Actor Kong Hyo-jin expressed regret over controversy surrounding the attitude of drama co-star Jung Jun-won.
On the afternoon of the 19th, an interview with leading actor Kong Hyo-jin of "The Journey to Gyeongju" was held at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno District, Seoul.
'The Journey to Gyeongju' (screenwriter-director Kim Mi-jo, presented by Lotte Entertainment·Michigan Venture Capital Co., distributor Lotte Entertainment, produced by Studio High Five, co-produced by Euforia ENT) depicts the four-mother-and-daughter family revenge drama in which the mothers set out on a "killer" trip after eight years of waiting for their youngest daughter Gyeongju, who did not return from a school trip. It is director Kim Mi-jo's first commercial film, who received solid directing recognition at prominent domestic and international film festivals for her debut work 'Seagull', and it has attracted much attention even before release, having been invited to the Hawaii International Film Festival and winning the audience award at the Florence Korean Film Festival. Kong Hyo-jin plays the eldest daughter Jang-ju, who cherishes her family. She is a dependable eldest daughter who always puts her mother first, soothes her immature younger siblings and tries to complete the blood-soaked revenge drama. Currently appearing in the MBC Friday-Saturday drama "A Bona fide Killer", Kong Hyo-jin recently surpassed a 10% viewership rating, proving her continued influence. In addition, the screen lead film "The Journey to Gyeongju" has risen to No. 1 in advance ticketing for Korean films, raising expectations.
Earlier, Jang Jun-won appeared with Kong Hyo-jin on MBC variety show "Hangout With Yoo" to promote "A Bona fide Killer", but because he appeared nervous throughout the broadcast and could not properly speak, a "attitude controversy" arose. Even during a mission to show his primary craft of acting, he failed to utter a single line, which caused bewilderment. Some internet users harshly criticized his attitude, saying "At this point it's not introversion but indifference." Afterwards Kong Hyo-jin posted on social media, "This husband who really threw up after the recording," and comforted him, saying, "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."
In the interview, Kong Hyo-jin said, "After all, these kinds of things are something the person has to go through. I don't know what direction public opinion is taking or what exactly happened, but he's such a manly person and should go on without wavering," adding, "Not everything goes my way, and the world doesn't usually go my way. I worry while saying, 'It will be fine,' but now he has to prove it through his work."
She continued, "Jung Jun-won is a good actor. I firmly believe that. He acted well. As an actor who has not yet played a lead role, I think he couldn't imagine and forgot. He performed with weight and maturity, but Mr. Jun-won is truly a person who does not speak easily," adding, "I wonder if that was the problem on the variety show too..(laughs) He's not someone who blurts things out; he's cautious. When I said I couldn't have a conversation, even if he tried to say something, we had to roll and there were times when we'd say, 'Okay, let's talk later.' He's not someone who blurts things out. That's why it's even more regrettable."
Meanwhile, "The Journey to Gyeongju" opens on the 26th.
[Photo] Provided by Lotte Entertainment
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