

"For an actor, being part of a film series is a rare opportunity. The success of the first film is what makes a sequel possible," he said. "It is truly an honor for me. This is just the beginning."

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