Jin Seon-kyu on Reuniting With Gong Myung in New Comedy 'Husbands in Action'

Korean actor Jin Seon-kyu does not chase trends. Rather than rowing hard the moment the tide comes in, he prefers to study the map first. Rather than racing ahead alone, he tries to build a bigger boat so his fellow actors can ride along. Now in his 23rd year moving between the stage and the screen, he says he still learns from younger actors and still grows on the theater stage.

"Acting has its own trends and currents too," he said. "Instead of just sticking to my own pattern, I want to do the kind of acting that different generations are doing. Even when I'm in a play, I learn a lot by watching the younger actors. A project doesn't succeed just because one person does well."

That mindset shapes his return to comedy in the new film "Husbands in Action," directed by Park Gyu-tae. The action comedy follows an ex-husband and a current husband who join forces to rescue the woman they both married after she is kidnapped by a crime organization. Jin plays Chung-sik, a narcotics detective and the ex-husband of Si-nae, played by Kang Han-na.

Attention naturally followed the project. Seven years ago, Jin starred in "Extreme Job," directed by Lee Byung-hun, which became one of the biggest box office hits in Korean film history. That earlier success was not purely a tailwind during preparation. It also brought comparisons and heavy expectations. Jin said he accepted that as unavoidable, but worked to set the pressure aside.

"I think 'Husbands in Action' has its own clear style and story," he said. "Audiences might walk in expecting it to be funnier than 'Extreme Job,' but I focused on the acting and character that fit this film. I tried hard to shake off the pressure."

Even with that effort, some viewers have pointed to weaknesses in the direction and story logic, calling parts of the film a letdown. During the interview, the conversation kept drifting away from "Husbands in Action" itself and back to "Extreme Job," and to stories about Gong Myung, his co-star in both films. Reuniting with Gong Myung seven years later, Jin said the simple fact that they were working together again raised his excitement. He added that he would always want to work with the actors from "Extreme Job" again if they were part of a project.

"Working with Gong Myung on this film, we got much closer than we were seven years ago," he said. "He's now one of the few actors I'd call a real close friend. On set, when one of us had an idea while running a scene, we shared it right away and put it into the acting fast. It was easy. Haha."

Jin has built his presence through major roles in films and dramas, but he still returns to the theater stage where his career began. He described theater simply as "something I don't want to let go of." There was a firmness in his voice.

"With theater, you have a long preparation time," he said. "During that time, you have many chances to talk with each other about the acting. With screen work, you don't trade feedback as much. Most of the time, you have to think through your role on your own and just show it. So I feel like my acting gets stronger through stage work. That's why I can't give up the stage. And I don't want to."

Now in his 22nd year since debut, Jin looked back on the time he spent learning by watching senior actors. He said he now wants fresh inspiration from working with younger actors. He named Lee Do-hyun and Park Jihoon as actors he would like to share a scene with. By coincidence, "The King's Warden" (Wanggwa Saneun Namja), directed by Jang Hang-jun, in which Park Jihoon played King Danjong, took the No. 2 spot on the all-time Korean box office chart, the position previously held by "Extreme Job." Even so, Jin said he would like to feel Park Jihoon's intense gaze up close.

"I want to be an actor who grows bigger and wider as time passes," he said. "Up to now, I've met a lot of great actors my own age. From here on, I want to work with younger actors too. I'm curious about how younger directors think, as well. And someday, when I'm ready, I want to row hard one good time."