‘Gunchae’ Kim Jae-rok. Showbox l Root B Company
He was a ‘hidden hero’.
Actor Kim Jae-rok made his presence felt with an unprecedented transformation in the film ‘Gunchae’.
The film ‘Gunchae’ by director Yeon Sang-ho is set inside a building sealed off due to an unidentified outbreak, where isolated survivors confront infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. Released on the 21st of last month, it surpassed 4 million viewers in 14 days and is continuing its overwhelming box-office momentum.
In ‘Gunchae’, Kim Jae-rok takes on the role of a former track athlete, a ‘man in his 60s’, leaving a brief yet powerful impression. The eldest in the survivor group that includes Kwon Se-jeong (played by Jeon Ji-hyun), who had previously gone unnoticed, he volunteers without hesitation for an operation to distract the infected, and with nimble movements and quick wits he subdues them, delivering a truly fresh shock and heightening audience immersion.
In particular, the elder’s exploits, sliding and running fearlessly among the infected to complete his mission, go beyond mere, unpredictable thrills to illuminate humanism amid extreme circumstances, offering audiences a moving catharsis.
Unveiling a new transformation in ‘Gunchae’, actor Kim Jae-rok is a veteran who debuted in 1994 and marks his 32nd year this year. Across a range of works on both the big and small screens, including the films ‘Christmas in August’, ‘A Little Princess’, ‘Jeon, Ran’, and the dramas ‘I Have Not Done My Best Yet’, ‘Beopjjeon’, and ‘She Who Is Different by Day and Night’, he has showcased his unique color and acting depth.
Previously, in the film ‘Face’, he played the ruthless proprietor Baek Ju-sang and delivered an impressive performance. He delicately portrayed the inner world of a despicable character who, even as he grows wretchedly old after a stroke, smiles at his ugly past, capturing attention.
As an actor who proves limitless character range with each project and who has stamped his presence in ‘Gunchae’, expectations are rising for the transformation he will present in his new work, as he has begun filming his next project.
