The top-grossing film of 2025, 'My Daughter is a Zombie,' has released a Q&A interview with the original author, Lee Yun-chang.
Q. I'm curious about your impressions of the movie 'My Daughter is a Zombie' and your favorite scene.
Since my hometown and the filming location are both 'Namhae,' it feels even more so like going back to my roots and hearing warm and comforting stories. Watching it makes my heart feel joyful and at ease, and I plan to continue watching in the future. There are many scenes I like, but the one I am most attached to is the moment when 'Jung-hwan' (Jo Jung-seok) rides a boat to the island for 'Soo-ah' (Choi Yu-ri)'s training. As 'Jung-hwan' looks at the dawn on the sea, I wonder what he is thinking. It's a brief moment, but from his expression, I get a sense of hope for 'Soo-ah's' training, and at the same time, the many hardships he will face in the future come to mind, making my heart ache and wanting to comfort him. Also, the back-and-forth scenes between 'Bam-soon' (Lee Jeong-eun) and 'Soo-ah' are always enjoyable. I really love the scene where 'Ae-yong' is licking the egg rice.
Q. The high synchronization rate of the actors is a hot topic. Were the charms of the characters, imagined while drawing the webtoon, well conveyed on screen?
It's an indisputable casting. The harmonious chemistry of the characters stands out and generates laughter without any awkwardness, well conveying their charms. It seems that the actors' existing friendships created an additional synergy effect. Whenever Geum-dong, who plays 'Ae-yong,' appears, you could hear people saying, 'So cute' from all around.
Q. If there is a particularly impressive part of the adaptation for film, please share it.
The webtoon can only provide visual enjoyment, but the film impressively utilized both visuals and sound by actively incorporating dance and song. The dance that 'Soo-ah,' who has become a zombie, performs is also incredibly cute. The bright and cheerful melody paired with sad lyrics feels very poignant, and I felt the same way about Boa's 'Number One,' which matched the film well.
Q. What is the message you wanted to convey through this work? Do you think the intended meaning has been well captured in the film?
'Regardless of whether this world forsakes you, I will not give up on you,' I wanted to express the love of a parent who sacrificed everything for their beloved daughter. The director did an excellent job of directing, and the enthusiastic performances of the actors infused the message into the film.
Q. The webtoon 'My Daughter is a Zombie' was adapted into a film following its animation. What do you think is the reason it has been able to evolve into a super IP?
I can definitely say that 'Ae-yong' had a 90% share. Since I am a cat owner, I always observed and drew the behaviors of cats, which helped a lot. During serialization, there was a scene where a soldier searching said, 'Hey, butterfly~,' upon seeing 'Ae-yong,' and introduced himself with, 'Ae-yong! Kim Ae-yong!' This scene sparked much buzz, leading many people to check out the webtoon 'My Daughter is a Zombie.' I never expected this scene to become popular, so I feel like I was very lucky. And I believe that the story well depicted to ensure that those who first encountered 'My Daughter is a Zombie' through 'Ae-yong' could also enjoy 'Jung-hwan's' story played a significant role.
Q. Please say a word to the readers and viewers who love the webtoon 'My Daughter is a Zombie' and the film 'My Daughter is a Zombie.'
I sincerely thank you for listening to 'Jung-hwan's' story. It was because you loved the original work that the film could come out following the animation. For those who encountered the film first, I recommend experiencing the fun of the original work as well. My mother, after 50 years, found her way back to the theater after the film's release. I hope many people will take this opportunity to visit the theater with their parents. I plan to meet you again someday with another good story.
'My Daughter is a Zombie,' a comedic drama about a doting father who begins secret training to protect his daughter, who has become the last remaining zombie in this world, has surpassed 4 million viewers and set the record for the highest grossing score in 2025.
[Photo] Movie poster
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