Director Bong Joon-ho mentioned President Yoon Suk-yeol's state of emergency and expressed his desire to convey empathy and comfort to the audience through the film 'Mickey 17.'
At a press conference for the film Mickey 17 held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, on the 20th, Director Bong said, "When the martial law news came out, Mark Ruffalo emailed me to ask, 'Are you okay?' and I told him, 'Don't worry.'" He added, "Suddenly, martial law was declared while Rosé's song was charting on Billboard."
He noted, "Nevertheless, music, movies, and daily life continue without interruption," and added, "I think this is a proud display of our citizens who have already overcome the martial law."
He further added, "We have already overcome it, and what remains are legal and formal procedures."
Director Bong said, "The film 'Parasite' is often described as a satire and critique of capitalism, which is not incorrect, but I don't make films with any specific 'flag' in mind." He explained, "Parasite is a story put together from the small things that happen when the character Choi Woo-shik goes to tutor at a rich house for the first time, and Mickey 17 is similar."
Director Bong expressed his hope that audiences would find empathy and comfort in Mickey 17. He said, "I was happy to hear from a fellow director at the preview that they felt a sense of comfort."
He explained, "Analysis of capitalism is clearly well documented in social science books," adding, "Film seeks to share the emotions of humans living in the gaps of society."
He emphasized, "The story I want to tell is that the protagonist Mickey has survived without being crushed despite facing various hardships, and that a weak and pitiful young man ultimately did not get destroyed."
Director Bong noted, "Mickey 17 has spectacular scenes where spaceships fly and thousands of creepers run across the snowfield," but added, "The rich and delicate nuances of the actors' performances become spectacular scenes themselves on the big screen, so if you don't see it in theaters, you'll regret it."
Mickey 17 is a story about an expendable being sent into dangerous situations; after dying, he is reprinted as 'Mickey,' who faces the 17th death crisis, leading to the printing of 'Mickey 18' when he is presumed dead.
It is a science fiction film based on the novel 'Mickey 7' by American author Edward Ashton, set to be released in South Korea on the 28th, the first in the world.