"Director Yoon Jong-bin is someone who provides clear answers. He shares everything, including aspects outside of acting, like social life. He is a life senior and a mentor."
Actor Son Seok-koo (42) expressed this about director Yoon Jong-bin (45), with whom he collaborated for the first time in 'Nine Puzzle'. He had previously shown respect for the director at a production presentation, and once again, he conveyed his affection in an official setting.
On the 5th, Maeil Business Star Today met with Son Seok-koo at a cafe located in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the conclusion of Disney Plus's 'Nine Puzzle'.
First, Son Seok-koo said, "Thank you for watching a lot. It was a bit unfamiliar since it was my first time doing a mystery genre. There were parts I couldn't gauge." He added, "We worked hard on it, and I have confidence, but I thought I didn't know how the results would turn out," sharing his honest feelings. He continued, "Now that all episodes are released, I think the real game starts from today internally," expressing his anticipation.
Son Seok-koo, who revealed that he is a huge fan of director Yoon, said, "When he asked to meet me before I saw the synopsis, I thought I had to participate. It was an honor just to receive the offer," expressing his gratitude.
The fact that it was his first mystery genre also intrigued Son Seok-koo. "I was not confident in the mystery genre. When I mentioned this, the director told me to just believe in myself and come. That increased my trust and sparked my sense of challenge. The director's presence was a significant part of my approach to this shoot," he emphasized.
‘Nine Puzzle’ is a mystery thriller that unravels the secrets of a serial murder case that begins again with the only witness of a decade-old unsolved case, profiler 'Ina' (Kim Da-mi), and the detective 'Han Saem' (Son Seok-koo), who continues to suspect her as a suspect.
In the Gangwon Police Station's Serious Crimes Team 2, where Son Seok-koo is part of, serious detectives such as Kim Sung-kyun as team leader Yang Jeong-ho and Hyun Bong-sik as the youngest member Choi San are assigned to address the seriousness of the case.
What does Son Seok-koo find appealing about the mystery genre? He said, "I thought the logical process of deducing the case and the delivery of information were more important than the development of relationships between characters. I believe that if you lose focus on even one point, you lose the next episode. There is a fun in always having to watch with tension."
He also mentioned his chemistry with Kim Da-mi. "She is a passionate friend. She is someone who knows what she wants clearly. We could discuss a lot of details and small things while acting together," he said.
Regarding Hyun Bong-sik, with whom he previously collaborated in the Netflix original 'D.P.', he said, "He is great. He acts well and is a good friend in every way. Being with him feels good, and rather than saying anything, he is just a good person."
Following 'Suriname' on Netflix, 'Nine Puzzle' is director Yoon's comeback work and his debut on Disney Plus. Since its release, it has ranked as the most-watched Korean content on Disney Plus in 2025 across the globe and the Asia-Pacific region, leading a global mystery syndrome.
[Ji Seung-hoon, Star Today Reporter]
