Hyun Bin Shares Insights on Playing Ahn Jung-geun in 'Harbin'

Actor Hyun Bin (42) expressed that he had no reservations about portraying the role of Ahn Jung-geun, a prominent figure in Korean history, in the upcoming action film 'Harbin' (directed by Woo Min-ho). In an interview on December 19, he reflected on the challenges of embodying the character, stating, "This has been the most difficult project I've worked on, both mentally and physically. After filming, many people commented on how tough it must have been for me. Honestly, it wasn't physically exhausting, but the mental strain was significant, which made me forget about the physical challenges. The pressure and weight of representing General Ahn Jung-geun were immense, and the journey to understand him was quite lonely and difficult. I felt the power of the locations we filmed in."

Hyun Bin elaborated on his approach to the character, saying, "Initially, I focused on whether Ahn, as an independence fighter, felt any fear before his mission. I wondered if he ever regretted his choices or felt remorse when conflicts arose among his comrades. I think I began my portrayal of General Ahn with these questions in mind. I contemplated how to express these emotions effectively. There’s a scene where he sits in a dark corner, and I felt that entering the set would allow me to convey Ahn's feelings. The burden of this role stayed with me until the end, and it still lingers."

Regarding his status as a 'Hallyu star,' Hyun Bin noted that there were concerns from those around him about his participation in 'Harbin.' However, he emphasized the importance of the film, stating, "This film reflects our painful history, which should not be forgotten. It’s a country that has helped me establish my career as an actor. I am grateful for the opportunity to portray such a role, so I had no doubts about being a Hallyu star. In fact, I was once approached by a Japanese production to play Ahn Jung-geun in a film they were making."

'Harbin' is set in 1909 and depicts the intense pursuit and suspicion between those heading to Harbin for a common purpose and those chasing them. The film features a star-studded cast, including Park Jung-min, Jo Woo-jin, Jeon Yeo-bin, Park Hoon, Yoo Jae-myung, and Lee Dong-wook, and is directed by Woo Min-ho, known for 'The Drug King' and 'The Man Standing Next.' The film is scheduled for release on December 24.