Cho Jin-woong says acting alongside Lee Sung-min 'exhilarating experience'

• Published date: 26 February 2023
• Publication title: The Korea Times

Actor Cho Jin-woong said he initially had no idea what to make of his character when he first read the script for political thriller "The Devil's Deal." But the more he went over it with director Lee Won-tae and shared the possibilities of what he might do with the character, the more he wanted to step into the role of Hae-woong.

"Hae-woong is a regular candidate running for general election in the beginning, but then transforms into a power-hungry politician who is willing to get his hands dirty," he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. "Although I had mixed feelings about the character himself, I liked the fact that it's a character-driven story."

Set in Busan in 1992, "The Devil's Deal" follows the story of a morally conflicted, opportunistic politician who embarks on a tumultuous journey as he attempts to regain his political footing following a general election fallout.

The 46-year-old actor said he wanted to show the moral decay of Hae-woong and how his character deals with danger lurking around every corner of his life.

Asked about similarities to his character, Cho said he has no backup plans like Hae-woong. "Like Hae-woong, who doesn't give up on his political dreams, I've never thought about quitting acting. I wouldn't be able to find a new job at my age. I'm also weak against the strong," he laughed.

On starring alongside Lee Sung-min, who plays the role of untouchable power broker Sun-tae, Cho said he was just amazed to witness his acting skills up close. This marks their fifth time collaborating on a film, following "Kundo: Age of the...