Seventeen's Jun takes on revenge thriller in Chinese film, marking 20 years as an actor

Jun, a member of K-pop group Seventeen, is continuing his career as a serious actor with a new role in a Chinese film.

According to Pledis Entertainment, Jun will appear in "Zhongsheng 2," set to open Oct. 3, playing the lead role of Su Cheng.

Su Cheng is a man who has spent years wandering from place to place in search of a lost younger sibling. His agency said Jun "takes on a revenge thriller that showcases both spectacular action and nuanced emotional performance."

"Zhongsheng 2" follows two people bound together by fate as they unravel a vast criminal conspiracy and embark on a life-or-death quest for revenge. Jun stars alongside Liang Luoshi, who appeared in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor." The film also features Hung Kam-bo, a Hong Kong action cinema legend well known in South Korea, and Bai Ke, an actor recognized for his distinctive performances.

Jun, Seventeen's Chinese member, was invited to the 13th Silk Road International Film Festival, held in Xi'an on Saturday and Sunday. The festival is one of China's most prestigious international cultural events. Jun attended as an overseas ambassador. Last month, he was also nominated for best supporting actor at the Hundred Flowers Awards, one of China's largest film awards ceremonies.

Within Seventeen, Jun is known for his fluid dance lines and commanding stage presence as a central figure in the group's choreography. He is also a former child actor with more than 20 years of experience. He took his first steps in the industry as an advertising model around the age of two in 1998, and in 2006 appeared in the film "Stray Dogs." He earned early recognition for his acting when he became the first mainland Chinese child actor nominated for best new performer at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2008.

Since his debut with Seventeen in 2015, Jun has continued to move between the global stage and the screen. Particularly notable was his lead role in the 2023 romance web drama series "Dugu Donghua," which won the popularity award at the 5th Busan International Film Festival's Asian Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards. Last year, his film "Pofeng Zhuiying" earned him invitations to a string of major Chinese film festivals, further cementing his standing as a serious dramatic actor.

shee@heraldcorp.com