On September 19, Kim Woo Bin held an interview for Netflix’s Officer Black Belt.
The motion movie tells the story of Lee Jung Do (Kim Woo Bin), a 3rd dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, working with probation officer Kim Solar Min (Kim Sung Kyun) to observe digital anklet wearers 24/7 to stop crimes.
Kim Woo Bin talked about that he first discovered in regards to the occupation of martial arts officer for the primary time by way of this movie. “From the second I first learn the script, I discovered it intriguing. I might really feel the director’s want to unfold consciousness about this occupation, and that made me need to tackle the position. It allowed me to study in regards to the real-life heroes we do not usually hear about.”
Kim Woo Bin additionally shared his expertise assembly real-life martial arts officers. He mentioned, “I visited a probation workplace to fulfill them. I discovered how they work, what digital monitoring bracelets appear like, and the way they reply to conditions. They confirmed me bodycam footage, advised tales, and answered my questions. It [their work] is far tougher than I had imagined. I even questioned if I might deal with it [if I was a martial arts officer]. They’re really exceptional heroes.”
Relating to the distinction between the thrilling motion depicted within the movie and actual life, Kim Woo Bin defined, “In actual life, there is not any harsh violence concerned. They attempt to tolerate as a lot as attainable when coping with their topics, and that is the toughest half. Listening to about this made me query whether or not I might have that sort of tolerance.”
Kim Woo Bin additionally mentioned, “It is a film that additionally offers with the topic of little one intercourse offenders. Despite the fact that it was simply performing, coping with it was fairly disturbing. Due to this, I didn’t work together a lot with Lee Hyun Kul, who performed Kang Gi Jeong, throughout filming. Though it was simply performing, it felt very actual in the second, so it was exhausting to get emotionally concerned. Consequently, I did not develop into very shut with Hyun Kul. I really need to say, ‘Hyung, I such as you.’ I heard that Hyun Kul gained 20 kg for this position. He has a lot muscle mass, and he is about the identical top as me. His energy was so spectacular that it was exhausting to deal with him throughout motion scenes. We labored collectively on the drama The Heirs ten years in the past and briefly in Alienoid: Return to the Future, however I did not know him nicely from these initiatives as a result of we did not movie collectively.”
Greater than motion, Kim Woo Bin centered on a distinct facet of the Ok-movie. “I believed that a very powerful facet of this story was Jeong Do’s emotional and psychological adjustments. Despite the fact that it is an motion movie, motion got here second to me. I believed the refined emotional adjustments Jeong Do experiences have been essential, so I approached the style as extra of a drama. I wished to successfully convey to the viewers the adjustments [the character undergoes] I had learn within the script.”
However, that does not imply the Black Knight actor spared effort in his motion scenes. Kim Woo Bin devoted himself to common train to painting a personality who has achieved a Ninth-dan in martial arts.
The actor talked about his efforts: “Our martial arts director is expert in varied martial arts and has practiced Kendo for a very long time, so he personally taught me. I discovered taekwondo, judo, and kendo for an hour every, identical to going to high school or an academy. On days after I did not go to the health club, I educated at dwelling alone. On days I didn’t go to the health club, I practiced at dwelling. I purchased a sandbag taller than my top and practiced for 3 hours by kicking it. It will be troublesome if I attempted now, however by specializing in the choreography and obligatory strikes throughout filming, I used to be capable of handle it.”
Smiling, he admitted, “To be sincere, I do not notably get pleasure from bodily actions. However since I am somebody who tries my finest in what I do, I labored exhausting alongside the group. Even after I hit clumsily, the martial arts group accepted them nicely.”
For the position of Lee Jeong Do, Kim Woo Bin gained 8 kg and even dyed his hair for the primary time. He shared, “I felt that my physique and aura wanted to exude energy at a look. So, I advised the director that I might achieve about 7-8 kg for the position.” “On the time, I weighed about 75 kg. The heaviest I’ve ever weighed in my life was 81 kg. So I wished to achieve greater than that. So I believed 83 kg could be sufficient.”
“The character would not have a chiseled physique and is an individual who enjoys life and eats loads, like a rooster store proprietor’s son. So, I wished to have some physique fats and seem chubby.”
