Kim Woo-bin Gains 8kg for Role in The Moonlighter: Recent Update

On the morning of the 10th, a production presentation for Netflix’s The Moonlighter took place at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Joo-hwan and the lead actors, Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun, attended the event and shared various insights about the film.

The Moonlighter is an action film centered around Lee Jeong-do (played by Kim Woo-bin), a martial arts expert proficient in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo, holding a 9th-dan in these disciplines. He collaborates with probation officer Kim Seon-min (Kim Sung-kyun) to keep a close eye on criminals under electronic surveillance, aiming to prevent crime.

During the event, Kim Woo-bin introduced his character, stating, “He’s someone who enjoys games and exercise with friends, and he holds a 9th-dan in Taekwondo, Kendo, and Judo. He unintentionally aids a martial artist attacked by a criminal, which prompts probation officer Kim Seon-min to suggest he take on the role of a moonlighter.”

He elaborated, “I believed the emotional and mental transformations of the character were crucial. It’s intriguing to see how a character who pursues fun evolves when faced with real responsibilities, and I carefully explored that journey. I think I developed the character step by step while collaborating with the director.”

Kim Woo-bin further noted, “Since the character needed to be proficient in martial arts, I trained in Kendo, Judo, and Taekwondo under a martial arts director for three to four hours each day.”

In a surprising revelation, Kim Woo-bin shared that he intentionally gained weight for the role, saying, “I thought it would be better for my character to appear strong and capable of overpowering others, so I gained 8 kilograms.”

He added, “Since the character enjoys exercise and leads a happy life, I wanted him to look robust and a bit bulky, focusing on a solid appearance rather than a chiseled physique. I aimed to present a new side of myself.”

Meanwhile, The Moonlighter is set to be released exclusively on Netflix on the 13th.

Source: wikitree