[MHN] 'Believer', a film that's a remake of 'Drug War' about Asia's biggest underground drug cartel is now playing in theaters since May 22nd. The film is about Won Ho, an investigator who's been tracking down the drug cartel for a long time ever since a cold case of an explosion. Throughout the journey, he encounters a former gang member, Rock, and heiress of the gang Yeon Ok. With their help, he finally meets Harim and Brian, the two villains behind the drug cartel. According to the Korean Film Council, the movie is placing number one in ticket sales taking up to 40.7% of the total sales rate. 

MHN sat down face to face with Cho Jin Woong who plays 'Won Ho' in 'Believer'. 

HOW WAS IT FILMING THE MOVIE?

└ Lifewise, it's been a confidence booster but when I actually got to see the film it was too much of an open ending for me. That's up to the director, so I complained about that part to him over drinks. I wanted to know who died in the end. But that's not most important. This film itself threw a lot of questions at me as an actor and I'm thankful for that. How this action film kept questioning me was the biggest virtue I gained. 

THE SCENES FROM NORWAY WERE IMPRESSIVE. ANY BEHIND STORIES?

└ In the script, all it said was that it's going to be a pasture filled with white snow. There were talks about filming it at Hokkaido, and also in Thailand but we couldn't ignore what the script said. I feel like I've gained a great amount of new inspiration as an actor. When we decided to film it in Norway, there was this special energy going on. I was surprised. I feel like we couldn't capture even half of what we saw. Cameras aren't capable enough yet to take in what we can see with our eyes. I really wanted to capture exactly what we could picture in our minds but not even a drone 4km up high could do that. 

Since Norway is a country with the third highest income everyone is rich and they own many pension houses. But these houses don't have water supply systems. So you drink lake water after boiling it and you have to take care of your own feces too by wrapping it up and bringing it back. It was -20 degrees Celsius when we stayed and I felt refreshed in a way.

HOW WAS WORKING WITH RYU JUN YEOL?

└ There's a point when Rock(Ryu Jun Yeol) starts taking notice of me. 'Won Ho' is a character who doesn't talk much to people, he's like a dried up piece of wood. But Rock is the only character who views at me differently. I want to kill him but I can't and I want to keep questioning him as well, but I can't. Later on, I give in and let down all my pride. There was a time when he and I were facing eye to eye about 7cm apart and I felt that point of Rock speaking to me. I don't think I've felt such energy from many actors. Ryu Jun Yeol was an amazing actor. He's an awesome guy who exuded a very healthy type of energy. He's got eyes that draw me to want to gaze at them. 

IT'S AN OPEN ENDING SO THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT. WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT?

└This film is a very uncomfortable one. Some may like open endings but I still can't get used to that. I was going through social media and saw someone scream, 'Rock killed Won Ho!'. The ending I imagined was Won Ho handing a gun to Rock. Accepting Rock and looking out the lakes of Norway, that kind of image was what I was picturing. Maybe he shot the gun in mid-air. Whatever it is, this movie gave me a lot of burden for sure. 

THE AUDIENCE MAY NOT KNOW WON HO'S DEEPEST FEELINGS IN THE END.

└ That's something we need to create. It wouldn't make sense to vent emotions without that. If the audience still can't feel anything after what we created, then that's that but we shouldn't ask for that without even creating such moment in the film. After doing our best, if the audience could feel it then we'd be grateful. If not, then we should work harder. I think that's how artists should live in our times. We can't penalize the audience just because they couldn't feel anything when I did my best. All artists, clowns, performers, and people working on-set should talk about such that after actually creating such moments.

YOU INTAKING DRUGS, THAT WAS QUITE OF A SCENE.

└ It was salt. I had my nose runny and tears falling after that. There were other edible supplies and salt is edible but Director Lee just went on with no cutting in the middle. A very interesting scene came out. I loved the eyes. It couldn't come out that way if it wasn't salt. I did the shoot four more times but on my third time, it hurt so bad. I felt like I was hanging upside down in the middle of the ocean. I can't put it in words how excruciating it was. After washing up I still felt like salt was lingering in my body so my blood pressure kept high. After seeing that in the bathroom I wanted to end the shoot as fast as I could because I really liked how my eyes looked. But on my third take, my DNA just couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't suck in anything because it was so painful. It had nothing to do with my will, my body was reacting to it. I will never, ever do drugs. 

ALL THE CHARACTERS ARE STRONG. HOW STRONG IS WON HO?

└ Won Ho is a person who earns his special items by breaking the chains. I think he'd be the first to die. He'd be the first to be gone if it weren't for Rock. 

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK AGAIN WITH?

└With Jun Yeol. I strongly think that there should be a different ending to this. It's too pretty. I don't know how long I'd be able to work but there are other actors that share the same healthy vibe of Jun Yeol's. He's very healthy with a straight mindset. I'm happy when I work with him. 

WHAT ABOUT THE LATE KIM JOO HYUK?

└ We weren't that close. But his acting in the film has a great effect. I don't know him well but he was one of the best characters I've ever seen when he first shot his first scene. He presented a very strong act and it was too beautiful for me to ever catch up. He said he had so much fun acting in our film. 

HOW SHOULD WE WATCH THE FILM?

└ I drank with the director one day and asked him to explain to me why this film keeps asking me questions when it's just an action film. Why is this movie asking me this and that? I was feeling really frustrated but when thinking about it now, if the audience could contemplate while watching as much as I did which I'm not sure if they'd be able to enjoy but if they do, I do think they could feel 200% happy as I am. 

The nothingness and romance in life is only an inch away. Just how life and death is an inch away. 'Believer' was a film that threw such questions to me and to answer that, I'd say it's feeling nothing, nothingness. But I also think nothingness and romance has a mere difference. Even right now.  

[Translated by] Gen_E