Kim Woo Bin continued, “The job of a martial arts officer is admittedly powerful. As Lee Jeong Do works by way of the job, he hardens his resolve, and because the work is so demanding, I believed it could be pure to shed some pounds. So I misplaced about 3-4 kg throughout filming. Fortuitously, the director likes taking pictures in chronological order, so adjusting to that wasn’t troublesome.”
About his expertise filming the motion scenes in Officer Black Belt, Kim Woo Bin remarked, “When filming motion scenes, whether or not they’re huge or small, I believe the concept of not getting harm in any respect to be a little bit of my greed. Due to this fact, if bones aren’t damaged and it is simply ligaments stretching, I do not see it as an harm and may endure that degree of discomfort.” “So by my requirements, I did not get injured. Since I dedicated to doing motion scenes, I am prepared to endure that degree of discomfort.”
Viewers additionally obtained to see Kim Woo Bin in bleached hair for the primary time. “I bleached my hair as a result of the character is somebody who merely pursues happiness and enjoyable. When Solar Jeong (Kim Ji Younger) instructed, ‘Why don’t you bleach your hair in a lightweight coloration?’ I believed it could be enjoyable to try this.” “At the moment, I was questioning what sort of hairdos individuals of their 20s and 30s usually have. I discovered that extra individuals, than I believed, have been really bleaching their hair, so it wasn’t as particular to others because it was to me. Due to this fact, I made a decision to problem myself with a brand new look and thought it may be attention-grabbing to indicate a aspect of myself that I hadn’t beforehand proven, and the director preferred the concept.”
Kim Woo Bin was recognized with nasopharyngeal most cancers in 2017. He then took a break from performing for 2 years and 6 months to give attention to his remedy and restoration.
Speaking about how he endured the troublesome time, on Shin Dong Yeop’s YouTube channel, Kim Woo Bin mentioned, “I am really a optimistic individual. I am the kind of one who finds the perfect in any scenario,” and, “It was identical to a scene from dramas. When the docs advised me, ‘At finest, you might have six months,’ it was surprising and scary, and I needed it have been a dream. Nevertheless, I by no means as soon as thought, ‘What if I am unable to overcome this?'”
“In fact, I did not instantly assume this fashion, however I handled it as a possibility and pulled myself collectively. Having been busy for over ten years since my debut, I believed, ‘Possibly the heavens gave me this time to replicate and spend time with my household.'”
He additional talked about, “So many individuals supported and prayed for me simply because I am well-known.” “Due to that assist and people prayers, I really feel like I recovered shortly.” “Retaining this gratitude and passing it on seems like a mission to me. That is why I categorical it extra. Particularly expressing it to my dad and mom requires numerous braveness.”
In the course of the interview with the reporters, reflecting on his way of living, he shared, “Till a couple of years in the past, I all the time lived centered on the long run. I used to push myself exhausting, considering, ‘I will be a greater actor in 10 years; I’ve to work tougher; I will have a greater physique subsequent week, so I will work tougher at present; I have to movie this scene nicely tomorrow, so I will skip sleep at present.’ In fact, such experiences have contributed to who I’m now, however trying again, I remorse not having fun with every day extra. I saved considering solely in regards to the future, saying to myself, ‘I will be individual; I will be actor. Why am I sleeping?’ I actually lived like that.”
“Previously, when filming dramas, I used to remain up all night time 4-5 days per week. I used to be very sharp again then. If I might sleep for 3 hours, I would sleep for 1 hour and spend 2 hours figuring out.”
“I overworked myself like that, however now, I really feel sorry for myself. My mindset appears to be altering these days.” When requested if these adjustments took place throughout his interval of sickness, he replied, “Throughout that point, I had numerous time to assume.”
“Now, I attempt to stay every day nicely. One of many methods I apply that is by making an effort to have a look at the faces of the individuals I am speaking to. Typically, even after spending hours with somebody, I am unable to bear in mind what they have been sporting. Focusing solely on the individual I am with makes me really feel like I am dwelling within the second higher and I really feel happier. I am in search of that sort of happiness.”