Actress Lee Yo-won has made her return to the screen after 8 years, while the cast of 'Ghosts' paid tribute to their late senior, Lee Joo-sil.

On the afternoon of the 1st, a press screening for the film 'Ghosts' was held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul. Attendees included lead actors Lee Yo-won, Kang Chan-hee, Jung Kyung-ho, Oh Hee-jun, and director Hwang Seung-jae.

'Ghosts' (directed by Hwang Seung-jae, produced by Film_In_Season, distributed by Movie Brothers) depicts a story set in the near future, where AIs resembling humans coexist with humans. It expands on the narrative of Hwang Seung-jae's previous work, 'Job Seekers,' which won the grand award in the video category at the 8th SF Awards in 2021, implementing a future more realistic than reality and addressing current issues faced by Korean society one by one.

On that day, a representative of 'Ghosts' opened by stating, "We will take a moment to remember actor Lee Joo-sil."

The late Lee Joo-sil played an elderly woman suffering from dementia in the film and was the mother of the character Beom-soo. She passed away on Feb. 2 due to stomach cancer at the age of 81, just before the film's release.

The representative noted, "She was eagerly awaiting the release of our film but passed away in February," adding, "Thank you, Teacher Joo-sil. Your passion for acting will always be remembered in our hearts," as Lee Yo-won and Kang Chan-hee bowed their heads in mourning.

Lee Yo-won, showcasing a diverse acting spectrum, made her return to the screen after 8 years since 'Yes, Family' (2017). In the film, she plays an AI mom taking care of a pet AI abandoned on the street.

Lee Yo-won said, "I happened to read the script and found it very interesting. Even though it's an independent film, I really wanted to participate. In the past, I moved straight to commercial films without such opportunities, so I wanted to take part this time. It was really fun and enjoyable. But shooting in just one day was a bit of a burden. I wondered if I was doing well. Since I usually work on longer projects, I found it a bit challenging to condense everything into such a short time. However, I fully trusted the director, given his extensive experience."

Returning to the screen after 8 years, Lee Yo-won shared, "I feel very regretful. I always feel regret when I watch my works," adding, "This piece made me constantly question 'Is this right?' A lot is condensed, but there's time limitation to express it. I felt fortunate to have experienced a different style of film as the director's own experiences were incorporated into the work."

Kang Chan-hee, who recently earned recognition as the top groom material in the TVING series 'Spring Love Affair,' plays the phishing AI Beom-soo in the film. Initially thought to be the son Beom-soo returning home after a century, it was revealed he was a phishing AI produced to extort money from elderly individuals. Jung Kyung-ho plays both the writer Ki-chan and the AI Ki-chan, while Oh Hee-jun portrays a mortgage AI.

Kang Chan-hee expressed, "When I received the script, I found the material intriguing and fun, and I had promised the director that I would rush over whenever called. I am ready to go whenever the director calls me now."

Reflecting on his first experience playing an AI, he shared, "I wanted to express various characters. I wondered how to act but was told not to try too hard to show it. They said it would be great to act like a person. I focused on gradually bridging the emotional changes that needed to be filled in."

Finally, Kang Chan-hee stated, "We filmed it enthusiastically, and it was both fun and comfortable. I hope the viewers feel the same way," while Lee Yo-won added, "I am glad to see so much interest. I hope this reaches the public and that 'Ghosts' receives a lot of love and attention."

Meanwhile, 'Ghosts' is set to be released on the 9th.

[Photo] Reporter Min Kyung-hoon

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