Following Yoo Ah In’s departure from the Netflix series 'Hellbound' Season 2 due to drug charges, Kim Sung Cheol was the actor who took over the role of Jung Jin Soo.
Though the actor has changed, the character remains the same, so maintaining some consistency was essential to keep viewers immersed. Reflecting on his preparation, Kim Sung Cheol said, “I was able to start with the original webtoon as a reference.”
He shared, “Thankfully, I had the original story as a starting point. While reading the webtoon, I thought I actually resembled Jung Jin Soo more than I expected.” He added, “It had to be familiar yet fresh—that was challenging. My biggest goal was to naturally blend into the role of Jung Jin Soo. I think I achieved that to a degree. Even if comparisons are inevitable, if viewers can see the character’s journey and accept it, I’d consider it a success.”
The actor noted that when there’s an original work, he strives to stay true to it, carefully capturing the character’s tone, expressions, and mannerisms. For instance, while working on the musical 'Death Note,' he read the original manga over 300 times, being called “a fanatic of original works" among his peers.
When asked about his interpretation of Jung Jin Soo from 'Hellbound' Season 1, he said, “Twenty years ago, after receiving the decree of damnation, he likely experienced severe mental shock, wondering, ‘Why is this happening to me?’ This resentment probably led him to impose his pain on others, wanting them to live in fear as he did. That became his primary motivation.”
In Season 2, the theme of “suffering” has intensified. Kim Sung Cheol explained, “His mental and physical anguish and fear have reached an extreme. He can’t change his future and can only endure it. He also suffers by assuming various roles in hell. So, in Season 2, I perceived Jung Jin Soo as having no true self.”
Jung Jin Soo’s only goal now is to meet the other resurrected character, Park Jung Ja (played by Kim Shin Rok), the only person who might empathize with his torment. Kim Sung Cheol explained, “Ultimately, he wants to tell Park Jung Ja, ‘I’m terrified; what should I do?’ But she calls him a coward instead of giving the comfort he craves, leading him into chaos."
This scene was confusing for both the character and Kim Sung Cheol himself. The actor shared, “While acting, I couldn’t quite grasp the emotion. I was dumbfounded, and tears came naturally. It was a difficult moment to process, both as Jung Jin Soo and as an actor."
Jung Jin Soo is undoubtedly a villain, using and sacrificing people to achieve his goals. Yet, Kim Sung Cheol aimed to evoke sympathy or pity for the character. He shared, “While he ultimately deserves his punishment, I wanted viewers to feel a bit of sympathy or compassion for him. I believe that even the most disliked characters have an appeal if they can evoke empathy—not by justifying their actions, but by prompting viewers to wonder why they became that way.”
When asked which of the series' themes resonated with him most, he said, “For some reason, I feel a strong sense of duty and justice. I constantly distinguish between good and evil. Jung Jin Soo represents evil, while Park Jung Ja and Min Hye Jin embody goodness. Ultimately, they are saved and move toward a new beginning, but not Jung Jin Soo. It’s a simple message that justice prevails. Personally, I prefer to experience a work in a straightforward way rather than interpret it too deeply.”
Director Yeon Sang Ho’s humanistic approach also helped Kim Sung Cheol connect with the work. The actor added, “He’s a profoundly empathetic person, deeply humane. His ideas and genres may be grand, but his message is rooted in humanity. Filming with him helped me simplify my approach."
There is already considerable anticipation for Season 3, especially after the shocking end of Season 2, where Jung Jin Soo transforms into an emissary of hell. When asked about his thoughts, Kim Sung Cheol shared, “I jokingly asked the director to let Jung Jin Soo switch between human and emissary forms freely in Season 3, but he immediately said no,” sharing a laugh over the behind-the-scenes moment.
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