Salmokji: Whispering Water, which is aiming to be the all-time No. 1 horror film, has surpassed No. 1, and actress Kim Hyeyoon has rightfully taken her place as the horror queen.
Writing a new milestone for Korean horror cinema and continuing its box office storm, the film Salmokji: Whispering Water released a Q&A with director Lee Sang-min to commemorate surpassing 3 million viewers.
On the Salmokji road view a mysterious shape is captured, and the film crew heading to the reservoir for reshoots encounters something in the black, deep water, and the horror film that unfolds has boasted an astonishing box office record while holding the top spot since its release. Currently, Salmokji: Whispering Water is only 140,000 viewers short of the highest record set by Korean horror film The Ring Virus (Janghwa, Hongryeon) (2003), which recorded 3.14 million.
According to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) integrated computer network, it surpassed 3 million viewers as of Sunday, May 10. Salmokji: Whispering Water, which overtook the record of Gonjiam, released in 2018, to become the second-highest grossing Korean horror film at the domestic box office, continues to set new records. As audiences focus on Salmokji: Whispering Water's ongoing box office performance, director Lee Sang-min's Q&A draws attention for achieving an unexpected 3 million viewers with his first feature film.
Director Lee Sang-min said he could not imagine 3 million viewers and wondered if it was real. Above all, these days he frequently recalls the times spent on set. He remembered staff saying, "I hope many viewers watch it." At the time, the figure of 3 million was a number too delicate even to mention as a joke. Because it was such an unreal number to him, he is still simply amazed, he said.
Regarding the core points of Salmokji: Whispering Water's word-of-mouth success, he said he thought one major reason was the film's capacity for diverse interpretations. He wanted to offer audiences the experience of feeling as if they were possessed by a water ghost, so he crafted the narrative to allow for various interpretations. He added that such aspects likely made viewers naturally continue talking about the film after it ended.
He continued that more than that, the greatest strength was the charm of the actors. He said audiences loved the characters' chemistry far more than he expected. He thanked especially Kim Hyeyoon and Lee Jong-won, saying the chemistry between Gitae and Suin was possible because of those two actors. Even though both characters do not explain much directly, their acting skill and charm transformed those unexplained aspects into even greater strengths.
Director Lee Sang-min added that beyond those two, Kim Jun Han's performance captured a mysterious yet enigmatic atmosphere, Kim Young-sung and Oh Dong-min delivered raw, vivid performances, and thanks to Jang Da-a and Yoon Jae-chan's lively performances and bubbly charm, audiences came to love the characters even more.
In a one-on-one interview with OSEN that day, Lee Sang-min said the thought he had most while the film was successful was "thank goodness." He said he still finds himself repeatedly saying "I'm really relieved." He added that he had many worries and, frankly, great fears about how audiences would receive the film after its release. Even when Salmokji: Whispering Water was receiving much love after its release, he was constantly nervous. It was only after about the second week that he began to say "thank goodness." He confessed that now he feels not only relief but deep gratitude.
Along with the film itself, all kinds of memes sprang up on banners hung at the actual Salmokji location, which also became a decisive factor in its success.
Director Lee Sang-min said he found the reactions—such as deck being built at Salmokji or memes like "corn steamed in Salmokji water"—particularly amusing, noting the funniest response was people saying "exorcise it with capitalism." He said the idea that Koreans' characteristic energy and swift action could instantly fill even the space of Salmokji with positive energy was very impressive and entertaining.
Among real audience reviews after seeing the film, many said, "the water ghost was truly terrifying." The director said the water ghost felt somewhat different from other ghosts, seeming to represent nature itself. He wanted to convey the helplessness humans feel before nature's vastness and the fear of confronting an overwhelming, incomprehensible presence. To that end, he used many shots that made characters look small compared with overpowering spaces, and he worked to portray the water ghost as grotesque.
[Below is the full Q&A with Salmokji: Whispering Water director Lee Sang-min]
Q. Please tell us how you spend your days recently after the release of Salmokji: Whispering Water and about your current status.
Lately I have been enjoying doing things I always wanted to do. I spend whole days reading in the library, watching movies I wanted to see, or reading comics at a comic book café. I recently went on a trip with friends. I have always loved walking, and with the nice weather these days I have been taking long walks to my heart's content.
Q. The moments you imagined before your first film's release and the landscape you are actually facing now must be quite different. Please share your impressions after hearing the news of surpassing 3 million viewers.
I could not imagine 3 million viewers, so I wonder if this is real. Above all, these days I often recall the times on set. I remember staff saying, "I hope many viewers watch it." At the time, the figure of 3 million was a number too delicate even to mention as a joke. Because it was such an unreal number to me, I am still simply amazed.
