‘Hero’ Min Woo-hyuk “I’m Ahn Jung-geun crying”

Musical actor Min Woo-hyuk (real name Park Seong-hyuk, 39) shared the characteristics of Ahn Jung-geun, played by his seniors Jeong Seong-hwa and Yang Jun-mo.

Min Woo-hyuk shared his thoughts on playing the role of Ahn Jung-geun in an interview related to the musical 'Hero' held in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 13th.

On this day, Min Woo-hyuk said of Ahn Jung-geun, played by Jeong Seong-hwa, "He is humane. I think he is portrayed as a friendly leader rather than a strong one." Regarding Yang Jun-mo, he said, "Anyone can see that he is strong. I think he is trying to portray the strong Ahn Jung-geun."

When asked what kind of Ahn Jung-geun he was, he said, "The audience watched my performance and said they had never seen Ahn Jung-geun sob like that. Still, I was grateful that they said they sobbed as well," and said, "I think I am Ahn Jung-geun with a lot of emotions." .

Min Woo-hyuk laughed, saying, "As a junior, I think I'm trying to cleverly take the strengths of my seniors and sublimate them into my own."

Min Woo-hyuk said, "When the audience saw me sobbing, they asked me how I could deliver the lyrics accurately while sobbing like that. I also cried a lot in previous musicals, and I think I've become very skilled at this."

Even when filming the practice scene, even the staff was surprised by Min Woo-hyuk's sobs. Min Woo-hyuk laughed, saying, "That day, I went to the shop and put on my makeup, but it all broke down. I cried so much on stage that my beard fell off. That's why I sang 'Janggaga' without opening my mouth."

Min Woo-hyuk said that he cried the most during the scene where he wore the shroud made for him by Ahn Jung-geun's mother, Lady Jo Maria. “I can really hear you crying in the audience. I think that makes me cry even more. Because it was a work I really loved, I thought I wanted to do ‘Hero’ for a long time. I will follow in the footsteps of Seonghwa Jeong and Junmo Yang, people I really respect. “I think I want to follow in the footsteps of ‘heroes’.”

Jung Seong-hwa and Yang Jun-mo also appeared together in Min Woo-hyuk's first major theater musical 'Les Miserables'. He said, "He was truly proud that 10 years later, the young junior was playing the same role as his seniors," and "He helped me a lot in preparing for the role of 'Hero' Ahn Jung-geun. Senior Seong-hwa Jeong said, “Even after it was over, he came to me and gave me a lot of practical advice, saying, ‘I’m emotional too much. Cut it down a little,’” he said, expressing his gratitude.

The musical 'Hero' opened in December last year as its 9th season in Korea. It is a representative musical licensed in Korea that depicts the last year of Dr. Ahn Jung-geun. It will be performed at the LG Arts Center in Magok-dong, Seoul until the 28th, and will meet the audience at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul from March 17th to May 21st.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr