Lee Sang-soon and Lee Hyori Praise 'Harbin' and Hyun Bin's Performance

On January 13, during the MBC radio show 'A Perfect Day with Lee Sang-soon', singer Lee Sang-soon and his wife, Lee Hyori, shared their enthusiastic reviews of the film 'Harbin', which stars Hyun Bin and is directed by Woo Min-ho. The couple discussed their thoughts on the film in a segment called 'Sharing Tastes' with DJ Lee Sang-soon.

Lee Sang-soon expressed his admiration for 'Harbin', stating, "I watched the movie with my wife, and it was such a great film. It was entertaining and had a meaningful story. I felt it was a film that is very much needed in this era." He humorously added that after watching, his wife remarked, "A man looks good in a coat," leading him to order a coat the next day.

He also mentioned that the film recently surpassed 4 million viewers, crediting his own efforts as he took three friends to see it. Lee Sang-soon particularly praised the film's basis in true events. Director Woo Min-ho explained that he aimed to explore different narrative threads, similar to his previous work 'The Man Standing Next', by creating fictional characters to highlight the dilemmas faced by historical figures like General Ahn Jung-geun.

Hyun Bin, who plays General Ahn, shared the pressure of portraying a real person, noting, "It's not easy for an actor to play a historical figure because everyone has their own perceptions of that person. There are existing facts to consider, making it challenging to align with them." He emphasized the extensive research he conducted to prepare for the role, collaborating closely with the director.

Director Woo Min-ho recounted how he pursued Hyun Bin for the role, saying, "Hyun Bin kept avoiding me. I really wanted to meet him, regardless of whether he would take the role. When I first saw him, I was struck by his presence. He has a unique aura, and I was amazed by his looks and the depth in his eyes. I wanted to capture the human side of the hero Ahn Jung-geun, showing his struggles and fears."

Woo Min-ho also expressed his joy when viewers compliment the actors, particularly noting that Hyun Bin performed his stunts without a body double. Hyun Bin explained that performing his own stunts allows the camera to capture more authentic emotions, although he did sustain a back injury during a challenging scene.

Filming in extreme cold conditions, Hyun Bin humorously mentioned that his first thought after shooting was to enjoy a cold beer, as it would chill quickly outside. He also discussed the film's smoking scenes, revealing that actual smokers used real cigarettes while non-smokers used herbal ones. He noted that many independence activists of that era smoked to cope with their anxieties about the uncertain future.

Lee Sang-soon concluded by encouraging more people to watch the film, emphasizing its historical significance and the emotional struggles depicted within it. 'Harbin' portrays the intense pursuit and suspicion between those heading to Harbin for a common goal and those chasing them, set in 1909. The film was released on December 24 and is currently showing in theaters nationwide.