[Sportschosun reporter Jo Ji-young] Actor Kim Jae-joong, who returned to the screen after a remarkable 14 years, surprised audiences in Korea and Japan with a bold new concept.
Kim Jae-joong plays Myeong-jin, a shaman who investigates the identity of an evil spirit in the Korea-Japan co-produced occult horror film The Shrine: Whisper of Evil (hereinafter The Shrine, directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri and produced by Mystery Pictures). He met with Sportschosun on the afternoon of the 16th in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, and spoke about how he joined the film and the passion he poured into the project.
The Shrine follows the story of three college students who disappear after visiting a deserted shrine in Kobe, Japan, as a shaman investigates the case and confronts a strange evil spirit. Blending the eerie atmosphere typical of Japanese horror with elements of Korean shamanism, the film has made its theatrical debut.
In particular, Kim Jae-joong, who stars in The Shrine, drew major attention as he returned to the screen for the first time in 14 years since the 2012 film Code Name: Jackal, directed by Oh Sang-ho. In The Shrine, he transforms into a shaman with special abilities and takes on the shamanic occult horror genre for the first time in his career. With restrained charisma, expressive eyes, and controlled breathing alone, he heightens the tension and is expected to captivate viewers with an immersive performance.
That day, Kim Jae-joong said, "I filmed a movie after a long time, and because it was a new genre for me, I approached it with a very serious mindset. I was drawn to this project because it was a Korea-Japan collaboration. It had a Japanese director and crew, and it was originally planned as an all-location shoot in Japan. But Korean production funding was also involved, and Korean actors were cast, which made it a unique project that I thought would stand out. The screenplay was written in Japan, but it had to be adapted for Korean actors, so I was curious about how it would change." He added, "When I first received the script, I was drawn to the fact that Myeong-jin had both cheerfulness and darkness, so I jumped at it. But as revisions went on, that charm gradually disappeared, and I was a little disappointed by that."
He continued, "I find extremely handsome characters, the so-called department head, director, or chaebol son types, a bit burdensome. I wanted to play someone more casual, someone who could exist in everyday life around us. I thought that kind of character could create empathy with audiences. That is why I liked Myeong-jin so much at the beginning. But that color was taken out. Of course, while discussing the character with Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, the director convinced me, but it was difficult at first."
He also spoke candidly about his appearance. "Honestly, my looks often feel like a handicap now, but I think they are a very strong selling point for fans. I have benefited a lot from being good-looking. But as Kim Jae-joong the person, it feels like my appearance has also given me homework, because I have to work even harder. Some people may think, 'He's a nice-looking pick, but what functional value does he have to match that visual?' So I worried a lot, and I think I have had no choice but to keep working hard throughout my life."
"I was born with a natural charm, or maybe I just have a naturally easygoing personality. I am still the same boy who grew up in the provinces. But from my teens, people had prejudices about the way I looked. It may have been different depending on the era, but back when I first debuted, people would insult me, saying, 'Why is that man's face so white?' or 'Why are his lips so red?' So I tried to approach people first and make them laugh. I still wonder whether there is prejudice against my looks, but I am trying hard to come across as friendly."
His approach to playing the unconventional shaman was equally firm. Kim Jae-joong said, "At first, the very idea of playing a shaman was extremely difficult. Korean audiences already have a traditional image of what a shaman should look like, don't they? There are many documentaries about shamans, so there were reference points, but The Shrine had none of the traditional elements of a shaman. Since the director is Japanese, I wondered whether he did not fully understand or study shamans. I think Kazuyoshi Kumakiri wanted to borrow certain aspects of Korean shamanism for this film. He seemed to want to portray a dark Korean shamanic hero. Rather than the shaman we usually know, I think he wanted to create a dark hero with a more casual spiritual gift."
Kim Jae-joong said the atmosphere on set was also chilling. "It was so scary that I could feel the cold even on set. That made me curious about how it would come across on screen. I was in a lot of pain during filming too. Maybe it was because the air quality was so bad, but my lung function dropped dramatically, and many staff members got sick as well. Even so, as soon as filming ended, I asked whether we were going to shoot a second season. I really hoped there would be a Season 2 that could further explore the parts of Myeong-jin that were not fully resolved."
When asked whether he is actually interested in fortune-telling, saju, or other forms of shamanic belief, he replied, "Honestly, even when I say I don't believe in saju or fortune-telling, I think there is still a part of me that does. When I talk with fans and they say they had their fortunes read, I tell them, 'Why would you believe something like that?' But I also used to go and have my own saju or fortune told. There was a teacher known as Agi-dongja who was said to be very gifted, and I went to see them when I was truly desperate in life, when I was at my lowest. As you know, there was a time when I was really desperate, wasn't there? I went to see Agi-dongja, and they really walked on a sharp blade. Once they did that, the cost became expensive too. I think I paid more than 10 million won for the ritual. When you are desperate, you end up borrowing strength from somewhere else. Back when my parents used to visit temples, they would bring back talismans, and even those were expensive. Of course, even though Agi-dongja walked on the blade, my life still did not improve. They got my past right, but not my future."
He went on, "I am a person with a very healthy mindset. After visiting Agi-dongja, my mental state became even healthier. I think I learned a little about how to regulate myself when things are hard. In difficult situations, I am better at holding myself together rationally. Even though the fortune-telling did not help me at all. When life gets hard, you end up looking for a higher power, but I think I learned that you should first find the answer within yourself before seeking the divine. Of course, even after that, I had my saju and fortunes read dozens of times. I think I just like hearing positive things about my future. As everyone knows, I was adopted when I was young, so I have two birthdays and two names. I do not know how the readings differ depending on the method, but I check both sets of saju depending on my mood. The results are actually quite different, so I listen to the good parts and stay cautious about the bad ones."
He also spoke frankly about a TVXQ reunion. Kim Jae-joong said, "A reunion is too sensitive for me to talk about. The opinions of the other members are important too, and they also live while being aware not only of their own feelings but of the people and systems around them. It is a very sensitive issue, and it is not something that can happen just because someone wants it to. Feelings alone would not be enough."
"When I was young, I used to look at senior idols I liked and think I wanted to see the full group together again. But I came to understand that everyone has their own circumstances, and that it is not easy. I feel the same way in my own large family. During holidays, some children visit their parents and some do not, even though they are all the same children. Everyone builds new families and faces changed circumstances, so it is not easy. I think it is similar to that."
The Shrine: Whisper of Evil stars Kim Jae-joong, Gong Seong-ha, Go Yoon-joon, and Kino Hana, and is directed by Kazuyoshi Kumakiri, known for Mu-gok, Bungo: Stories of Desire, and 658km, Yoko's Journey. It opens on the 17th.
Jo Ji-young, reporter soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
