InterviewSul Kyung-gu on tackling enigmatic role in Netflix black comedy ‘Good News’

Veteran actor Sul Kyung-gu confessed he struggled with the mysterious role of Nobody in the Netflix film “Good News,” but ultimately put his faith in director Byun Sung-hyun for their fourth film together.

"This was a role I'd never done before," Sul said during an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday. "It was the first time I was given such an abstract character, and I felt confused. I questioned my own acting until the very end."

He explained that Byun intentionally crafted his character Nobody to be detached from others and exaggerated. He added that the character's unusual nature sometimes required him to act as a commentator, looking directly at the camera, which he found awkward.

"The director said that all the characters are somewhat 'floating,' and I had to 'float' even more. I developed the character by trying to look flashy and dramatic, like someone putting on a show for those in charge,” he said.

Released on Oct. 17, “Good News” is a black comedy-drama inspired by the 1970 Yodogo hijacking incident, where members of the Japanese Red Army Faction hijacked a plane and demanded to be flown to North Korea.

The film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival earlier this year, reimagines the historical event with a focus on the suspicious operation of people gathered to somehow land the hijacked plane.

Sul played the role of Nobody, an enigmatic troubleshooter. He stars alongside Hong Kyung as the elite Air Force lieutenant Seo Go-myung and Ryoo Seung-bum as Park Sang-hyun, a director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency.

Even though he was worried about the character being such an unconventional figure who doesn't blend in, he said his trust in director never wavered. This trust has fueled their decade-long partnership, which includes “The Merciless” (2017), “Kingmaker” (2022) and “Kill Boksoon” (2023).

"I believe the director has a complete blueprint for his films," Sul said. "If the film were an orchestra, he seems to know exactly who should appear at which moment. That’s the feeling I get, so I trusted and followed him."

Byun is known for "crumpling" Sul, shifting from his past handsome roles, and Sul joked that "Good News" made him look even messier.

"When the shooting of this film began, I lost more weight than what you see in the film, but the director said I shouldn't lose that much," Sul recalled. "He thought a lot about how to make Nobody look more strange with moles on his face, worn-out shoes and a hat. Nobody had to be someone people would easily look down on, someone you'd hate to deal with."

On reuniting with Ryoo after nearly 15 years since “No Mercy” (2010), Sul was surprised by the change in his co-star.

"When I met Seung-bum, I told him, 'You've changed so much.' He seemed to have broadened his outlook and become a person who can embrace everything," Sul said. "The old Seung-bum had a 'raw' feeling, clear about his likes and dislikes. The current one seems to accept even the things he dislikes."

When asked how he hopes audiences will receive the film, Sul encouraged a lighthearted approach. He acknowledged the tragedy of the actual Yodogo incident, stating that he researched it extensively, calling it a "tragic history."

"I hope they don't overthink it and just enjoy it. It might be more fun if they go in without the prior knowledge that 'this was a true story,’” he said.