Director Woo Min-ho and Actor Jo Woo-jin Share Behind-the-Scenes Insights on 'Harbin'

On January 20, 2025, SBS PowerFM's 'Park Ha-sun's Cine Town' featured director Woo Min-ho and actor Jo Woo-jin, who discussed their film 'Harbin'. During the broadcast, Jo Woo-jin captivated listeners by showcasing various heart gestures. He revealed that he gained 18 kg for his role in 'Gangnam B-side', stating, "I didn't like how I looked. I'm gradually losing weight now." He explained that before filming, he weighed around 58 kg but was asked to bulk up, leading him to consume five hamburgers a day while working out. Jo expressed that gaining weight felt more detrimental to his health than losing it.

The conversation also touched on 'Inside Men', where Jo shared his audition experience for the role of Jo Sang-moo's subordinate. He recalled being surprised when the director requested to see him again three days later. Director Woo Min-ho elaborated that the character was intense, requiring the actor to cut off Lee Byung-hun's hand, and despite many actors vying for the role, he was convinced by Jo's audition tape, even though Jo was not yet a well-known name.

Following 'Inside Men', the duo collaborated on 'Drug King' and now 'Harbin'. Jo humbly remarked on being referred to as Woo's persona, while Woo expressed his admiration for Jo's remarkable performance in 'Harbin', stating, "If this actor is my persona, it makes me very happy."

Jo described 'Harbin' as a film that ignites passion and is essential viewing. He praised Hyun Bin's portrayal of Ahn Jung-geun, calling him a truly human independence fighter, and noted that Hyun Bin captured the character's emotional depth well. Jo also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to work with Park Jung-min, whom he had long wished to collaborate with.

Director Woo shared that he had Jo in mind from the scriptwriting stage, inspired by the character from 'Land'. He felt it was a challenging role for an actor and decided to cast Jo over the phone. Jo admitted that reading the script left him feeling betrayed, but he likely wouldn't have turned it down due to its difficulty.

Jo also reflected on a scene where his character undergoes torture, describing it as emotionally intense. He recalled the final shoot for Kim Sang-hyun, where the director held his hand and said, "It's over," which moved him deeply. He aimed to delve into the darkness and isolation of his character's journey, believing that it would illuminate Ahn Jung-geun's path. Director Woo shared that he was moved to tears watching that scene, feeling sorrow for Kim Sang-hyun's dignity being shattered.

'Harbin' is set in 1909 and depicts the tense pursuit and suspicion between those heading to Harbin for a singular purpose and those chasing them. Since its release, the film has topped the box office and is on track to reach 5 million admissions, showcasing a strong box office performance.