Fresh off its global Netflix premiere last month, Husbands in Action has won over audiences with its exciting blend of action, comedy, and heart. Among the film’s leading stars is Jin Sun-kyu, who plays Choong-sik, a determined detective caught up in the film’s action-packed adventure, delivering plenty of laughs and memorable moments along the way.

We caught up with Jin Sun-kyu for an exclusive interview to discuss bringing Choong-sik to life and what’s next in his career. Read on to find out what he had to share!

Q: What drew you to join Husbands in Action and made you want to be part of this project?

Jin Sun-kyu: I‘m a big fan of the director’s previous film, 6/45. Ever since then I had a good impression of his work and wanted to work with him. So when the offer for Husbands in Action came, the premise struck me as genuinely fresh – an ex-husband and a current husband moving together to save their family – and I was drawn to the comedy that comes out of the dialogue and the situations. The moment I read the script, I knew I wanted to do it.

Q: The film is filled with bold comedic energy and memorable scenes. Looking back at filming, were there any behind-the-scenes moments with the cast that really stood out for you, such as the toe scene with Gong Myung?

Jin Sun-kyu: It has to be that cold-storage scene, right? The one where Choong-sik and Min-seok are locked in a cold-storage room and have to tear a bag open with their toes. It was funny just reading it on the page, and shooting it left an impression too. It’s the kind of scene that could easily come off as uncomfortable or too much, but Gong Myoung and I had years of rhythm and trust behind us, so neither of us hesitated. Having that trust is what let us go bolder with it, and make it funnier.

Q: You previously worked with Gong Myung in Extreme Jobs. How would you describe your dynamic together in this film, and how has it evolved since then?

Jin Sun-kyu: It’s been a long time since we filmed Extreme Job, and I felt we’d both grown a good deal and gotten deeper as actors. We’d already found our rhythm once before, so the give-and-take came naturally on this one too. The time we spent talking things through and pushing ourselves to make a good film and good scenes was a real pleasure, and as an actor, I was grateful to share the screen with him again.

Q: What was the biggest difference or challenge you experienced when comparing Extreme Job and Husbands in Action?

Jin Sun-kyu: On Extreme Job, what mattered was the rhythm and the comedy built inside a single team. On Husbands in Action, what mattered was the tension and comedy that come from an ex-husband and a current husband – two men who really shouldn’t be meeting – getting tangled up whether they like it or not. And this one had to hold not just action and comedy but the feeling toward family as well, so striking that balance was the biggest difference and the biggest challenge. Personally, I’m also noticing I’m not getting any younger, so the action scenes weren’t easy either.

Q: In emotionally intense scenes, such as Choong-sik’s mission to rescue his daughter and ex-wife, the film blends comedy, action, and emotion. How did you approach balancing those tones as an actor?

Jin Sun-kyu: I thought the greatest strength of this film was, in the end, love for family. Even inside that slightly unusual, slightly awkward relationship between an ex-husband and a current husband, they wind up moving together on one shared wish – to protect their family. So rather than pushing only the comedy or the action, I tried not to lose Choong-sik’s sincerity. I thought you had to feel his love for his family even in the middle of the funny situations, and because that emotion sat at the center, I think the different tones could blend together naturally.

Q: Was there a scene that looked very serious on screen but was actually extremely difficult not to laugh through while filming?

Jin Sun-kyu: The blood-transfusion scene with Kim Ji-seok really stays with me. On screen it’s a scene that has to play out seriously, but on set the situation itself was so funny that holding back the laughter was hard. The actors were all so easy with each other, rolling with whatever came – so even inside a serious scene, this cheerful energy kept building on its own.

Q: Now that Husbands in Action is out and audiences around the world have started watching it on Netflix, what kind of reactions have stood out to you so far?

Jin Sun-kyu: I was grateful for the responses saying the comedy and the action were fun. But the ones that stayed with me most were from people who also felt the love for family inside it. The setup of an ex-husband and a current husband saving their family together is a little unusual, and I was thankful that viewers enjoyed that relationship while still connecting, in the end, with the love underneath it. It’s a wonder to me, and it makes me happy, that audiences in all these different countries are feeling the same thing.

Q: The film has also been reaching audiences in Singapore. Do you have a message for your Singapore fans who are watching Husbands in Action?

Jin Sun-kyu: I’m truly grateful to hear that fans in Singapore have been taking an interest in Husbands in Action. We’re in different places, but being able to connect like this, through a film, makes me happy. I hope you have fun with the comedy and the action, and that you also feel the love for family sitting at the heart of it. I look forward to greeting you again with films that hopefully make you cry tears of laughter and warmth. Thank you so much again for your love and support.

Q: Looking ahead, are there any genres or types of roles you would like to explore in your future projects?

Jin Sun-kyu: Romance. I’d love for the opportunity at a love story. I’ve played a lot of genres and a lot of characters so far, but I think there’s still plenty I haven’t shown. I want to keep enjoying that process of erasing myself and turning into someone new, and keep going after roles that let me show audiences another face.

Stream Husbands in Action on Neflix now!

We would like to thank L’July Entertainment for the opportunity for this interview!

Photo courtesy: Netflix