[Sportschosun Jo Ji-young reporter] Jin Seon-kyu and Gong Myung, the duo from 'Extreme Job' that drew praise from 16.26 million viewers, are teaming up once again for another round of sharp comedy.
On the morning of the 15th, a production briefing for the Netflix film 'Husbands in Action' (directed by Park Gyutae and produced by TPS Company) was held at The Ambassador Seoul - A Pullman Hotel in Jung District, Seoul. Attending the event were Jin Seon-kyu, who plays Chungsik, the former husband of Sinae (Kang Han-na) and an ace in the narcotics unit; Gong Myung, who plays Minsuk, Sinae's current husband and a young, handsome veterinarian; Kim Ji-seok, who plays Dojun, the leader of a new drug syndicate; Yoon Kyung-ho, who plays Yonggang, another gang boss trying to reclaim his territory from Dojun; Kang Han-na, who plays Sinae, a woman kidnapped by the drug ring; Lee Da-hee, who plays Hyeran, who stages the kidnapping to get her husband Dojun back; Jeon So-min, who plays Ara, a social affairs reporter trailing Chungsik in hopes of a scoop; and director Park Gyutae.
'Husbands in Action' is a comic action film about a former husband and a current husband who reluctantly join forces to rescue a wife kidnapped by a criminal organization. The film promises intense comedic chemistry as characters with ironic relationships collide, including ex-husband and current husband, detective and criminal, and gang bosses from different generations.
In particular, 'Husbands in Action' is expected to raise the fun factor with nonstop banter and clashing chemistry between Jin Seon-kyu and Gong Myung, who earned recognition for their comedic ensemble in the 2019 film 'Extreme Job.' With Kim Ji-seok, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Han-na, Lee Da-hee, and Jeon So-min also joining the cast, the film is drawing attention for the wide range of chemistry it is expected to showcase.
That day, Jin Seon-kyu said, "I read the script carefully, and I kept finding myself saying the lines out loud as I read. It sparked a fun imagination, and I decided to take the role because I wanted to work with these actors." Gong Myung added, "It meant a lot to be able to work with Seon-kyu hyung again after 'Extreme Job.' It was a project I had no reason to turn down."
Jin Seon-kyu then said with a laugh, "In the meantime, Myung had grown a lot. In terms of time and depth, I felt our trust had become even stronger. Even when I acted differently each time, he responded so well that the whole production seemed to flow organically. I had no worries that it would feel similar to 'Extreme Job.' It is a completely new story. It felt like starting over from the beginning, and that beginning was incredibly fun. Sharing ideas can sometimes be delicate, but Myung really accepted everything. Our chemistry was excellent, and it was truly enjoyable to talk on set." Gong Myung also expressed his affection, saying, "Every time I went to the set of 'Husbands in Action,' I felt happy. The time I spent with Seon-kyu hyung gave me a feeling I can't put into words. I was so happy that even a minute and a second felt precious. I also had no concerns about 'Extreme Job.' As we prepared together while looking at the script, I think we kept coming up with ideas on how to make it even more entertaining."
Kim Ji-seok said he chose the project because of director Park Gyutae's ability to handle action and comedy with a style all his own. "The title is simple, but it made me curious about what kind of story it would tell," he said. Yoon Kyung-ho noted, "When I think of director Park Gyutae, I think of someone who makes comedy that cuts across the times. Even in the script for 'Husbands in Action,' the perfectly timed lines stood out. The actors in the cast are people I had never worked with before. I wondered how fun it would be to bring together actors with such different colors. My character, in particular, doesn't mix well, like oil in water. That was appealing to me."
Kang Han-na said, "I found myself laughing while reading the script for 'Husbands in Action.' The cast is so diverse that I really wanted to be part of it. Working with Jin Seon-kyu and Gong Myung, I think we showed both love-hate chemistry and playful chemistry at the same time." Lee Da-hee explained, "The story of 'Husbands in Action' was appealing, and I decided to join after enjoying director Park Gyutae's previous film '6/45.'" Jeon So-min added, "The ironic setup of 'Husbands in Action' was so entertaining, and seeing the members involved made it seem like it would be perfect. I read the script in one sitting and made the impulsive decision to join."
Director Park Gyutae explained the title, saying, "If you combine the former husband and the current husband, you get two husbands. Even the pronunciation is not easy, so we chose the title 'Husbands in Action.' Three-syllable titles have done well at the box office. We hope to continue the lucky streak of three-syllable hits like 'Parasite,' 'The Thieves,' and 'Veteran.'"
He added, "I focused on situational comedy that arises from the clash of ironic groups, and 'Husbands in Action' also builds that kind of setup with the former husband and the current husband. What makes it different is the addition of exhilarating action. We wanted to expand it into a family action comedy through a joint effort to save the family. We covered action on land, at sea, and in the air. Just looking at the action, it's like 'Mission: Impossible.' We worked hard to capture the variety of action, as well as the expressions and emotions of the actors performing it."
He went on to say, "I've been told that I am lucky when it comes to actors. Casting is really difficult. Even when there is an actor I want, it is not easy to get them to join a project. I think casting is a matter of energy, and aren't they all really great actors? I am happy that the actors I wanted all came on board, as if heaven helped us."
'Husbands in Action' stars Jin Seon-kyu, Gong Myung, Kim Ji-seok, Yoon Kyung-ho, Kang Han-na, Lee Da-hee, and Jeon So-min, with Park Gyutae of '6/45' directing. It will be released on Netflix on the 19th.
Jo Ji-young, reporter, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
