A press screening and news conference for the film were held Tuesday afternoon at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. Ryoo and cast members Zo, Park Jeong-min, Shin and Park Hae-joon attended.
“Humint” refers to intelligence work using human networks — informants. Set in Vladivostok, the film follows people with different aims who collide in a place where secrets and truth sink into an icy sea. The movie highlights tightly coordinated shootouts and a suspense-driven plot.
Park Hae-joon, who plays Hwang Chi-seong, North Korea’s consul general in Vladivostok, said Ryoo creates “creative action.” He added, “When I read the script, I thought it was absurd. I wondered, ‘How are they going to shoot this?’ But watching the process, I thought, ‘This really fits action.’ I was surprised to see action I’d never seen before.”
Park Jeong-min, who shares action scenes with Zo, said, “Action scenes are dangerous. If you lose focus, you can get hurt, but (Zo) is so skilled that it felt like I was being protected.” He added that he practiced hard to match Zo’s energy “in every scene, every cut.”
Ryoo said the production sought realism in its gunplay by consulting a military affairs journalist from the planning stage.
“Instead of working only with the usual stunt team, we talked with a military journalist about how gunfire would work based on where characters are positioned,” he said. “These days, many viewers watch gun scenes with an expert’s eye, so we paid extra attention.” He said the crew counted bullets, tracked when characters could not fire more rounds, and noted when magazines had to be changed. Special effects staff also counted rounds “cut by cut,” he said.
Zo, who plays a South Korean National Intelligence Service agent known as Manager Jo, said he visited the agency for shooting practice and basic training. “It was only one day, but I learned a lot by asking questions,” he said, adding he was taught details such as one-handed firing, shooting while moving and footwork.
Park Jeong-min, who plays Park Geon, a section chief in North Korea’s Ministry of State Security, said even moments that might pass quickly on screen were mapped out in detail, including where a gun should point when held or not held. He said he practiced at home with a BB gun, including inserting magazines, and learned details down to eye direction when staying alert.
Park Hae-joon said his character handled weapons more freely than NIS agents and that he studied North Korean-style grips to fit the role.
Beyond gunfights, the film also centers on emotional acting between characters. A key thread is the relationship between Park Geon and Chae Seon-hwa, a North Korean restaurant worker played by Shin.
Park Jeong-min said, “I think Park Geon’s purpose in this film is only Seon-hwa.” He said Shin opened up quickly despite it being their first time meeting on set, allowing them to discuss the project in depth. “I’m glad and grateful that Shin Se-kyung played Seon-hwa,” he said.
Shin said the film felt different from the romance projects she has done. She added she was excited to work with Park Jeong-min and focused on making sure their emotional arc supported the film’s overall balance.
Several South Korean films are set to open during the Lunar New Year holiday, including Jang Hang-jun’s “The Man Who Lives With the King” and Kim Tae-yong’s “Number One.” Ryoo said he is close with the directors and actors of the holiday releases and hopes audiences will support South Korean films during the long break.
Focusing on “Humint,” Ryoo said he tried to create a stage where the cast’s appeal could come through on screen. “We did our best, within our abilities, to make a film that feels great to watch in a theater,” he said, asking viewers to look on it kindly.
“Humint” opens Feb. 11.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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