Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
INTERVIEW Yim Si-wan embraces his inner villain in Netflix thriller ‘Mantis’
Actor Yim Si-wan / Courtesy of Netflix
By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Yim Si-wan is known for tackling diverse roles, but his latest challenge as lead in the Netflix thriller "Mantis" pushed his boundaries.
Yim spoke with unwavering dedication about his performance, saying that seeing the final action scenes has inspired him to get even better at the action genre.
"It’s a professional thing, but I always watch my work thinking I could have done better," Yim told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Tuesday.
"I felt that most about the action scenes this time. I prepared diligently, including taking kickboxing lessons and attending action school, but seeing the final product left me with the regret that I could have performed the action even better."
The film, a spin-off of the hit Netflix film "Kill Boksoon," features Yim as Han-ul, a top-tier contract killer who fights using dual sickles.
"Mantis" expands the universe of "Kill Boksoon," this time focusing on a new generation of assassins vying for the top spot in the killer organization M.K. ENT.
Yim's character is an A-list killer returning from vacation to face his trainee contemporary and rival, Jae-yi (Park Gyu-young), and the retired legend Dok-go (Jo Woo-jin).
Yim revealed that his connection to the character began casually while working with director Byun Sung-hyun on "Kill Boksoon.”
“Director Byun casually told me that if there was ever a spin-off, I would be the one to play Mantis," Yim recalled. "It felt like fate had chosen me, and I just waited for that destiny."
To play Han-ul, Yim focused on creating a distinctive, low-class energy, describing the character as needing to be "a bit vulgar, with a rough and showy style."
He also offered a critique of his killer's overconfidence. "I sometimes think Han-ul is a bit too arrogant for his skill," he laughed. "He talks about being a genius, but if you look at his fights, he’s not totally dominant."
Yim also addressed the film's unexpected focus on the relationship between Han-ul and Jae-yi.
"The relationship between Han-ul and Jae-yi definitely held feelings of love, so it came out in the film," he said. "I believe his focus was less on competition and more on the fact that she was the precious person who was the first to accept him."
Actor Yim Si-wan in a scene from the Netflix movie “Mantis” / Courtesy of Netflix
Singer who never quits
Despite his success as an actor, Yim remains firmly committed to his musical career. He debuted as a member of idol band ZE:A in 2010.
"I have never given up on being a singer," he said. "If I were to abandon or deny my singing career, it would feel like I was denying my entire 20s, which I don’t want to do."
He announced plans to release a new album, describing the songs as medium-tempo pop that are easy to listen to and catchy. He said the album, scheduled to be released within this year, is his own way of connecting with fans.
"My ultimate goal is to connect with fans through music, especially since acting limits the opportunities to do so," he said.
Looking ahead, Yim plans to seek out a romantic comedy or a similarly "bright and cheerful" role to contrast with his recent dark characters, including as Myung-gi in the Netflix series “Squid Game.” He added that his commitment to continuous preparation is key for an actor.
"I believe that an actor must always be prepared," he added. "That means everything from staying in shape for action roles to studying English, which I see as a 'necessity, not an option' for a global career,” Yim said.