Jung Ji-hoon turns villain after 28 years

Apr 09, 2026, 12:59 pm

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Rain (Jung Ji-hoon). / Rain Company

Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) has taken on his first-ever villain role since debut, marking a major shift in his acting career through Netflix’s Bloodhounds 2.

Known for his long-standing “likable hero” image, Rain has built his career playing characters who ultimately stand on the side of justice. However, in Bloodhounds 2, he plays Lim Baek-jung, a ruthless figure who runs a global illegal boxing league and shows no hesitation in using violence.

“Playing a villain was extremely difficult. I feel like I used every curse word I could in my life,” he said in a recent interview in Seoul.

The series follows two young boxers fighting against illegal forces. After confronting a loan shark organization in Season 1, the story expands in Season 2 to a global underground boxing league, where Rain’s character serves as the central antagonist.

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Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) in Bloodhounds 2. / Netflix

Lim Baek-jung is driven by an obsession with money and is capable of extreme brutality, even murder. His clashes with the protagonists form the core of the show’s intense and violent action.

Rain said he had long turned down villain roles due to concerns about justification and image, but this project was different. “I was impressed by Season 1, and when I heard about Season 2, I thought, ‘I want to show something new,’” he said. “It was my first time doing boxing-based action, so I approached it as if starting from scratch.”

The role demanded both physical and emotional extremes. Rain revealed that he endured intense training and even relied on painkillers during filming. “After shooting, I would review the script and continue training,” he said.

Emotionally, the character also affected his daily life. “I try to live kindly, but sometimes I felt influenced by the character,” he said. “I consciously tried to say ‘I’m sorry’ more often, but people around me seemed to find that even scarier,” he added with a laugh.

Director Kim Joo-hwan encouraged a performance driven by emotion rather than rigid characterization. “He often asked how I felt in the moment rather than focusing on lines,” Rain said, noting that the result was a more unpredictable and instinct-driven character.

Having debuted as both a singer and actor, Rain also reflected on the changing entertainment landscape. After entering Hollywood with films like Speed Racer (2008) and Ninja Assassin (2009), he now sees a different global environment shaped by K-content.

“These days, I feel like I’m learning from younger actors,” he said. “Things I used to think were wrong are no longer so clear-cut. The speed of change in content and trends is completely different now.”

He added that he hopes to explore new formats, including short-form action dramas, and continue adapting to industry changes.

Despite expanding his acting spectrum, Rain admitted the role came with a heavy burden. “I think I want to step away from roles focused on building my physique,” he said. “If given the chance, I’d like to try roles that break it down instead.”