Lee Jung-woo's third directorial work 'Lobby,' carrying the DNA of 'Roller Coaster,' has been upgraded and released into the world.

On the afternoon of the 25th, a press screening for the film 'Lobby' was held at the CGV Yongsan I Park Mall in Seoul. Attending the event were lead actors Kim Eui-sung, Kang Hae-rim, Lee Dong-hwi, Park Byeong-eun, Choi Si-won, Cha Joo-young, Kwak Sun-young, and Kang Mal-geum. Actor and director Lee Jung-woo was absent due to acute appendicitis.

'Lobby' (director Lee Jung-woo, produced by Workhouse Company and Film Momentum, provided by Michigan Venture Capital Co., Ltd. and WYSIWYG STUDIOS Co., Ltd., distributed by SHOWBOX) tells the story of Chang-wook (Lee Jung-woo), a CEO of a startup who only knows research, as he begins his first lobbying golf session to secure a 4 trillion won national project. Lee Jung-woo made his directorial debut in 2013 with 'Roller Coaster,' and after 'Heo Sam-kwan' (2015), he has released his third directorial work after ten years.

Lee Jung-woo plays Chang-wook, a CEO of a startup who only knows research and wants to win based solely on technology. Park Byeong-eun portrays Kwang-woo, the rival company CEO who secures business through lobbying. Kim Eui-sung plays Choi, a veteran government official and political insider. Kang Hae-rim is a professional golfer named Jin-pro. Lee Dong-hwi plays reporter Park, who facilitates the lobbying. Choi Si-won plays the charming national actor Ma Tae-soo. Cha Joo-young plays Dami, the club owner's wife at the golf course. Kwak Sun-young plays Director Kim, who supports Chang-wook, and Kang Mal-geum plays the corrupt Minister of Industry with great ambition but little interest in practical matters.

Particularly, on that day, Lee Jung-woo's absence left a disappointment, and fellow actors expressed their concerns.

Earlier, the 'Lobby' team stated, "Lee Jung-woo was on his way to attend an official schedule today but underwent emergency surgery due to acute appendicitis. He had the intention to attend the event; however, due to the doctor's diagnosis indicating the situation was challenging, he was regrettably unable to attend today's press screening for the film 'Lobby,' the press conference, and the stage greeting, as well as the empathy consulting event. All events will proceed as planned with the other actors, except for Lee Jung-woo. We sincerely ask for your understanding, and the 'Lobby' team wishes Lee Jung-woo a speedy recovery."

Kim Eui-sung said, "This morning, I heard about director Lee Jung-woo's situation, and he couldn't attend due to an unexpected illness. Instead, I deliver his apologies. He asked us to convey his regrets for not being able to join you. He said it’s not serious, so please conduct the press conference in a cheerful atmosphere. This is my second time watching this film, and I find it even more enjoyable than the first time. I hope everyone enjoys it."

"The character I portrayed is someone whose fanatical admiration for a female professional golfer overshadows her human qualities. When acting, I aimed to portray the character as gentle, kind, and charming, but I was shocked by how far from that I ended up. I didn’t think such an unlikable character could be crafted to surpass the unlikability of my previous work. I thought I was gentle, but then I felt a sense of crisis and wariness, worried, 'Could I come off like that to those around me?' (laughs) Overall, the more this character appears this way, the more the true professionalism and purity of a real professional golfer will stand out, and I believe director Lee Jung-woo's character, CEO Yoon, will also help. I'm nervously awaiting everyone's reactions," he mentioned.

Lee Dong-hwi said, "After seeing Kim Eui-sung's character, I promised myself, 'I mustn't live like that when I get older.' I vow to never live that way as I age."

Park Byeong-eun also noted, "Director Lee Jung-woo really wanted to be here. We were messaging earlier, and he expressed how disappointing it was not to be here. He wanted to come but had to refrain at the advice of his caretaker, who said it could be dangerous."

Choi Si-won remarked, "It's disappointing that the director cannot join us. We worked hard during filming, and I hope everyone enjoys the movie," and added, "The aspect I focused on for my character was to portray the appearance of a tiger while expressing the delicate heart of a deer. The director guided me well on depicting that, and I'm secretly looking forward to how audiences will perceive it."

Cha Joo-young stated, "I played the club owner's wife at the golf course. She appears to be a free spirit but feels constrained by her controlling husband. Later, she encounters a past love on the field and releases something she had hidden. I focused on staying true to the script and worked hard to harmonize with my fellow actors."

Choi Si-won expressed concern, saying, "I found it so enjoyable that I worried whether I could perform well. By the time of the second shoot, I had no worries at all; it was a set I truly wanted to be on. The director is among the best performers in Korea. When I didn't understand things, he always showed me the details of acting with short bursts and tempo. If given the chance, I would love to work with him, whether as an actor or a director."

Choi Si-won and Cha Joo-young bring large laughs to the film through their portrayal of 'crazy love.' Regarding this, Choi Si-won commented, "There's a scene where I deliver lines from a golf cart, which director Lee Jung-woo and I brainstormed together often. I had wonderful times acting alongside actress Cha Joo-young, and I’m grateful for that. I’d love to collaborate again."

Cha Joo-young also reflected, "I can't express how much fun it was to perform together. We tried many things and created a lot on set. We came up with tons of exciting ideas."

When asked, "Do you think this will be director Lee Jung-woo's representative work?" Park Byeong-eun replied, "I hope this film succeeds. That is my hope, but it's up to the audience to decide. I sincerely hope many people come to see it in theaters this year. It's my biggest wish." Kim Eui-sung added, "I cautiously hope for box office numbers of ten million. (laughs) Just kidding, but predicting box office success is not easy. The box office belongs to the audience too. It's beyond our control. However, I hope this strange and fun movie entertains many people and brings joy. Watching this film again today, I felt deeply about what I want to convey: 'Oh, this is what we must not miss in our lives,' hoping everyone leaves the theater with that thought in mind."

Meanwhile, 'Lobby' is set to be released on April 2.

[Photo] Kim Seong-rak, reporter

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