[OSENWORLD] Rising Korean actor Hong Kyung is drawing buzz for his Netflix film Good News — and for being compared to major stars like Park Hae-il and Timothée Chalamet. But the actor says the compliments make him more nervous than proud.
Meeting with Korean press on October 21, Hong said with a laugh, “It makes my back sweat. I’m still just starting out.”
Directed by Byun Sung-hyun, Good News is a 1970s-set thriller about a desperate group of people who devise a risky plan to safely land a hijacked plane. Hong plays Seo Go-myung, an elite Air Force controller caught in the chaos.
Director Byun praised Hong as “reminiscent of Park Hae-il in his prime,” while fans have nicknamed him “the Korean Timothée Chalamet.” Hong said with a shy laugh, “It’s really too much praise. Director Byun is someone who works with this relentless intensity — the kind of person who seems to pour his entire being into a project. You can feel his passion pushing everything forward.”
Hong shared that both Byun and veteran actor Sol Kyung-gu have described him as “obsessive” and “tirelessly devoted.” He explained, “Maybe it’s because I tend to ask a lot of questions and chase after details during filming. Sometimes I just don’t want to stop shooting because I think there’s another direction or instinct I haven’t explored yet. I hate going home with regrets.”
Reflecting on his collaboration with the Good News crew, Hong was quick to credit his team:
“The costume and makeup departments were incredible. They worked so hard to bring out new sides of my character, and I could feel their care and dedication in every shot. It reminded me how powerful the crew’s contribution really is.”
When asked whether he thinks he’s as handsome as people claim, Hong laughed again. “No, I don’t think so. There were actually a few moments on screen where I thought I looked bad,” he said. “The director would joke, ‘Stop it,’ whenever I complained, but I’m never fully satisfied with what I see. Maybe that dissatisfaction is what keeps me moving forward.”
As for what he considers his greatest strength, Hong answered without hesitation:
“Maybe my persistence. I’m just someone who keeps going until the very end. I don’t know if that’s a charm, but it’s the one thing I have.”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of Netflix
