'I've Mixed in Every Emotion': Han Suk-kyu Promises a New Persona for 'Mr. Shin Project'

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"I've mixed in every emotion and character I've ever played!" (Han Suk-kyu)

Actor Han Suk-kyu is promising a performance that brings together his 35 years of experience. He's blending the gravitas of King Sejong from Tree with Deep Roots, the charisma of Teacher Kim from Dr. Romantic, and the warmth of Jang Tae-soo from The Intimate Traitor.

This time, he will also reveal a new side of himself, playing a chicken restaurant owner with a delightful, down-to-earth charm. To prepare for the role, he tapped into everything from his own life experience to acting tips from his senior peers, creating a character with more depth and layers than ever before.

His passion for the role was matched by his overflowing confidence in the project. "I want to offer timeless comfort to everyone living in these extreme times," Han Suk-kyu said.

The Return of a Master and a New Challenge

The cast of the new tvN Monday-Tuesday drama, Mr. Shin Project, held an online press conference on September 8th, attended by director Shin Kyung-soo, Han Suk-kyu, Bae Hyun-sung, and Lee Re.

Mr. Shin Project is a drama about a man who, as the owner of a chicken restaurant, solves disputes for people by navigating between legal loopholes and the law. Han Suk-kyu plays Mr. Shin, a former negotiation expert who possesses a unique blend of charisma, humor, and warmth.

For Han Suk-kyu, the role was a new comedic challenge. "Mr. Shin is different from the serious characters I usually play," he explained. "The script had a sense of humor and warmth that made me want to do it." An avid cook himself, he had no trouble with the cooking scenes. "I actually learned how to knead dough and fry chicken from a real chicken restaurant owner," he said with a laugh. "I was able to mimic most of the techniques pretty well."

The director and fellow cast members shared heartfelt stories about Han Suk-kyu's character off-screen. Director Shin Kyung-soo, who is working with Han for a third time, confessed, "In our previous projects, I was envious of how well the senior actors directed key scenes. Han Suk-kyu's acting was so good that I definitely wanted to work with him again." He also praised Han's leadership, noting that as an episodic drama with new actors joining each episode, Han Suk-kyu's guidance was invaluable.

Lee Re recalled, "He took the initiative to meet with us even before filming began. On set, he would make small talk to ease the atmosphere. I truly felt he was a great senior."

A Family-Like Teamwork

The chemistry between the chicken restaurant staff—Mr. Shin and his employees, Jo Phillip (Bae Hyun-sung) and Lee Si-on (Lee Re) is a key viewing point. To build this team dynamic, Han Suk-kyu paid special attention to their rapport, saying, "I believe that acting reflects real relationships. So, we all got together to practice more than twice a week for two months before filming."

This effort created a bond as strong as a family's. Lee Re said, "At some point, Han Suk-kyu felt like a real dad. I wanted to lean on him and act like a child." Their close relationship was evident through their playful banter. "I saw Hyun-sung cutting vegetables and decided I couldn't trust him with kitchen work," Han Suk-kyu joked, making everyone on set laugh.

Finally, Han Suk-kyu vowed, "I want to create good memories with viewers once again. I won't worry about ratings. I just hope this becomes a 'life drama' for many people." The director added, "It would be fun for viewers to watch and try to guess why Mr. Shin ended up running a chicken restaurant. I think many people will relate to the desperate way he lives his life." Bae Hyun-sung concluded, "The three main characters each have different personalities, so it will be fun to watch how they solve cases as a team."

Mr. Shin Project will air its first episode on September 15th at 8:50 PM KST.