MOVIE
Kim Woo-bin Shares His Experience on Starring in 'The Martial Arts Officer'
On the 10th, a production briefing for the Netflix movie 'Officer Black Belt' was held at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Joo-hwan and actors Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun attended the event.
'Officer Black Belt' is an action film that tells the story of Lee Jeong-do (played by Kim Woo-bin), a martial artist with a combined 9th dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo. He starts working as a martial arts officer, closely monitoring electronic anklet wearers 24/7 to prevent crimes, upon the suggestion of probation officer Kim Sun-min (played by Kim Sung-kyun).
Kim Woo-bin plays the role of Lee Jeong-do, an energetic young man with exceptional martial arts skills. Kim Sung-kyun portrays Kim Sun-min, a probation officer who works in pairs with the martial arts officer to create a safer society.
Kim Woo-bin said, "I found it interesting to learn about the profession of a martial arts officer, which I was previously unaware of. It was also fascinating to see a young man who initially pursued fun find a sense of purpose and duty through this job. I wanted to convey the enjoyment I felt to the viewers."
He further explained, "We meticulously broke down the transformation process scene by scene. I worked through each step with the director." He added, "I had to be proficient in martial arts. I learned Taekwondo, Judo, and Kendo from the martial arts director all at once. We trained for 3-4 hours a day, practicing and coordinating our moves." He also mentioned, "I wanted to do my best. I tried to infuse each action with the character's conviction."
Kim Woo-bin revealed, "I gained about 8kg to look robust and capable of overpowering others. I wanted to show a new side of myself, so I didn't lose the weight or reduce the swelling on my face. I even bleached my hair to present a fresh image to the viewers." He added, "I aimed to depict the transformation by showing the fading hair color and weight loss."
'Officer Black Belt' will be released on Netflix on the 13th.
Reporter Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr
