Jun Ji-hyun of the film "Gunch'e" explained why she chose director Yeon Sang-ho's work as her return to the screen after 11 years.
Jun Ji-hyun conducted an interview on the afternoon of the 26th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the event she met with domestic reporters and talked about the recently released film "Gunch'e."
"Gunch'e," which opened on the 21st (directed by Yeon Sang-ho, provided/distributed by SHOWBOX, produced by Wowpoint·Smilegate, co-produced by Midnights Studio), is a film about survivors trapped inside a building sealed off by a mysterious outbreak who must confront infected people that evolve in unpredictable ways. It is Yeon Sang-ho's third zombie film, following "Train to Busan" and "Peninsula," and drew attention for the appearances of top actors including Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Changwook, Koo Kyo-hwan, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rock, and Go Soo.
Among them, Jun Ji-hyun plays Kwon Se-jung, a biotechnologist and the leader of the survivors. Kwon Se-jung, who cannot tolerate injustice and was rejected for a faculty reappointment, ends up at the Dungwoo-ri building where a conference is being held at the suggestion of her ex-husband Han Gyu-seong (played by Go Soo), who was trying to introduce her to a new job, and becomes trapped there. As a biotechnologist, she reads the behavior and evolution patterns of the mysterious infected people and strives to lead the survivors and find a way to escape.
In particular, Jun Ji-hyun returned to the screen with "Gunch'e" 11 years after the 2015 release of "Assassination." She said about the goal she had when choosing "Gunch'e" as her comeback film, "Rather than a purpose, there was no specific goal that an actor must achieve when choosing a work. 'I want to appear in this kind of work' is the top priority. Also, the fact of doing a director Yeon Sang-ho's work itself was appealing. That was an aspiration an actor could achieve."
She said, "The moment I heard that director Yeon Sang-ho had sent the script, I had a belief of 'I will do it no matter what.' Personally, I liked the director's works. Also, while watching the director's works, there were moments that made me curious about how he cast actors. There may be a great ambition as a director to work repeatedly with the same actors, but I felt a human warmth in him as a person."
Jun Ji-hyun also said, "Among the director's many works, there were quite a few centered on female characters. As an actress, I thought, 'I could have done a work like that well, too.' I felt ambitious as an actor. So I was curious. The director is prolific, isn't he? The film industry and actors need people like him. He is a good director for actors as well. I was curious in many ways and wanted to challenge the director's work at least once. Wouldn't every actor feel the same?"
Director Yeon Sang-ho reportedly put effort into casting Jun Ji-hyun through actors such as Gang Dong-won, who appeared in "Tempest" with him. Jun Ji-hyun laughed and said, "It sounded like the director was joking to be funny," and added, "Gang Dong-won did say a word. He said director Yeon Sang-ho called him. The script must have been sent and he asked him to take a good look. But I had already received the script, read it, and made up my mind."
About her first impression of "Gunch'e," Jun Ji-hyun said with a smile, "It was fun. Of course." She added, "At that time I was getting bored with series and slowly paced works. But when I read the director's script I liked it. I felt it was urgent and moved quickly. I felt like I was reading a film I wanted to see."
She also said about her working style with director Yeon Sang-ho, "When you see the director's works, he always has his own color. He seems to make you bring out the uniquely uncomfortable emotions people have, even if you don't want to expose them, following his style. There are certainly dark aspects, and I thought the director might not be comfortable. But the set was very comfortable and extremely enjoyable. So it was surprising. I realized why many actors work with him repeatedly, and I wanted to as well. Naturally we talked about how the director's next project would proceed." she said with a laugh.
(Continued in interview ②)<
[Photo] Provided by SHOWBOX.
[OSEN]