Q. If there are any memorable audience reviews or evaluations from people around you, what are they? Also, were there moments when audiences interpreted parts you had not anticipated while writing and directing the script? Were there particularly impressive interpretations or aspects you saw in a new light?
Recently I went to the theater to watch the film and encountered audience members coming out of the adjacent screening of Salmokji: Whispering Water. Curious about what they might say, I quietly listened and was glad to hear they seemed to have enjoyed it. One comment that stuck with me was, "I don't think I'll be going to the reservoir for a while." Another person lamented, "I avoided ghosts throughout the movie, but in the underwater scene I finally locked eyes with the ghost."
The comment that stayed with me the most was, "the director grabs you by the collar and takes you on a roller coaster." It resonated as the expression that most closely matched the direction I had secretly intended while making the film.
Interpretations about when Suin was possessed and when the "real Gitae" becomes the "fake Gitae" were also very interesting. For example, there was an interpretation that "Suin was already possessed before coming to Salmokji," which I found fascinating. In the script stage the timing of Suin's possession was clear, but while filming I felt that boundary gradually blur. Conversely, interpretations about "from when was it the fake Gitae" were aspects I had not imagined at all, so they left a strong impression. The process of audiences filling the gaps in the film in their own ways to complete other stories was both enjoyable and gratifying.
Q. You met audiences directly through Q&As and stage greetings. What was the atmosphere like on site?
First, I could feel how much interest and love many people have for the film. I felt that it was truly an overwhelming amount of love. Some people even wrote me letters, and I sincerely hope this message of gratitude reaches them.
I read each letter with deep gratitude, and many sentences gave me great strength. I resolved to work harder at making films and to become a better person.
Although I knew how much love our actors were receiving, I was overwhelmed again by the thought, "I worked with such wonderful people!" I felt very moved.
Q. What do you think are the core points that led Salmokji: Whispering Water to its word-of-mouth success?
I think one major reason is that the film allowed for various interpretations. Because I wanted to give audiences the experience of feeling as if they were possessed by a water ghost, I structured the narrative so that different interpretations could arise. I believe those elements made viewers naturally continue conversations about the film after it ended.
But more than that, I think the greatest strength was the charm of our actors. Audiences loved the characters' chemistry far more than I expected. In particular, I believe the chemistry between Gitae and Suin was possible because of Kim Hyeyoon and Lee Jong-won. Both characters do not explain much directly, yet their acting skill and charm transformed those unexplained aspects into even greater strengths.
Not only those two, but Kim Jun Han's mysterious yet enigmatic performance, Kim Young-sung and Oh Dong-min's raw, vivid acting, and Jang Da-a and Yoon Jae-chan's vibrant performances and bubbly charm made audiences love the characters even more.
Q. As your debut feature commercial film, what meaning do Salmokji: Whispering Water's records hold for you?
From Salmokji: Whispering Water's production to its release, every process was a series of great fortunes for me. Each moment passed like a rush of new experiences, and only now do I realize how lucky all those moments were. The many fortunes and records Salmokji: Whispering Water created have become another benchmark I must surpass. I will work hard to return with good films so as not to disappoint that hope and expectation.
Q. Why do you think audiences are so enthusiastic about horror films, and as a "horror craftsman," what do you find to be the greatest appeal unique to the horror genre? Are there any genres or stories you would like to challenge in the future?
I think horror is a "genre of experience." Its true value is felt in the theater, which is why audiences love horror.
I believe horror's greatest charm lies in its "freedom." Visually and narratively, horror feels like it tells me, "you can do this." Also, because it is a genre whose appeal grows when information is restricted, I greatly enjoy the process of pondering that aspect.
The situations and images that come to my mind naturally fit the horror genre, so I continue to contemplate such narratives. But I also love profoundly moving stories as much as horror. I would like to one day tell a story that lifts people's hearts.
Q. What would you most like to say now to the actors and staff who have spent the past year with you?
The thing I most want to say is, "thank you so much for being with me." As I mentioned earlier, Salmokji: Whispering Water was a work filled with luck from planning to production, completion, and release. The greatest luck among those was meeting our actors and staff. I am shy and not good at showing affection, but working with them was wonderful to the point they often appear in my dreams. I would be truly grateful to work with them again. I hope we can all gather soon and share stories.
Q. Finally, please say a word to team Salmokji: Whispering Water and the audiences who cheered on the film's surpassing of 3 million viewers.
As with any film, especially horror, I believe it is completed thanks to the audiences who experience it together in the theater and scream along. I sincerely thank all the audiences who helped complete Salmokji: Whispering Water and who have loved team Salmokji: Whispering Water.<
[Photos] Movie poster and stills, Korean Film Council (KOFIC) integrated computer network, OSEN DB
[OSEN]