Yoo Hae-jin Discusses His Role in 'Soju War' and the Value of Life Beyond Money

"It starts with a glass of beer and then moves on to soju. It's quite typical. Even when I'm not feeling well or have something important the next day, I still want to drink, so I mix soju with water. It warms me up slowly, like a heated floor, and it's quite nice. Hahaha."

Actor Yoo Hae-jin reveals his love for drinking, fitting for his role in the film 'Soju War.' The movie, set during the 1997 IMF financial crisis, tells the story of Pyo Jong-rok (played by Yoo Hae-jin), a finance director for a soju company, and Choi In-beom (played by Lee Je-hoon), an employee of a global investment firm, as they battle over the fate of Korea's national soju. Yoo Hae-jin plays the role of Pyo Jong-rok, the finance director of Gukbo Soju.

Regarding the film's focus on soju, Yoo Hae-jin commented, "The great thing about Korean drinking culture is that soju is enjoyed equally by everyone, regardless of wealth. I heard this when I was young and thought, 'That's true.' I liked that the film used such a familiar subject as soju."

In the film 'Opposition,' released last April, Yoo Hae-jin suggested the idea for a scene involving eating pig's feet. Did he have any ideas for the drinking scenes in 'Soju War'? "I suggested that dried pollack would be a good snack because it doesn't need anything else. Hahaha."

'Soju War' deals with corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A), which might be complex for some viewers. Yoo Hae-jin emphasized, "From the start, I insisted that the story should be easy to understand. We tried to simplify difficult economic terms as much as possible." He explained, "Rather than focusing on companies being taken over, it's more important for the audience to think about 'where to place their values in life.'"

"What I've realized in life is that having money doesn't necessarily make you happy. Of course, money is necessary, but where you place your values has a greater impact on happiness. There are people who live happily despite financial difficulties, finding joy in the simplest things. That's what life is about. Our film also touches on this. While it talks about money, it makes you think about values."

The film is set during the IMF financial crisis. Reflecting on that time, Yoo Hae-jin said, "I wasn't struggling." He explained, "Watching the news, I knew the whole country was having a hard time, but I was an exception because I had nothing to begin with. My life was always the same. I was doing theater back then, saving bus fare to buy a bread roll."

"My family was really poor, so life was always tough. If I had a part-time job, I would have felt the economic downturn more, but I couldn't even do that because my theater schedule was so irregular. I used to ask a nearby gas station if I could work part-time on a flexible schedule."

Pyo Jong-rok is a loyal and dedicated employee, often neglecting his family. Yoo Hae-jin said, "I don't know if I resemble him, but I understand him. Growing up, there were many fathers like him in the neighborhood. Many of the older generation lived like that, and maybe that's why we live the way we do now. But I don't think living solely for the company, like Pyo Jong-rok, is good."

As an actor, Yoo Hae-jin shared his thoughts on work-life balance: "I can't live only for acting, putting everything else aside, or sacrificing other things for acting."

Yoo Hae-jin is serious when acting but brings joy to others with his unique humor. His blend of professionalism and humanity is one reason why the public loves him.

"I think about how not to become a 'kkondae' (a condescending elder). On set, I try to see everyone as colleagues. I don't think, 'I'm a senior, so I should act a certain way.' If there's a good idea for acting, I share it. I don't force socializing outside of filming. I just say, 'Come have a drink~' That's it. But sometimes, when I really want to be with them, I say, 'Let's have a drink. Oh, really? Just one~' Hahaha."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr