Actor Lee Je-hoon recalled the times during the IMF crisis that serve as the background for 'Big Deal.'
Lee Je-hoon conducted an interview for the movie 'Big Deal' (distributed by SHOWBOX, produced by The Lamp) at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd.
'Big Deal' portrays the story set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF financial crisis, where Jong-rok (played by Yoo Hae-jin), for whom the soju company is essentially life, battles against In-beom (played by Lee Je-hoon), an employee of a global investment firm who solely pursues revenue, for the fate of soju in Korea.
Lee Je-hoon plays the capable employee Choi In-beom of the global investment firm in the film. While he initially struggles to understand Jong-rok's dedicated attitude toward the company and the company dinners where they drink soju together after work, he experiences a change through his relationship with Jong-rok.
Continuing his work with 'The Art of Negotiation' that deals with corporations and money, Lee Je-hoon said, "I think there are fewer films or dramas of this kind in Korea. While many Hollywood works focus on financial crimes, I like that genre and have explored it. I hoped that such works would emerge in our country, so I was very pleased to come across the script for 'Big Deal.'"
In particular, 'Big Deal' touches on Lee Je-hoon's childhood, as it is set during the IMF period. Lee Je-hoon began, "It was intriguing to be able to tell such a story, especially since there were difficult times experienced during the IMF, and to adapt real events into a film."
Lee Je-hoon stated, "I remember the IMF period from middle school to my early 20s. My family operated a business, running a rice shop and a restaurant. After the IMF crisis, I saw my father working as a day laborer, and I realized the hardships of that situation. Being from a generation that directly experienced the difficulties of business not going well and being during school years made this story feel more real to me."
He continued, "I wanted to show how things have changed since then. The financial market in Korea opened up due to the influx of foreign capital after the IMF, and the corporate governance system changed, enhancing international competitiveness, tightening regulation, and allowing the free movement of capital. While the country underwent significant institutional or structural changes and faced economic and social shocks, I believe that it has strengthened in terms of market transparency and efficiency in the long run. I think the foundation of this lies in the crisis awareness of the people and their dedication, which is mixed with their blood, sweat, and tears. Reflecting on this, what I want to convey through this film is that after experiencing a crisis, we are now facing moral hazard more than ever. Through the medium of soju, I wanted to unfold the stories of Jong-rok and In-beom, exploring what values we hold in our current society and how we reflect those values in our lives and work."
Having worked consecutively on projects about corporations and money, Lee Je-hoon said, "As I live my life as an actor, I've always had a keen interest in how the world works. The individuals who constitute the world are humans, and I'm curious about how the majority interact and establish relationships, which is why I continually follow the news. I'm curious about what people are interested in these days and how one can live in a future-oriented way that is safe. Perhaps due to running a company, my interest has increased. That interest influences my choice of projects. When I met 'Big Deal,' it aligned with my current concerns and values, and I was glad to follow it with 'The Art of Negotiation.' I'm delighted to be part of a project that realistically portrays these experiences, and I suspect I will continue to maintain this heightened interest when selecting future projects. I believe this interest will not only be limited to me but will also persist among individuals engaged in economic and social activities in life."
He added, "The future is uncertain. In that regard, I think many people might become interested as presidential elections or news intertwined with economic and global situations significantly influence domestic affairs, leading to an expansion of thought. I'm curious as to how 'Big Deal' will be remembered when it becomes a work that others can refer to in the future."
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