Chung Sung-hwa proud to be part of Korea's 1st film based on stage musical

Actor Chung Sung-hwa / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Musical star takes same role in film adaptation

By Kwak Yeon-soo

In 2009, actor Chung Sung-hwa started playing the role of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun in the homegrown musical, "Hero." Since then, the celebrated actor has reprised the lead role in numerous iterations of the famous story. He is now playing it again in the musical's film adaptation under the same name, which will hit theaters on Christmas week.

"Reprising an iconic role for over a decade is never an easy task. I think it has to do with a certain gravity about him. He is our national hero, so taking on the role of Ahn comes with a lot of pressure and responsibility," he said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday.

Chung initially didn't have high hopes when he heard about the film adaptation. When he was cast as the lead role, he was essentially dumbfounded.

"Until recently, I have had a small handful of roles in films, so getting the lead role in a film was a big deal for me. To be honest, it was a bit intimidating," he recalled. "This meant that the production company took a chance on me. So I had to work really hard and give it all I got."

"Hero" tells the story of Korean independence movement activist Ahn's (Chung) final year after he assassinated Hirobumi Ito, Japan's prime minister and the first resident general of Korea, in October 1909, about a year before Japan's annexation of Korea and the start of its colonial occupation (1910-45). In March of the following year, Ahn was executed in a Japanese prison in China.

Director Yoon Je-kyoon, best known for his previous works such as "Haeundae" (2009) and "Ode to My Father" (2014) ― each attracted more than 10 million moviegoers ― insisted that everyone in the film sing live instead of lip-synching to pre-recorded songs.

"He wanted the actors to sing their feelings and thoughts as they would be speaking. Singing live offers the audience a chance to be 'in the moment' and feel the ambience of the settings," Chung explained.

As an actor coming from theater, he talked about the difference between acting on stage and on screen. "One of the most common criticisms levied at musical actors is their exaggerated stage acting. That can look awkward and silly on screen. I tried to use more subtle, controlled and natural expressions and gestures in front of the camera," he said.

A scene from the film, "Hero" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Chung studied Ahn diligently and set out to embody the national hero rather than impersonate him. "My interpretation of Ahn was a man who makes personal sacrifice for the greater good. I wanted to depict his relationship with his mother and how he was a devout Catholic," he said.

He continued: "A lot of people think of Ahn as a commander of Korea's liberation army who fought against Japanese forces, but what I paid attention to was his literary accomplishments. He was active in education in both Korea and in the expatriate Korean communities in the Russian Far East, founding schools. If you look at his books written in prison after he shot Hirobumi Ito, you can sense his high-level intellectual and philosophical logic."

He said Ahn's "Oriental Peace Theory" is still relevant today, referring to the great power rivalry between China and the United States, nuclear-armed North Korea and Japan's push to become an assertive military power.

Chung shared that he went through a massive weight loss for his role. "I was told to go on a diet to lose weight for the film, so I lost about 14 kilograms while preparing for the role. After we released a first-look still from 'Hero,' a lot of people commented that I look identical to him. I was relieved to hear that," he said.

Chung recalled the toughest rendition was "His Song," which he sings before his execution. "There was no way that I could relate to what my character was going through. So I hoped that if I learned everything about him over the years and absorbed him fully, it was going to be the best version," he said, adding that he had traveled to Luishun prison where Ahn was kept and Harbin station, where he killed Ito, in northern China.

A scene from the film, "Hero" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Chung said he hopes "Hero" is not just perceived as Korea's first film based on stage musical, but serves as a window to show how Korean musicals have developed to this extent.

"The wonderful mixture of the theater and film meeting together in the process felt unique and original to all of the cast and crew. I hope this serves as a beginning for producers to continue adapting musicals into films," he said.

He added: "All of the world's four major musicals, including 'Les Miserables' and 'Cats,' have been made into films. Korea is just getting started with 'Hero.' There are so many creative, original musicals in Korea like 'Laundry' that I hope will be made into films one day."

On competing with "Avatar: The Way of Water" in the coming weeks, Chung said there is no reason to fear James Cameron's follow-up to the top-grossing film of all time.

"'Avatar 2' is made with great confidence, but 'Hero' is made with no less confidence. As much as Ahn is the pride of Korean people, I hope 'Hero' will become the pride of Korean musical films."

"Hero" will hit local theaters, Dec. 21. On the premiere date, Chung is poised to star in the ninth edition of the musical production "Hero," which will run through Feb. 28 at LG Art Center in Seoul.