(Following Interview ②) Actor Jung Joon-ho (55) is making his way to theaters in the new year with 'Hitman' Season 2 (directed by Choi Won-seok, hereafter 'Hitman 2'), and he responded candidly to the recurring rumors of his entry into politics.
Recently, during a meeting at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, when asked about the 'possibility of entering politics,' Jung Joon-ho sharply replied, "Any specialized field should be handled by experts. Isn't the current situation chaotic because it's not?"
When further asked about rumors of him running for mayor of Yesan, he retorted, "If I were to do it, I should aim for the presidency, not just the mayor of Yesan. If you're going to do politics, the ultimate goal for every politician is that, isn't it?" He added, "I think the constant talk about me entering politics comes from my personality and the fact that I mingle with a variety of people. In fact, regarding Yesan, I have received nominations for the National Assembly two or three times."
He continued, "If you want to do politics, you have to completely set aside your career as an actor and take a serious gamble in that field. You need to learn everything from the ground up, study, and delve into current issues. You can't just suddenly become an actor and expect to get a nomination. That's why politics seems chaotic. A couple of times might be okay, but eventually, there will be problems."
He also stated, "If an athlete suddenly becomes an actor, they might manage a couple of projects. But there are definitely limits. Politics is the same. Everything is like that. If you're going to do it, you have to do it properly," emphasizing, "That's why I decline proposals."
Jung Joon-ho said, "If there are issues in that area, I can listen to the residents and citizens and go to the mayor to say, 'I attended an event, and they said this is difficult. Please help.' I gather those opinions and convey them, so in my heart, I already think of myself as a five-term member of the National Assembly," he laughed.
Moreover, he added, "Even if citizens don't have the opportunity to meet the mayor, county head, or governor, I can meet them. Current members of the National Assembly think of me that way too. If I ever run, I would be a competitive candidate," he candidly shared, bringing laughter.
He will be visiting theaters during the New Year holiday with two films. 'Hitman 2' will be released on the 22nd, followed by 'Ghost Police' on the 24th.
