A film focusing on the world of drugs rather than politics, "The Opposition" is coming.
On the morning of the 13th, a production briefing for the film "The Opposition" was held at the Mega Box COEX in Seoul. The main cast, including actors Kang Ha-neul, Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-joon, Ryu Kyung-soo, Chae Won-bin, and director Hwang Byeong-guk, attended.
The film "The Opposition" (directed by Hwang Byeong-guk, distributed by Plus M Entertainment, produced by HYBE Media Corp) is a crime action work where a broker in the drug scene, pursuing higher aspirations, and a prosecutor aiming to climb higher, intersect with a detective who is determined to wipe out drug crimes, each with different objectives. It is the first film to deal with "The Opposition," a major material based on the realities of the drug investigation behind-the-scenes that actually exists in South Korea but is not well known, produced by HYBE Media Corp, the production company of the hit film "The Spring of Seoul" which attracted 13.12 million viewers.
Kang Ha-neul, an actor active in various fields and genres on screen and in home theaters, plays Lee Gang-soo, a drug broker who sells information about drug offenders to national investigative agencies. Yoo Hae-jin plays Gu Kwan-hee, a prosecutor from the bottom rising to a higher position, while Park Hae-joon, known for his remarkable character adaptability in every work, takes on the role of detective Oh Sang-jae from the drug investigation team, who is determined to do everything to wipe out drug crimes. Additionally, Ryu Kyung-soo plays Jo Hoon, the son of a presidential candidate, and Chae Won-bin portrays actress Um Soo-jin, who fell to the bottom after getting involved in drugs.
Director Hwang Byeong-guk noted, "The term 'opposition' is not used in politics, but rather in the drug world. 'Opposition' was a term used among pickpockets." He explained that police reported other groups entering their territory to eliminate them, and the divide of ruling and opposition parties came into play, which then carried over into the drug world, where people pass information to investigative agencies and take financial compensation. They are a kind of broker.
Director Hwang Byeong-guk, who balances directing and acting, is presenting his new work "The Opposition" 14 years after "Special Investigation Team." He stated, "In around 2021, I received an article from the head of a production company. It said that drug offenders exchange information with each other every morning at the police agency. The character referred to as 'the opposition' in the article seemed both legal and illegal. I thought it would be interesting to portray such a character cinematically, and that led to the concept of the film."
Kang Ha-neul shared, "At first, I thought the title was related to politics. But I was shocked when I read the script because it wasn't about that. The structure of the script was intriguing, making me curious with each page I turned. The script itself had an appealing charm that kept drawing me in, which is why I decided to participate."
Yoo Hae-jin remarked, "There was freshness in using the subject of 'The Opposition' for the first time. It could easily have been a cliché movie, but it was anything but that, and I was very drawn to its freshness."
Park Hae-joon said, "Taking out the subject and existence of 'The Opposition' itself seemed interesting. I met the director while shooting 'The Spring of Seoul,' and I talked with him. I read the script in an instant and thought it would be an interesting project."
Director Hwang Byeong-guk, who is concurrently acting and directing, is releasing a new work 14 years after 'Special Investigation Team.' He recently appeared in the hit movie 'The Spring of Seoul' as the incompetent Major Hwang Byeong-geun.
Park Hae-joon, who said he spoke about 'The Opposition' during the waiting time for 'The Spring of Seoul,' remarked, "I first saw the director on set, and he kept glancing at me. I think he was wondering, 'Should I cast him?' (laughs) I wanted to be cast, but I thought that in the meantime, senior Woo-sung was there, maybe it interrupted that."
"I had a lot of action because I played a detective who is proactive in the field. Action is something I always do... (laughs) There's a way to put on handcuffs; once I grab onto something, I don't let go, and I chase until the end. The difference from existing detectives is that it's hard to tell whether this person is part of the drug organization or is a detective. Unlike other organizations, the drug organization is colorful, and it's said to be closer to that. The costumes are also flashy, making the character intriguing," he said. In response, director Hwang Byeong-guk mentioned, "I created the character based on an actual working detective."
When asked about the points he focused on while making a film about drugs, director Hwang Byeong-guk replied, "The film's concept was rhythm and speed. I requested all the actors to deliver their lines quickly and with rhythm. I hoped it would represent how they change to fulfill their desires in a multi-dimensional way, so we discussed it for a long time."
He continued, "To conduct research, I visited a drug rehabilitation center. I was shocked to find that the IQ of 20-something drug users was around 65. Their condition was so poor that they could receive military exemptions. They couldn't even find their cell phones when a call came in. Another case involved students who ranked 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in their school but came to undergo drug treatment. I want to convey the dangers and seriousness of drugs while keeping the audience engaged throughout the film, ultimately leaving them with a refreshing feeling after it ends," he expressed.
Kang Ha-neul, who will showcase two works in a row, 'Streaming' in March and 'The Opposition' in April, remarked, "As actors, we cannot know when or if a movie will be released. It just happened by chance. It's truly an honor, and it's a release time that many people have thoughtfully considered. I just hope that both projects are well received. I am mindful not to feel ashamed."
When asked if he felt burdened by the recent drought in the film industry, he replied, "I don't think or wish that my involvement would solve the drought. I believe everyone shares the desire to see good works produced and to enjoy them. I hope it's Korean films that fulfill that desire."
Meanwhile, 'The Opposition' is set to be released on April 23.
[Photo] Reporter Min Kyeong-hoon
[OSEN = Reporter Ha Soo-jung]