Actor Jung Il-woo shared his thoughts on taking on his first Japanese debut through the Amazon Prime Video original series 'Criminal' and called for Korean viewers' interest.

On the afternoon of the 30th, a press conference for 'Criminal' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, attended by director Matsunaga Taishi and actor Jung Il-woo.

That day, Jung Il-woo expressed his feelings, saying, "'Criminal' is my Japanese debut work. I really worked hard filming it with the heart of a rookie, and I am happy to be able to show it to you like this."

This project came about through a personal offer from director Matsunaga Taishi. Jung Il-woo revealed, "After watching the film 'Highway Family,' the director said he wanted to work together, and three years later, he personally offered me the role of Takigawa." He added, "I read the original work three times to study the character, and I tried hard to portray a mysterious figure whose morality—whether good or evil—remains unclear."

To immerse himself in the character, he stayed in Japan for about two and a half months. During this process, he personally proposed detailed ideas to fit the changed setting where the character's background was switched to Korean. Jung Il-woo explained, "The character is Japanese in the original work, but as the setting changed to Korean, I suggested ideas such as the habit of rolling walnuts in hand and utilizing combat boots worn during military service, and the director gladly accepted them."

He also expressed high expectations for his global expansion. He shared his aspirations, saying, "These days, we live in an era where actors from various countries create works together. I hope opportunities arise to promote Korean content even more."

Meanwhile, 'Criminal' is on a successful run, ranking No. 1 in the series category for three consecutive weeks in Japan. Jung Il-woo expressed his anticipation for domestic viewers, saying, "It is an addictive work that you cannot stop once you start."