'Boss' is set to fill this Chuseok with abundant laughter.
On the morning of the 1st, a press conference for the movie 'Boss' (Director Ra Hee-chan) was held at MegaBox Seongsu in Seoul's Seongdong District. Director Ra Hee-chan, along with actors Cho Woo-jin, Jung Kyung-ho, Park Ji-hwan, and Lee Gyu-hyung, attended the meeting to share their thoughts.
'Boss' is a comedic action movie depicting the desperate battle among members of an organization who fiercely 'yield' the boss position to pursue their own dreams ahead of the selection of the next boss, which is crucial for the organization's future.
Cho Woo-jin, who plays the second-in-command and the chef Sun-tae, explained about the film, saying, "The organization's boss meets a sudden death, creating a vacancy. Usually, a power struggle occurs to seize the boss position, but our film is instead a yielding contest. Sun-tae is a capable second-in-command who is desired by the elders to be the boss, but he cannot resist his instinct as a chef who wants to conquer the nation with delicious food, which leads him to yield his position."
He continued, "Kang-pyo (played by Jung Kyung-ho) is the legitimate heir and a capable individual. He is about to be released but is engrossed in dancing. Therefore, he does not want to become the boss. Pan-ho (played by Park Ji-hwan) is the friend who is least recognized for his capabilities. He has only a hot heart rather than a brain and wants to be the boss alone. Tae-kyu (played by Lee Gyu-hyung) is an undercover who has infiltrated the organization but struggles to solve a case. There's a comedic irony in that situation, filled with characters, and there are many wonderful seniors besides us. Many will make their charming entrances, and it will be like a Chuseok gift set filled with a grand celebration of those characters."
Director Ra Hee-chan shared his focus during the directing process, stating, "From the screenplay stage, I found this project refreshing. Exceptional actors gathered for the comedy, and I aimed to emphasize the dreams of characters who don't want to be the boss and the tension of their escape, which is also a necessary aspect to highlight the organization's threats."
When asked about his reason for choosing the project, Lee Gyu-hyung, who plays the undercover cop Tae-kyu, replied, "When I read the script from beginning to end, it flowed surprisingly well. My role was attractive. As an undercover agent who has infiltrated this organization for 10 years and experiences an identity crisis, the conflicts they face as an observer were really interesting, and the action was bold. The script was engagingly described, so I felt it would be amazing when brought to the screen."
He added, "I am a police officer who has been undercover to root out the organization for 10 years. The years have blended into my body. While I deliver jjjajangmyeon in the role of Sun-tae's right-hand man, my main role is that of a police officer. With an undercover background of 10 years, I experience an identity crisis." He noted, "I tried to maintain the gravity and tension akin to 'Infernal Affairs,' 'The Departed,' and 'Shinsegae.' I believe that the tension is what will evoke dramatic enjoyment when the identity is revealed or a twist occurs, so I focused intensely."
Park Ji-hwan plays Pan-ho, the number three in the organization who desires the boss position alone despite not being given such consideration. He remarked, "Pan-ho is a pure owner of desires. His greed is clean, and he is a loyal person who loves the organization. He is someone who cannot be hated, but his excessive purity and clarity make others uncomfortable. He is like a gas canister that could explode at any moment. He always has anxiety, but because he has that gas canister, others find it hard to approach him. He embodies a plausible desire to protect the organization and is willing to risk his life to do so."
He also revealed his reason for choosing the project by saying, "When I first read the script, I had certain expectations and anticipations. It completely subverted my expectations. It felt like listening to a cassette tape I used to love. It had a retro, classic feel that flooded me with nostalgia. Although the relationships between characters were conflict-filled, it was charming, and while it seemed like it was dealing with something harsh, it was beautiful. I liked that. And when I heard that these members were involved, I thought I had to participate because it felt like a call to arms."
Jung Kyung-ho, who went all-in on tango instead of seeking succession as the organization's second-in-command, also expressed deep affection, saying, "The fact that I could work with these actors made me decide to take the role without even reading the script. That was wonderful. I wanted to try it so much. Gyu-hyung is my friend. This has been a very satisfying and happy time."
