This spring, the highly anticipated film 'Victory' (directed by Kim Hyung-joo, distributed by BiPoM Studio Co., Ltd., produced by Film Company Wolgwang Co., Ltd., co-produced by BH Entertainment) features Korea's legendary actor Lee Byung-hun, who perfectly transforms into the world's top Go legend, Cho Hun-hyun.

Undeniably, Korea's legendary actor Lee Byung-hun makes his return to the screen this spring with the film 'Victory.' The movie 'Victory' tells the story of Cho Hun-hyun (Lee Byung-hun), Korea's top Go legend, who, after losing a match against his disciple, challenges himself once again to reach the top with his innate competitive spirit.

'Victory' is set in the 1990s, when Go was revered as the ultimate brain sport, and it features the real-life Go legend Cho Hun-hyun as a model, akin to sports stars of this era like Kim Yuna, Park Ji-sung, and Son Heung-min. Given that it deals with a real person, casting was necessarily done with utmost caution.

Director Kim Hyung-joo, who is in charge of the screenplay and direction, noted that as soon as he began writing the first page of the script, he thought Lee Byung-hun was the perfect fit. He remarked, "Only Lee Byung-hun came to mind as an actor who can express the extreme emotions of dignity, confidence, and the desperation of falling apart in detail. Watching him act with the Go board before him, even capturing the tremor in his eyes, made me realize once again that he is Lee Byung-hun."

As images of Lee Byung-hun in the film, which have become synonymous with 'Victory,' have been released through posters and trailers, the response from the audience has been heating up online. Many have noted that Lee Byung-hun's appearance evokes the image of a young Cho Hun-hyun, reacting as if it seamlessly overlaps with his face.

Lee Byung-hun confessed that before reading the script, he did not know much about Go and thus had little interest in a story about it. However, after reading the entire script, he became enchanted by the dramatic story, and he felt confident that even audiences who are not well-versed in Go could fully immerse themselves, leading him to decide to participate.

Lee Byung-hun thoroughly analyzed his character by meeting with the real Cho Hun-hyun along with various materials prepared by the production team. Based on this, he shared, "I worked hard to act out a match that would make sense to someone who doesn’t know the rules. In particular, I paid close attention to express emotions in a nuanced and delicate way, allowing viewers to pick up on this person's psychology."

The film 'Victory,' showcasing Lee Byung-hun's perfect interpretation of his character, is set to be released in theaters nationwide on Mar. 26 (Wed).

[Photo] BiPoM Studio Co., Ltd., Korea Baduk Association

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