'A Bona Fide Killer' actor Jung Jun-won answers controversy with his performance

Jung Jun-won overcomes attitude controversy to prove himself in 'A Bona Fide Killer'

Actor says he chose to let his performance do the talking amid a flood of criticism

'It felt like receiving homework I had to work through as an actor'

Twelve years into his career, actor Jung Jun-won had spent a long stretch in obscurity — and was only just beginning to establish himself as a leading man.

Then, just as he was set to make his first leading-role debut on a major broadcast network in MBC's Friday-Saturday drama series "A Bona Fide Killer," an unexpected controversy erupted. His reserved demeanor on a variety show appearance made to promote the series drew fire. The sharp arrows fired from behind anonymous accounts targeted not only his attitude but his personality and appearance.

The drama had barely begun airing when it happened, and Jung chose to weather the torrent of criticism in silence rather than offer any public defense.

What ultimately turned public opinion was his acting. He played a devoted husband who believes the best thing he ever did was meet his wife, fall in love and build a family together. His steady, grounded performance — holding the center even as the story lurched through unpredictable crises and fractures in everyday life — was enough to quiet the storm.

"It had already happened," he said. "My job is to persuade people through my acting in the work, so I thought I had to give that everything I had first."

The weight of regret, reflection and responsibility over what had passed came through clearly. The Korea Herald met Jung — who plays Tae-seong, a society reporter and the husband of the protagonist Bona (played by Gong Hyo-jin) in "A Bona Fide Killer" — at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

'Persuading through acting was the only way'

Based on a popular webtoon of the same name, "A Bona Fide Killer" wrapped its run Saturday with a series-high viewership rating of 10.7 percent. The production was not without its share of noise — questions about how closely the cast matched the original characters, directorial choices and the lead actor's attitude controversy — but it was a result forged by a cast and crew who stayed in their roles and saw the job through.

For Jung, who had been at the center of the controversy, the numbers meant more than a ratings win. "I'm just so relieved it ended on a good note, and I feel nothing but gratitude," he said. The interview naturally opened with how he had felt during the variety show filming that sparked it all.

"I don't have much experience with variety shows, so I was very nervous. I was so focused on doing well that I ended up freezing — I think I couldn't do anything at all. I imagine that came across as uncomfortable to viewers. If I ever get another chance, I really want to make up for it."

The controversy his demeanor ignited spread beyond questions about his personality to criticism of his appearance compared to the original webtoon character. It would be a lie to say he was not hurt, and equally a lie to say he took it well. But he said he saw it as "something I had to endure and overcome." That was also why he chose not to actively fire back at the negative comments and criticism. "I do try to take care of my appearance, but I don't think I'm that kind of actor — the kind with striking looks," he said with a laugh.

"I couldn't just brush it off. I was hurt, but it had already happened. I felt there was nothing to do but persuade people through my acting in the work. If a chance like this comes again, I have to give it everything so something like this doesn't happen again."

He had been at a crossroads, reconsidering his path as an actor after years of anonymity, when "Resident Playbook" brought his name and presence to a wider audience. Then, almost immediately, came the opportunity to lead a primetime weekend drama on a major network. The pressure he carried while preparing for and filming this project was incomparably greater than anything he had faced before.

"In 'Resident Playbook,' my role was closer to a device that provided romantic relief within the story. This time, I had to carry the entire drama alongside sunbae Hyo-jin. The biggest pressure was whether I could convince viewers as a lead actor. I thought people might not trust me because I was still unfamiliar to them. I really tried to give everything I had, because I couldn't let the production suffer because of me."

The drama's version of Kwon Tae-seong stripped away much of the original webtoon's setup, which left some fans of the source material disappointed — and Jung was well aware of it.

"The Tae-seong in the drama script is a husband and father so warm he almost feels unrealistic. I think I focused on how to make that more convincing. I talked a lot with the director about that too. I do think fans who were expecting the original may have found it a little lacking."

'Learned a great deal in a short time — will work toward confidence'

The Tae-seong Jung brought to life ultimately comes down to one thing: an almost fantastical depth of love for his family. Rather than chasing the physical appeal of the original character, Jung approached the role by focusing on warmth itself.

"There are so many different kinds of cool," he said. "Among them, I wanted to focus on being seen as a cool husband and a cool dad — that big, almost fantasy-like love and tenderness for his family above all else. I tried to pour as much energy into that as I could."

Carrying a long-form drama for the first time, Jung found his greatest source of support in co-star Gong Hyo-jin. "Acting with sunbae had a way of making each moment feel real," he said.

"I was truly grateful that Hyo-jin sunbae treated me not as a junior but as a colleague, on equal footing. Toward the end of filming she even offered advice first. Working with her, I felt just how remarkable an actor she is — and I leaned on her a great deal because of it."

The series of twists and turns Jung experienced at what some might call a belated peak in his career taught him what it means to be responsible — as an actor and as a lead. What remains now is to work through, one by one, the lessons this project has left him.

"I gained recognition relatively late, and there was so much I had to learn in a short amount of time. I think all of that converged in the things that happened recently. Working on this project felt like receiving homework I had to work through as actor Jung Jun-won — and in the end, it became an opportunity to learn a great deal."

Sincerity and best effort. That, Jung says, is everything he can do "to keep making it in this industry." He plans to keep approaching viewers through consistent, wholehearted performances. He believes the confidence he seeks in his path as an actor also lies within that sincerity and effort.

"I don't think I have some outstanding competitive edge, and there are many times I wonder whether I can keep making it in this industry. Still, I think I have to try to build my own sense of conviction by taking on projects one by one. I don't think there's any other way than to keep giving my best, the way I always have. I will keep working to be an actor Jung Jun-won who can show good performances in good projects."

balme@heraldcorp.com