Kim Sung-kyun on ‘Nine Puzzles’: 'I thought I was destined to play villains'

Known for his versatility, Kim Sung-kyun has portrayed everything from chilling antagonists to warm-hearted fathers and gritty detectives. But the actor recently revealed that he once believed villain roles were his destiny.

In a recent interview in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Kim shared behind-the-scenes insights from his latest project, the Disney+ original crime thriller "Nine Puzzles."

The series follows profiler Ena (Kim Da-mi), the sole witness to a decade-old unsolved murder, and detective Hansaem (Son Suk-ku), who continues to suspect her of the crime. Kim plays Yang Jung-ho, the morally steadfast team leader of the violent crimes unit at Hangang Police Station.

Kim said his family, especially his wife, was captivated by the show. “She started watching it casually in the kitchen but got so into it that she moved to the living room to watch more closely,” he recalled. “She kept telling me how much fun she was having.” Kim said he felt grateful to be part of such a compelling project.

To portray Yang, Kim was instructed by the director to embody a “priest-like” character, a man of calm authority and moral clarity. Initially skeptical, Kim wondered whether such selflessness was realistic.

“I thought, ‘Do people like this really exist?’ But then I remembered real-life figures who devote themselves to others without seeking recognition. I realized Jung-ho is one of them.”

Some viewers even suspected Yang could be the real killer — a twist Kim found both surprising and entertaining. “It was fun being suspected,” he said. “It felt like I was playing a game with the audience.”

Kim reunited on set with Son Suk-ku, his co-star from Netflix’s "D.P.," and said their existing rapport made their collaboration seamless. “We didn’t need time to warm up. We gave each other honest feedback. If something didn’t feel right, we said so.”

Reflecting on the dynamics of the cast, Kim shared a humorous moment about generational shifts in the workplace, referencing actor Hyun Bong-sik, who plays a younger detective.

“Back in the day, we waited in line behind the director and senior actors for lunch. But Bong-sik just disappeared and turned up at the front of the line,” Kim laughed. “It actually looked great, so I started doing it too. It felt like paradise after a nap.”

Now more than a decade into his acting career, Kim said he no longer feels the need to prove his range. Instead, he focuses on approaching each character with sincerity. “Acting is the art of convincing people you’re someone else. But the more the public knows about me, the harder that gets.”

If he hadn’t become an actor, Kim said he likely would have pursued carpentry — a craft he enjoys in his spare time. He once built a wooden swing set for his three children.

Of all his past roles, he said the father figure in "Reply 1988" most closely mirrors who he is offscreen: someone striving for warmth, steadiness, and harmony with family.

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.