bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

paywallTypes

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

factSheets

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

The Korea Times

By Baek Byung-yeul
Korean actor Ha Jung-woo describes his upcoming thriller Nocturnal as a raw and intense take on the familiar theme of revenge, and promises that its director, Kim Jin-hwang, will bring a fresh perspective.
“The revenge plot isn’t new, but I believe that even the same theme can provide new enjoyment depending on how the works change in form and background,” Ha said in a recent interview.
He expressed great interest in the director’s unique vision, which was a significant factor in his decision to take on the project.

“I was drawn to Kim. His personal experiences are woven into the script, and I was intrigued by his attitude towards the characters in the film,” the 46-year-old actor explained.
“I felt this director had tremendous anger and lava-like energy boiling beneath his gentle demeanour. I felt he wanted to unleash those emotions through this film.”
Nocturnal follows Min-tae, a former gang member, on a relentless pursuit to uncover the truth behind a night where everything becomes entangled – his brother dies and a bestselling novel eerily foretells his brother’s death.
Ha portrays Min-tae as a man driven to find answers after his brother’s death.
In recent years, I’ve felt the need to work with various people I haven’t collaborated with before
Ha Jung-woo
The actor acknowledged the extreme violence displayed by his character in the film, emphasising that it was a deliberate choice by the director.
“There are parts where Min-tae resorts to excessive violence, under the pretext of his brother’s death. I found it interesting that the director created this character with that perspective. It felt different from the characters I’ve played in recent years,” he said.
Ha is widely regarded as one of the most iconic actors in Korea since his realistic portrayal of the injustices within the military in the 2005 indie film The Unforgiven left a lasting impression on audiences.

After rising to stardom with the 2008 film The Chaser, he has since delivered memorable performances in numerous blockbusters, including Take Off (2009), Nameless Gangster: Rules of Time (2012), the Along with the Gods series and the 2022 Netflix series Narco-Saints.
Despite his established career, Ha revealed his continuous pursuit of new challenges and transformations in his acting journey.
“When choosing projects, I don’t differentiate between established and rookie directors,” he said. “In recent years, I’ve felt the need to work with various people I haven’t collaborated with before.”

He added that he worked with an entirely new crew on Nocturnal, who helped him discover new facets of himself.
Since creating an Instagram account in 2024, Ha has actively engaged with fans on the online platform. His trademark blunt yet humorous interactions have gone viral, further solidifying his persistent appeal.
Regarding his social media activity, he expressed enjoyment in connecting with people and gaining new experiences.

“Fans had been requesting me to create an Instagram account for a long time. I started it to communicate with them. People really liked it when I replied to comments on my posts, so I’ve continued to do so,” he said.
“People now view the world through their own algorithms. I feel I need to inform my fans about my activities, so I want to increase the number of followers on my account to promote my work more widely.”
Nocturnal will hit cinemas in Korea on February 5.
Read the original story at The Korea Times.


Ha Jung-woo on new thriller Nocturnal, social media and how he chooses roles

The Glory actress Song Hye-kyo on taking on darker roles such as in Dark Nuns, and comedy

Korean actress Kim Min-hee, 42, expecting first child; director Hong Sang-soo is father

K-Family Affairs movie review: intimate story of a family amid Korea’s chaotic politics

Asian cinema: Korean films

Ha Jung-Woo Ha in Seoul for a screening of Nocturnal. Photo: WireImage

Ha Jung-woo says working with new people, as he did for revenge thriller Nocturnal, allows him to discover new facets of himself. Photo: @hajungwoo0311/Instagram

Ha in Seoul for a screening of Nocturnal. The actor sites director Kim Jin-hwang’s fresh perspective as a key reason he decided to get involved in the project. Photo: WireImage

Ha in a still from Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds. Photo: Edko Films Limited

Ha (left) in a still from the Netflix series Narco-Saints. Photo: Netflix

Ha in a still from 2024 action thriller Hijack 1971. Photo: Sony Pictures

K-drama Who Is She review: Miss Granny remake fails to capture spirit of original film

Jung Ji-so as Oh Doo-ri, the young version of grandmother Oh Mal-soon, in a still from Korean drama series Who Is She, based on the hit 2014 film Miss Granny.

Kim Hae-sook as Oh Mal-soon n a still from Who Is She.

Jung Jin-young as music producer Daniel Han, Oh Doo-ri’s love interest, in a still from Who Is She.

Chae Won-bin as Mal-soon’s granddaughter, Choi Ha-na, in a still from Who Is She.

Jung Ji-so as Oh Doo-ri, the younger version of On Mal-soon, in a still from Who Is She.

Squid Game 2’s Kang Ae-sim on playing defining ‘K-mom’ and Lee Byung-hun’s big compliment

Kang Ae-sim and Yang Dong-geun in a still from Squid Game season 2. The actress says her role in the Netflix Korean drama series show pushed her to new limits. Photo: Netflix

Yang Dong-geun in Seoul, in 2022. Kang says that the actor being cast as her son in Squid Game two eased her concerns. Photo: Getty Images

Lee Byung-hun as the mysterious Front Man in a still from Squid Game season 2. Photo: Netflix/TNS

Lee as Front Man. The actor complimented Kang for her performance in the show, something the actress found “overwhelming”. Photo: Netflix

Michelle Yeoh, back in Star Trek: Section 31, says space opera ‘will always be part of me’

Michelle Yeoh attends a discussion about her new film Star Trek: Section 31 at 92NY in New York. Photo: Getty Images via AFP

Actor Michelle Yeoh backstage at The 92nd Street Y in New York, where she took part in a discussion about her new film for Paramount+, Star Trek: Section 31. Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

Star Trek: Section 31 director Olatunde Osunsanmi (second from left) is flanked by cast members Robert Kazinsky (left), Michelle Yeoh and Omari Hardwick at The 92nd Street Y in New York. Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

Michelle Yeoh discusses the Paramount+ film Star Trek: Section 31 at The 92nd Street Y in New York. Photo: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP

7 of the best new K-dramas to watch in January 2025, including When the Stars Gossip

Lee Min-ho in a still from When the Stars Gossip, one of our seven Korean drama picks to watch in January 2025. Photo: Netflix

Lifestyle

K-drama

K-movies

News

K-Pop

Korean actor talks about Nocturnal director Kim Jin-hwang’s unique vision, working with new people and connecting with fans on social media


Korean actor talks about Nocturnal director Kim Jin-hwang’s unique vision, working with new people and connecting with fans on social media.


Cinema

South Korean celebrities

What's hot in Korea

Korea Times