He described his character, saying, "He is a pure person. Once he becomes fixated on something, that's all he sees. He is someone who wants to do freely what he wants to do, which happened to be dancing." He further explained, "Actually, it wasn't dance, but originally piano. I thought practicing tango diligently would be effective because of the lack of time for preparation, but it wasn't. It was really hard. I thought that when Kang-pyo came out, it would be more effective for people to laugh, and I felt that tango was the thing for that. So, after consulting with the director, I started dance practice immediately." He noted that he put a lot of effort into tango practice for about four months and when asked if he received any advice from Girls' Generation's Sooyoung, whom he has been publicly dating for 13 years, he responded, "Sooyoung's advice wasn't just about dancing; there was a lot. It was helpful. I think she commented on the videos I sent, saying, 'Good job' or 'This is how it is.'"
Meanwhile, Cho Woo-jin, who plays Sun-tae, the organization's second-in-command and a chef, shared, "As an actor, I have a chance to try something new. It sparked my spirit of challenge. This role and genre allow me to showcase a different side. As a person named Cho Woo-jin, the movie I filmed before 'Boss' was 'Our Movie.' It's a very heavy, dark, and deep film, so I needed a lot of healing to think about my health. Meeting the project 'Boss' during that time felt like a blessing. The director seemed to think my face didn't look good. He suggested, since we could heal and overcome through our movie, how about making it fun? That opened my heart wide, and I participated with the determination to engage properly with many excellent actors and great staff members."
He described his character, stating, "He is a dual-job chef. He is praised as a high performer in the organization. His side role is a chef running a Chinese restaurant, which is not an exaggeration to say is like family to him. When he enters that realm, he shows another culinary skill and displays vulnerable sides in front of his family, showcasing a clumsy yet relatable version of an everyday father." He explained that to achieve this, he learned real Chinese cooking, saying, "I approached it with a mindset of being faithful to the basics. Under the guidance of chefs Lu Ching Lai and Park Eun-young, I practiced handling fire, noodles, and wok techniques in a way that maximized professionalism within a short time, continuously practicing."
Regarding the action scenes, Cho Woo-jin remarked, "Of course, it's difficult. There's a significant risk of injury, but for the genre's thrill and action impact, many actors proposed ideas that allow us to incorporate our characters, searching for enjoyable elements to film." He added, "Isn't Jackie Chan synonymous with Chuseok? Although there's impact, there's comedy and all the characters are apparent. We tried to create various characters to perceive the action in a colorful way."
When asked why audiences should choose 'Boss' this Chuseok, Cho Woo-jin replied, "When exchanging greetings for Chuseok, the word 'abundant' seems to be used the most. I believe this film perfectly fits the variety of Chuseok and the wonderful time spent with family, friends, and lovers after a long time. It seems that the abundance reflects quite a lot on our movie. When thinking of Chuseok, you might think of Jackie Chan movies; however, I hope you'll think of 'Boss' instead, and I ask you to anticipate this movie, which is like a comprehensive gift of rich and happy feelings."
Jung Kyung-ho said, "I hope to share laughter for an extended period during the holiday. I enjoy going to the theater alone, but there's something pleasant about going with family to watch something like 'Boss' together during an extended Chuseok." Park Ji-hwan emphasized, "Chuseok is a special day when, despite living our lives separately, relatives, friends, and family gather. I remember choosing the most enjoyable films since childhood. This Chuseok, I believe 'Boss' can amplify happiness and provide amusing and delightful moments, so you should definitely watch 'Boss.'"
Lee Gyu-hyung confidently stated, "Chuseok means comedy. I'm confident in this comedic action genre. Please come and watch it in droves." Director Ra Hee-chan emphasized, "I believe a comedy film is only fully realized when seen in theaters with family and friends. I proudly say that this is a film meant to be seen together with them. It's not your typical gangster film, but a fresh and entertaining comedic action piece. I hope many people come to theaters for it."
Finally, Cho Woo-jin said, "Opportunities to watch movies should be experienced in theaters to truly savor the film. I ask for your love and support," and added with a smile, "After such a long time, it feels strange to meet everyone dressed up like this. I can't help but think of this as the 40s version of the 'Lion's Boys.'"
Meanwhile, 'Boss' is set to release in theaters this Chuseok.
[Photo] OSEN reporter Ji Hyung-jun
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