Yoo Hai Jin and Park Jihoon's bromantic chemistry will be on display as 'The Man Who Lives with the King' seeks audiences.
On Jan. 21 at Megabox COEX in Seoul, a press screening and panel for the film "The Man Who Lives with the King" (director Jang Hang-jun, distributed by SHOWBOX, produced by Onda Works and BA Entertainment) was held. Actors Yoo Hai Jin, Park Jihoon, Yoo Ji-tae, Jeon Mido, KIM MIN and director Jang Hang-jun attended the event.
The film "The Man Who Lives with the King" depicts the story of Cheongnyeongpo in 1457, a village head who volunteered for exile to revive his village, and the young dethroned former king who was exiled. Director Jang Hang-jun, who has delivered varied cinematic pleasures across genres—from comedy to thriller to moving true stories—with films starting from "Light the Lighter" to "Memoir of a Murderer," "Rebound" and "The Killers," took on a historical drama and for the first time in Korean film brought the hidden story of Danjong to the screen.
Director Jang Hang-jun said, "It feels like getting graded after an exam," and added, "I thought I was a lucky director because the actors agreed to join. It was like that on set, but I really looked only at acting ability. I didn't worry about popularity and focused on how well they fit the characters. Even during editing I thought, 'The casting was really well done,' and I am grateful. I'm thankful they shared this good time with me."
He also spoke about casting. Director Jang Hang-jun said, "When the script came out I thought we must offer it to Yoo Hai Jin. I gave it to him with a pounding heart, and Yoo Hai Jin said he wanted to do it. I quietly rejoiced inside." He added, "In Park Jihoon's case, I was told to watch the drama 'Weak Hero.' At the time the work wasn't very famous, but after watching it I thought, 'This actor would be good as Danjong.' Back then Park Jihoon didn't have an enormous fandom. It was good that he didn't have a clearly defined image as an actor. After casting him he became a global star, and I was so happy. Yoo Hai Jin and Big Jihoon—no one else could have played those roles. While making the film they were almost like living together; there was a father-son feeling. Their care, consideration and respect for each other were so visible. I thought, 'I am blessed.' Those with such good attitudes opened up to the project, and I think that reflected in the film."
He continued, "The role of Han Myeong-hoe that Yoo Ji-tae took on: people who have played Han Myeong-hoe before were small, high-toned, a bit skewed, and walked oddly, but when I looked for historical records there was no such description. The only record said he had a tall, dignified frame and a handsome face that everyone admired. The Han Myeong-hoe we know, remembered as a traitor, seemed written into the annals by someone who may not have even seen him, to fit that portrayal. So we decided to try a new Han Myeong-hoe. He was a new power figure of his time and the man who placed Sejo on the throne, so he wouldn't have been a frivolous person. The people who came to mind as weighty figures were Yoo Ji-tae and Don Lee, and I hoped Yoo Ji-tae would do it; he accepted gladly and I appreciated that."
He also said, "Originally there were six court ladies who followed Danjong into exile. We condensed those court ladies into one character. At first it seemed like the role was too small and she might not take it, but unexpectedly she agreed to meet, and her screen time grew little by little. As we met, imagination blossomed. The role stopped being a mere backdrop and became meaningful, and I liked that and would definitely like to work together again." He added, "KIM MIN is already working with me for the third time. Every time I see her, I think she is an actress with many possibilities and faces. From her debut onward, she is a actress with warmth. I want to see her continue to grow. There was no need for three attempts to recruit her; she just welcomed it. She digested the role so well that I am personally grateful. I want to keep working with such a great actress."
Asked about the concerns over the ending, he said, "Of course many people gave historical advice even before I prepared the project. We asked those advisors where the facts end and what records remain; there are countless theories, and we had to decide which parts to take and how to connect them, requiring a lot of imagination. About the figure Eom Heung-do, the annals mention him very briefly—one or two lines. When Nosan-gun died, Eom Heung-do took care of the body and then lived in hiding. That's it. To portray this person required more dramatic devices and imaginative additions, so I agonized over that a lot."
Yoo Hai Jin played the role of Eom Heung-do. Asked whether Eom Heung-do resembled director Jang, he joked, "Was I similar to the director? Was I that frivolous?" and added, "I didn't act thinking of the director. I have some of that light side myself." On acting focus he said, "I didn't think about where to place emphasis. I read the words and had vague imaginings of affection. The warmth of people gradually soaked into the set. If you watch the film you will see the look when Danjong plays by the riverside. What I felt then was like a parent watching a young child play in the water. I think I tried hard to understand Danjong."
