The Wonder Fools lead Park Eunbin and director Yoo In-sik addressed the "Cha Eun-woo risk" that sparked controversy before the work's release.
On the morning of the 12th at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Grand Ballroom in Jongno-gu, Seoul, a press conference was held for Netflix's new series The Wonder Fools. Director Yoo In-sik and lead actors Park Eunbin, Choi Dae-hoon, Lim Seong-jae, Kim Hae-sook, Son Hyunjoo, Jung I-seo, Choi Yoon-ji and Bae Na-ra attended. Male lead Cha Eun-woo was absent because he is currently serving in the military.
Netflix's new work The Wonder Fools is set at the end of the 20th century in 1999 and tells the story of neighborhood fools who accidentally gain superpowers and struggle to save the world from villains who threaten peace. A superpower comic adventure about somewhat inept, slightly lacking people who accidentally gain superpowers and save the world.
Park Eunbin, Cha Eun-woo, Choi Dae-hoon and Lim Seong-jae portray Haesung City's official mess 'Eunchaeni', the mysterious Haesung City Hall official 'Lee Woon-jung', Haesung City's top troublemaker 'Son Kyung-hoon' and Haesung City's ultimate pushover 'Kang Robin', respectively, showing four distinct character performances and the chemistry of TEAM The Wonder Fools. In addition, the uniquely charismatic characters offered by Kim Hae-sook, Son Hyunjoo, Jung I-seo, Choi Yoon-ji and Bae Na-ra and the well-made production that perfectly recreates the fin-de-siècle sensibility of 1999, when end-of-the-world lore prevailed, are also points of interest.
Director Yoo In-sik said, "I originally liked the superhero genre, and the kinds of films I couldn't get up from as a child were 'Indiana Jones' and 'The Goonies.' When I first saw the writer's original idea for The Wonder Fools, my heart raced. I thought, 'I can convey the excitement I felt as a child to viewers,' so I began," and added, "This genre should be fun at its core. When you go to an amusement park, you get excited from the moment you fasten your seatbelt. There is a joy you don't want to end until the very end. At the same time, after enjoying many laughs, I hope viewers can feel something warm in their hearts."
The Wonder Fools is a compound of 'wonderful' meaning excellent and 'fool' meaning idiot, and regarding the secret of the title he said, "I like the unexpected things that happen when heterogeneous things collide. The genre is major, but the characters are very minor. I wondered, 'What can express that collision well?' Our work is a group of 'fools' who are not ready to wonder. It seemed to be expressed in just the title. Someone named it, and I think the title was well chosen," expressing satisfaction. To that, Park Eunbin said, "It's a title the director came up with," and director Yoo In-sik replied, "What if I say something like that?" looking flustered and drawing laughter.
Cha Eun-woo plays the mysterious Haesung City Hall official Lee Woon-jung, and The Wonder Fools director Yoo In-sik described Cha Eun-woo's character as, "He's a Haesung City official, but we don't know how this guy ended up sitting here. He always eats alone and lacks social skills."
He continued, "In fact, this guy is a telekinetic superpowered person. For some reason he didn't reveal it and lived quietly, but when his telekinesis is discovered he becomes entangled with these people. Then he goes through a process of forced socialization and is a character with many secrets."
Park Eunbin described her role, "Today I play a reckless, headstrong, childish character who gains the ability to teleport," and added, "This is my second collaboration with director Yoo In-sik since Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I joined because I wanted to have a lot of fun. Above all, when I first read this script I thought it was ingenious. I chose it because I thought I could make it very entertaining myself."
Park Eunbin also added, "As Chaeni, the tendencies I portray are simpler in thinking than any character I've expressed before. I also had many enjoyable experiences learning about this character's world. If viewers follow Chaeni, I think they will share in that joyful experience."
Park Eunbin and director Yoo In-sik are reuniting four years after the mega hit Extraordinary Attorney Woo, raising expectations.
Director Yoo In-sik said, "I admired Park Eunbin from the time I worked on Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I thought, 'Is there anything impossible for this actor? Let's try this too.' I actually believed she could do such things. She has a great comic sense, is bold and courageous, so I proposed it and she gladly joined, for which I'm grateful," and added, "Expectations for ratings seem favorable, so I hope we rank No. 1 globally."
Big Eunbin also said, "I didn't expect to reunite so soon. During filming, I first heard about the project in front of Woo-young-woo's kimbap shop and said, 'That would have been so much fun.' I was drawn to this work because it felt so full of potential. After Extraordinary Attorney Woo, director Yoo In-sik and I worked together again with real enjoyment and a light heart, and I hope viewers smile softly or laugh out loud a lot while watching. In the end, I think that choice was the right one," expressing great satisfaction.
However, The Wonder Fools was embroiled in controversy outside the work when lead Cha Eun-woo's tax evasion allegations surfaced ahead of the release.
Cha Eun-woo reportedly underwent an intensive investigation by the Seoul Regional Tax Service's Investigation Division 4 last July before his enlistment on charges of tax evasion, and it was reported that he was notified of a tax bill exceeding 20 billion won, causing social repercussions. The controversy grew when a clamshell eel restaurant corporation A operated by Cha Eun-woo's mother was detected, and as a result, Fantagio was notified of 8.2 billion won and corporation A including Cha Eun-woo was notified of 20 billion won in tax assessments. This is the largest tax assessment imposed on an entertainer to date, and Cha Eun-woo's side filed a "pre-assessment review" challenging the National Tax Service's decision and hired a major law firm to respond.
Eventually Cha Eun-woo bowed his head after paying 13 billion won to the tax authority in April this year. On his personal social media he repeatedly apologized, saying, "I respect the National Tax Service's procedures and results, and to prevent further confusion I have paid the related taxes in full. I will sincerely carry out the remaining procedures."
Director Yoo In-sik opened up about Cha Eun-woo's tax evasion controversy, saying, "At that time I learned about it through articles after editing and postproduction were already completed."
Regarding Cha Eun-woo's screen time editing he said, "This project was my long-held dream, and everyone involved worked to capture every second of every shot. It was a harder production than other dramas. We proceeded with editing and postproduction with the overall completion of the drama as the top priority. So I don't think I can make specific remarks about an individual's issue at the press conference. I ask for deep understanding," conveying a cautious stance.
About working with Cha Eun-woo for the first time, director Yoo In-sik said, "It must have been a new kind of challenge for not only Cha Eun-woo in terms of emotional acting or physical performance but for all the actors. It had to be devotedly realized for all the ensemble to come together. Cha Eun-woo also participated passionately like all the actors. I am satisfied with the result."
Park Eunbin, who worked with Cha Eun-woo for the first time, also said, "As the director always said from the beginning of preparing this work, team composition is important. That was the part he cared about most," and added, "The result made by everyone's best efforts will be available on the 15th, so I would appreciate it if you check it that day," sharing her thoughts on their collaboration.
Meanwhile, The Wonder Fools will be released in more than 190 countries worldwide via Netflix on the 15th.<
[Photo] reporter Ji Hyung-joon
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