Kim Woo Bin interview with The Fact to discuss Officer Black Belt.
For actor Kim Woo-bin, Officer Black Belt opened up a whole new world. It allowed him to explore a profession he previously knew little about and discover a new side of himself. Portraying a 9th-degree black belt in martial arts required significant effort in mastering action scenes, but Kim emphasized that his main focus was on conveying the characters’ emotions. He believes that while thrilling action is captivating, the heart of the story lies in the characters’ journeys.
Recently, Kim Woo-bin sat down with The Fact at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to discuss the Netflix film Officer Black Belt. Playing the role of Lee Jeong-do, he shared his initial anxieties after the film’s release. “I tried not to look at the results, but I ended up peeking. I’m truly grateful that many people enjoyed it,” he said.
Officer Black Belt tells the story of Lee Jeong-do (Kim Woo-bin), a 9th-degree black belt in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, who works alongside probation officer Kim Sun-min (Kim Sung-kyun) as a “martial arts officer.” This role involves closely monitoring individuals under electronic surveillance to prevent crime. The film premiered on Netflix on the 13th.
The narrative shines a light on the often-overlooked roles of martial arts officers and probation officers. Kim Woo-bin admitted he was largely unaware of these crucial professions before taking on the role. “I felt embarrassed not knowing about these remarkable individuals around me. Thanks to them, we live in a safer world. After reading the script, I expressed to the director my desire to raise awareness about their work, and he was on board. I thought that if I poured my heart into this project with the director, we could create something meaningful.”
As Lee Jeong-do, Kim Woo-bin portrays a passionate young man who aspires to be a dance instructor. Jeong-do’s life takes a turn when he meets Kim Sun-min, who recognizes his extraordinary talents. When Sun-min first suggests the role of a martial arts officer, Jeong-do innocently asks, “Is it fun?” Sun-min assures him it’s fulfilling, but Jeong-do’s curiosity reveals his naivety. After some reflection and encouragement from his friends and father, he takes the plunge into this new career.
As he delves deeper into his role, Jeong-do realizes the mission behind his job and begins to find fulfillment in preventing crime. Kim Woo-bin dedicated considerable effort to portraying this evolution convincingly. “I thought if I came off too serious from the start, it would be hard to showcase Jeong-do’s growth. I aimed to reflect his emotions as they were described in the script. Jeong-do is someone who enjoys life, starting his new job with a light-hearted attitude, but he gradually learns the significance of his work and finds fulfillment in it. I wanted to highlight that journey.”
While focusing on Jeong-do’s character development, Kim Woo-bin also needed to hone his martial arts skills. Given that Jeong-do is an expert in multiple disciplines, he felt the pressure of living up to such high standards. “I trained in Taekwondo, Judo, and Kendo for three to four hours a day with the action director. On days when I couldn’t hit the gym, I practiced during filming. It was demanding, but I didn’t see this as purely an action film. I approached it as a drama, prioritizing emotional depth during the action scenes. Luckily, I didn’t have to emphasize my martial arts skills constantly; I focused on the details within each setup, and I enjoyed that aspect of the process.”
As he immersed himself in the role, Kim Woo-bin wanted to ensure that Jeong-do’s daily life reflected humor and relatability. Although not explicitly stated in the script, he imagined Jeong-do, born in 1995, having enjoyed the film New World, leading him to imitate Hwang Jung-min’s iconic line during a fight scene. He also crafted a moment where Jeong-do, having made mistakes early on, comically fumbled with the Miranda Rule while apprehending a criminal, capturing his character’s growth.
Kim Woo-bin articulated the complexity of portraying a character who evolves from boredom to excitement and, ultimately, a deep sense of professional calling. Viewers praised his ability to unveil a new facet of his talent through Officer Black Belt. With a smile, he expressed his gratitude: “Thank you.”
“I believe sincerity is key in acting. Creating a new character demands that focus. I approached filming by emphasizing Jeong-do’s emotions and changes at each moment. I aimed to convey those feelings authentically to the audience, prioritizing emotion over movement in the action sequences. I hoped the sincerity of Jeong-do’s experiences would resonate with viewers,” he shared.
The film has resonated with audiences, telling the story of an everyday hero dedicated to keeping citizens safe in an often unseen capacity. Since its release, Officer Black Belt has garnered 8.3 million viewers in just three days and has ranked first in the Global Top 10 Movies (Non-English), capturing the attention of viewers in 58 countries, including Brazil, France, Germany, and Japan.
Reflecting on this success, Kim Woo-bin said, “I want to live faithfully every day and find happiness in the process. I didn’t find it hard to connect with Jeong-do because emotions came first in my action scenes. The thoughts and feelings behind the film were paramount, and I aimed to express them fully.”
As he navigated this new realm through the film, Kim Woo-bin found himself contemplating the unsung heroes in everyday life. “There are so many heroes hidden in our daily lives that I feel I’ve overlooked. I’ll continue to remind myself to be grateful for them.”
He concluded, “Officer Black Belt is both fun and meaningful. It sheds light on the work of martial arts officers, a role we don’t often hear about. I hope people pay more attention to the stories of the heroes operating in the background of our lives.”
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