Hyun Bin has shown his deep dedication and sincerity in his portrayal of the real-life figure, General Ahn Jung Geun, in his new movie Harbin. How did he bring this historical character to life with such care and effort?
On November 27, Hyun Bin attended the press conference for Harbin, a movie directed by Woo Min Ho, at the CGV I-Park Mall in Yongsan, Seoul. The event also featured other cast members including Park Jung Min, Cho Woo Jin, Jeon Yeo Bin, Park Hoon, Yoo Jae Myung, Lee Dong Wook, and director Woo Min Ho.
Harbin is set in 1909 and follows a tense cat-and-mouse chase involving a group heading to Harbin for a secret mission and those who are chasing them. In the film, Hyun Bin takes on the role of General Ahn Jung Geun, known for the assassination of Ito Hirobumi, the former Japanese Prime Minister.
Hyun Bin explained how important this project was to him, saying, “This is my first time working with director Woo Min Ho, and I still remember our first meeting when he proposed this project to me. I could feel his sincerity and passion for the project. I thought that if I worked with him, I’d be part of something meaningful.”
He went on to express the challenges of playing a real person, saying, “The pressure and responsibility of playing someone real is indescribable. But at the same time, I was grateful to portray such an important figure. As we filmed, that feeling only grew stronger. I was influenced by the director’s sincerity, energy, and passion, and it made me want to give my all to every scene, every line, and every movement. In the end, I feel like choosing this movie was the right decision.”
Director Woo Min Ho shared how Hyun Bin was the perfect choice for the role, saying, “When I saw Hyun Bin, I thought, ‘Hyun Bin is Ahn Jung Geun.’ He has the endurance and strength to embody this character.”
Hyun Bin reflected on how the director wanted to show a different side of Ahn Jung Geun, saying, “Ahn Jung Geun must have gone through many struggles and emotions during his journey, just like any of us. Despite all of this, he stayed true to his beliefs and kept moving forward toward his goal. I wanted to express that. I spent time reading his writings and books about him to better understand his emotions. It was a process of deeply thinking and imagining.”
This film marks Hyun Bin’s first project since marrying Son Ye Jin and becoming a father. While filming in Mongolia, he returned home for the birth of his son to be with his wife. Now, his heartfelt performance in Harbin is drawing attention as fans eagerly await to see how he portrays Ahn Jung Geun and shares the powerful story of independence.
Harbin is set to be released on December 25.
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