Hyun Bin Discusses the Pressure of Portraying Ahn Jung-geun in 'Harbin'

'Harbin' star Hyun Bin opened up about the immense pressure he felt while portraying the historical figure Ahn Jung-geun. On November 27, a production briefing for the film took place at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, featuring the main cast including Hyun Bin, Park Jung-min, Jo Woo-jin, Jeon Yeo-been, Park Hoon, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Dong-wook, and director Woo Min-ho.

In 'Harbin', Hyun Bin takes on the role of Ahn Jung-geun, a general in the Korean independence army who assassinated Ito Hirobumi. Park Jung-min plays the steadfast independence fighter Woo Deok-soon, while Jo Woo-jin portrays Kim Sang-hyun, another independence fighter who joins the cause. Jeon Yeo-been plays a fellow independence fighter who fights alongside Ahn Jung-geun for their homeland, and Park Hoon plays Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel Mori Tatsuwo, who is on the trail of the independence fighters. Yoo Jae-myung portrays Choi Jae-hyung, who supports the independence fighters with funding and shelter, and Lee Dong-wook plays Lee Chang-seop, an independence fighter who has conflicts with Ahn Jung-geun.

'Harbin' made its world premiere at the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, receiving praise for its cinematography, storytelling, and performances, raising expectations for both its artistic merit and box office success.

Hyun Bin reflected on his initial meeting for the role, stating, "I vividly remember the moment I received the offer and had the meeting. The director's sincerity and passion to create something meaningful were palpable. I thought that working with him would lead to a significant project. However, I also had many concerns. The pressure and responsibility of portraying a real person were overwhelming. I had a lot of thoughts about it."

He continued, "On the other hand, I was grateful for the opportunity to portray such a meaningful character. Working closely with the director, I felt that sincerity and passion were infused into the project. The energy of sincerity and passion positively influenced me. I expressed every action, line, shot, and scene with my utmost sincerity. My determination to create this project with the director grew stronger. Ultimately, I feel it was a great choice."

'Harbin' (directed by Woo Min-ho, distributed by CJ ENM, produced by Hive Media Corp) is set in 1909 and depicts the intense pursuit and suspicion between those heading to Harbin for a singular purpose and those chasing them. This collaboration between Hive Media Corp, known for 'The Spring of Seoul' and 'Deliver Us from Evil', and director Woo Min-ho, known for 'The Man Standing Next' and 'The Outlaws', is highly anticipated as one of the top films this winter, scheduled for release on December 25.