Actor Lee Jae-in of 'Hi Five' expressed her calm feelings regarding the delay in the film's release due to Yoo Ah-in's drug allegations.
Lee conducted an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, on the morning of the 29th. During this gathering, she talked with domestic reporters about the film 'Hi Five,' which is set to release on the 30th (directed by Kang Hyung-cheol, provided/distributed by NEW, produced by Annapurna Films).
'Hi Five' is a comic action film about five individuals who, after receiving organ transplants, accidentally gain various superpowers and encounter those seeking to exploit their abilities. Among them, Lee plays the role of Wan-seo, a taekwondo girl who gains immense strength after undergoing heart transplant surgery.
Born in 2004, Lee Jae-in debuted as a child actress in the 2012 tvN drama 'Yellow Butterfly.' After making a strong impression in the 2019 film 'Sabaha,' she emerged as a promising talent in Chungmuro and, after finishing filming 'Hi Five' in 2021, will appear in front of audiences as a lead actress for the first time in four years.
In the meantime, Lee has transitioned from a minor to an adult. She said, "I filmed at age 18 while in my second year of high school, and I feel a bit unrecognizable now that I've become an adult. It's a little embarrassing but nice to see that people liked my appearance back then," smiling as she continued, "It had been so long since I had a wrap party for a premiere. As an adult, it was my first time having a wrap party for my premiere. I was told I should take the lead in setting the atmosphere. Later, I was happy to meet the staff members I filmed with, and it was nice to be able to talk about our experiences filming together."
Regarding the waiting period, she stated, "I went to observe the editing process and had many discussions at the editing room. During that time, I saw how the movie progressed and thought it was one of the stages of completing it. I wasn't overly anxious or worried. Anyway, I'm happy because it came out well."
The delay in the film's release was largely due to the drug allegations against actor Yoo Ah-in, who plays a role in the movie as Gi-dong. Relating to this, Lee noted, "It felt like such a long time since I saw my image on screen. I tried to recall what I love and how hard I was working. I first saw the movie at the press screening and looked at the credits, and even though I had seen credits thoroughly before, it seemed to take a long time to scroll. There are so many names and particularly a lot of names for CG graphics. It made me realize once more that I played an important role in a wonderful piece where so many people worked hard for the film to reach audiences positively."
She added, "After the film ended, I met with the actors and directors even more than I did during filming. I think I've seen them more now. However, since we are in the process of making a film, I believed there would be a release someday. I resonated deeply with what the director said: 'It's not just one person's film.' I felt this while watching the credits, during the shooting with other actors, and with the presence of the director, and it made me want to see the work that we laboriously shot in the heat of the summer."
'Hi Five' is set to be released in theaters nationwide on the 30th.
(Continues in Interview ②.)
[Photo] Provided by NEW and Annapurna Films.
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