He, who delivered a career-best performance, said, "I think Park Jihoon and the director both influenced me. Jang Hang-jun is cheerful and open. He listens well so people don't hesitate to suggest ideas, and he is open to making changes. He carefully addresses subtle emotions. I was influenced by that. Although I face many people in the film, I think acting is give and take. Park Jihoon and I mainly matched each other's rhythm. I think he really threw his lines well. When we met near the final part and I looked into Jihoon's eyes, that transmission—I felt apologetic before I entered but his eyes helped me a lot. Even though I knew the scene, I cried a lot. They made the emotions come out so naturally; they did it so well," he said, expressing gratitude.
Actor Park Jihoon, who strongly established his presence as Yeon Si-eun in the series "Weak Hero Class," played Danjong, Lee Hong-wi, in "The Man Who Lives with the King." Asked about his acting concerns, Park Jihoon said, "I didn't try to decide how to express it. I wanted to immerse myself naturally when matching beats and rhythm; I didn't think, 'Because it's sad I must express it this way.' I thought about how to sit in exile and similar aspects."
He also spoke about his chemistry with Yoo Hai Jin. Park Jihoon said, "The buildup that accumulated naturally while working with my senior seems to have come through in this film. I looked at him with great respect but I didn't try to express something specific." He recalled, "I also broke down during the later scenes with my senior. I sat in the back and watched the film wiping tears. Seeing the person Eom Heung-do, inside the film we made, when Lee Hong-wi met Eom Heung-do's eyes he might have felt the sorrow of seeing a father. The emotion of meeting my senior's gaze still comes to mind. I was so happy."
Yoo Ji-tae, who played Han Myeong-hoe, said cautiously, "Portraying a historical figure can bring a lot of burden, and I hope this press conference won't distort or glorify things even a little," and added, "Putting aside the real person Han Myeong-hoe, I thought there were points the character needed to fulfill in this film. The villain in the film functions like a spine, so I thought the Han Myeong-hoe in this movie needed to be portrayed well."
Yoo Ji-tae said, "When the director gave me this script, he told me he wanted a different, new Han Myeong-hoe with strength, and I thought it could be an opportunity for a new transformation. Han Myeong-hoe was separate from the villagers and had to be played with an instinctive feel. I constantly researched my acting tone and the points I needed to hit in this film. Actors usually feel a lot of pressure when portraying real people. If I were Han Myeong-hoe, even if I held misguided beliefs, my own sense of justice would live inside me. To portray not only the villain's function but the layers of that emotion, I made every effort."
Jeon Mido played Mae-hwa, a court lady who stayed with Danjong until his end. Jeon Mido said, "I think every actor who worked with Park Jihoon felt this. Our film's first scene was the first shot, and just from Hong-wi's gaze Mae-hwa's feelings naturally came out. I don't have many big dialogue scenes with Hong-wi, but because of Jihoon's aura Mae-hwa naturally took on the emotions she needed," and she described the warm chemistry with Park Jihoon.
KIM MIN appeared as Eom Heung-do's son Eom Tae-san. KIM MIN said of the shoot, "As the director said, when I was offered the role I didn't have the luxury of making three visits to recruit him. It was a good script so I wanted to join at once, and I had good memories with the director so I did it. My biggest thought was that I shouldn't be a burden. I thought I should not cause harm and should do my part."
Finally KIM MIN urged audiences, saying, "Our film is as lovable as the director and has depth. I hope people will look on it kindly." Director Jang Hang-jun, asked about expected box office scores, said, "It's awkward for me to announce audience numbers. What everyone—investors and actors—wants is for the film to pass the breakeven point. I want to give those who trusted us the feeling that 'it was good to do this film.' As a promise, I don't mind if one of the actors shaves their head, but I am earnestly aiming to reach and pass the breakeven point. The Korean film industry is, in a way, in a slump, and I want to help its rebound even a little." He added sincerely, "While doing postproduction I thought about what audiences might feel. How we approach unrealized justice. Should unrealized justice be forgotten? I hope audiences might feel that perhaps we should remember the figure Eom Heung-do."
Meanwhile, "The Man Who Lives with the King" opens on Feb. 4.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]