Ha Jung-woo responds to marriage rumors: 'Just my father's wishful thinking'

Actor Ha Jung-woo, who starred in the recently released film, "Hijacking," candidly shared his thoughts on life, marriage and his artistic pursuits during his appearance on JTBC's "Newsroom" on Sunday, addressing rumors about his potential marriage next year.

Ha touched on personal reflections prompted by his brother's recent marriage and fatherhood.

"Seeing my nephew made me realize it's time for me too," he said.

His father, Kim Yong-gun, previously speculated, "Judging by the atmosphere, my eldest son (Ha Jung-woo) will probably get married by the end of this year or next year."

However, Ha clarified, "My father expressed his own wishful thinking," laughing off any concrete plans.

Regarding his walking habit, Ha said, "I think I walk to clear my thoughts. We often worry unnecessarily about things that haven't happened yet. Going outside and walking helps me shake off those thoughts and empty my mind."

Very curious and dislike being bored

When asked about his prolific acting career, Ha said, "I personally admire Picasso a lot. I've heard that Picasso was more prolific than any other artist. While humans try to plan and think through producing good work, achieving consistently good results is challenging. In such a situation, all a person can do is work hard every day. By continuously working, there's a chance that the heavens, the audience or others might recognize the effort. For me, my life goal is to work on 100 films."

Reflecting on the characters he's played, Ha revealed that he would like to live as Jo Byung-woon from "My Dear Enemy" (2008)

"Considering his attitude toward life, I feel that if I could see the world as he does, I could overcome any hardship," he shared.

As he prepares for an art exhibition in October, Ha mentioned his evolving artistic approach, "I try to draw without conscious effort. When drawing, I often think about design, composition and color balance. Recently, I've been using a lot of orange," he noted.

Describing his varied interests, Ha said, "I'm very curious and dislike being bored. Lately, I've been taking a breather and thinking about how to enjoy life more leisurely."

Finally, Ha expressed admiration for his role models, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, saying, "Even in their 80s, their passion and energy are extraordinary. Thinking of them, I constantly contemplate how I will live my life as an actor."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.