Moving Forward with Enjoyment

Joo Jong-hyuk (32), who has become familiar to the public through dramas like D.P. and Extraordinary Attorney Woo. This time, he fascinates audiences with a new charm in his first lead role in the film Iron Mask. Iron Mask is a film in which a new director from Korea Film Academy (KAFA) brought out the taste of kendo with excellent cinematography and sound, and is attracting attention by winning several awards at home and abroad. Iron Mask, Joo Jong-hyuk takes on the role of Jae-woo, who has confined himself to the past due to his older brother's death in childhood. We talked with Joo Jong-hyuk, who carved Iron Mask in detail. 

Joo Jong-hyuk (Photo: Choi Seong-yeol for Cine21)

How did you analyze Kim Jae-woo character when you first received the movie Iron Mask scenario. 

Jae-woo is a very pitiful character. He has never freely expressed his emotions even once. That's the essence of Iron Mask. In reality, I couldn't even breathe properly while portraying Jae-woo. The moment I exhaled my breath well, I felt that what I had built for Jae-woo was collapsing. Observing Jae-woo's patience and silence, enduring everything toward the final destination, made me want to participate in this project. I felt sorry for Jae-woo and was curious. Above all, the theme of kendo was fresh to me. Until then, kendo was an unknown territory for me. There was a lot to learn, such as specialized terminology and detailed postures. It turned out that Director Kim Sung-hwan learned kendo when he was young.

The movie depicts Jae-woo's journey in the selection process for the national kendo team. You trained for two months to acquire skills matching Jae-woo's kendo level.

At first, I thought it would be easy. (laughs) I was confident because I liked sports so much, and for some reason, I had a preconceived notion that kendo was a static exercise. However, it turned out to be the opposite. I had to move my body quickly, and I even got injured in the process. Kendo emphasizes the attitude and mental battle when facing the opponent. You also need to shout loudly, and it almost sounds like tigers roaring. In sports, your skills are revealed as you accumulate experience, so pulling up to the level of participating in the national team selection in just a couple of months had its limitations. That's why I visited Yong In University. I observed how students practiced, their habits, and postures by attending classes. I referred to those observations a lot while acting. It's more of an imitation, but it's been a great help.

What charm did you discover about kendo after trying it yourself?

After dynamic exercise, everyone gathers for meditation. Until then, I didn't know how to meditate properly. Whenever I tried meditation, I ended up falling asleep. (laughs) But through meditation in kendo, I could calm my anxious mind. Kendo features this fascinating aspect of having two very different sides. The manners between the players are also based on respect and consideration for the opponent. I want to keep doing kendo as a hobby.

Jae-woo experiences various emotions. He shows sadness after losing his older brother in childhood and displays a sense of inferiority during the national team selection. He also expresses anger and resentment towards Tae-su. However, the film does not directly reveal or express these emotions. What considerations did you have in these aspects?

Iron Mask is not a movie with many lines. So, I tried to rely on non-verbal expressions a lot, especially using the eyes. I attempted to compress emotional changes with gazes and eye expressions. However, it wasn't an easy process. There is a scene where Jae-woo reveals his emotions for the first and last time. It was a scene facing the end of his father, and the director at the time directed me to cry like a child. After going through that scene multiple times, I ended up crying with all my energy depleted, and the director liked that. Jae-woo's feelings seem to be revealed in that way. It appears to be a detour rather than a direct one, and appears to be the edge rather than the center.

Kim Jae-woo and Joo Jong-hyuk share a commonality in breaking through high competition rates. In 2019, you broke through a competition rate of 700:1, and received the highest score in the Kakao M Actors unified audition by Kakao Entertainment Management.

If there's a difference between us, it's that I found the audition very interesting and enjoyable. I didn't have a strong desire to rank high or desperately pass. I just wanted to be evaluated by others and found it fascinating to hear such feedback. Until then, I had no experience or learning in acting, so the audition felt like a form of study. On the contrary, Jae-woo seems impatient, because he has a strong desire for recognition. He makes some unusual mistakes during the national team selection. However, both of us seem to share the commonality of doing the best we can in our respective positions.

Your role as Kwon Min-woo in the drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo left a lasting impression on the public. What changes have occurred in yourself since then?

I've become more ambitious. Just 3 or 4 years ago, I had no idea that I would be acting in commercial films, dramas, and other media. I couldn't even imagine it. There was a time when I applied for indie film auditions and was excited to work if I passed. I was satisfied and happy with just that. However, now, encountering various opportunities has given me the motivation to live more diligently. I get inspired by people who act freely with their own colors. So, I want to do better. I want to keep moving forward without stopping.

It's known that you have various hobbies like golf and futsal. When not working, what are you currently interested in?

These days, I play in a band with friends. Actor Park Sung-jun is the lead vocalist, and I play the bass. Our goal is to hold a performance in January next year. Actually, a proposal came in this year to have a band performance at a film festival, but our skills weren't solid enough to proceed, which was disappointing. Next year, I definitely want to stand on stage.

by Lee Ja-yeon