Yoo Hae-jin takes on first rom-com with 'Honey Sweet'

From left, director Lee Han, actors Cha In-pyo, Kim Hee-sun, Yoo Hae-jin, Han Sun-hwa and Jin Seon-kyu pose during a press conference for the new film ″Honey Sweet″ at CGV in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Mind Mark

By Lee Gyu-lee

Veteran actor Yoo Hae-jin is having a crack at romantic comedy for the first time in his 26-year career with the upcoming film “Honey Sweet.”

“When I choose a project, it's always about the script for me. My criteria is on what story it is trying to tell. And with this movie, the script was really interesting and I felt it could deliver both warmth and comedy,” the actor said during a press conference for the film, held at CGV in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday.

The rom-com flick, set to hit the theaters on Aug. 15, revolves around a researcher at a confectionery company, Chi-ho (Yoo). He lives a simple life, dedicating himself to the company and his shameless gambler brother Seok-ho (Cha In-pyo).

Outside his work, he is clueless, especially when it comes to women and dating. One day, he meets a bright-spirited single mom, Il-young (Kim Hee-sun), when he visits a loan company to pay off his brother's debt. As the encounter develops into a romantic relationship, Chi-ho's life makes a colorful turn.

The actor shared that he did not think of the film's genre as a romantic comedy when he worked on it.

“I didn't approach (the film) as a rom-com,” he said, adding it didn't feel like a challenge. “It didn't feel especially difficult or like it required extra because its genre was rom-com. It just happened to be classified as a rom-com to put a name on the genre.”

The film is led by director Lee Han, who is known for helming heartfelt drama flicks “Punch” (2011), and “Innocent Witness” (2019). He expressed he wanted to work in the comedy genre, unlike his previous works.

“There was only one reason. I had the desire to make a movie that I would find funny as an audience. It started with the question 'What kind of movie would be funny if I were the audience?'” he said.

“Yoo is a type of actor who is really good at balancing the ups and downs of emotions. So I wanted to lead a movie with the actor.”

A scene from the film ″Honey Sweet″ / Courtesy of Mind Mark

Yoo and Kim show two middle-aged people developing an awkwardly cute romance with Il-young taking the lead in the relationship.

“I was worried a lot at first because we needed to have good chemistry. But after we started filming, I wasn't worried at all,” Yoo said. “Kim was so accepting of my suggestions and was good at exchanging opinions. So I had no stress and enjoyed filming, which I thank her for.”

Kim also expressed excitement to return to the silver screen ten years after the 2011 Chinese movie “The Warring States,” working with Yoo for the first time.

“My character is lovely and charming but since it has been a while since I've filmed a movie, I was scared. But the director wrote me a two-page, hand-written letter on why I should play Il-young. And I felt for the director who needs me like this, I should definitely work with him,” she said.

“I'm sure everyone likes Yoo. He's very down to earth from what you can observe from his reality shows. I've heard he is really good at making a comfortable environment on the set so I expected to have good chemistry. And as I expected, he was really nice.”