Second sister Park So-dam and third sister Lee Yeon's hair-pulling stills, which reveal the sisters' real-life relationships, are drawing attention.
The Journey to Gyeongju, which has held the No. 1 spot on the Korean film box office for six consecutive days amid an outpouring of overwhelmingly positive reviews from actual viewers, released "real-life sister stills" that highlight the unique chemistry of actors Kong Hyojin, Park So-dam and Lee Yeon.
The Journey to Gyeongju released six "real-life sister stills" showing the three sisters who usually snarl at each other but come together as one in the face of danger, drawing attention. From the casting announcement, the roles generated buzz: Kong Hyojin as "Jang-ju," Park So-dam as "Yeong-ju," and Lee Yeon as "Dong-ju." The three actors have, since the release, deepened the film's appeal by eliciting audience empathy with performances grounded in everyday life.
The released stills are full of real moments any sisters would relate to. Posing playfully at the camera or lying side by side at night and chatting shows a familiar daily life as if watching real sisters. In addition, the scenes of "Yeong-ju" and "Dong-ju" comforting a sibling scolded by their mother "Oksil" (Lee Jung-eun) but then grabbing each other's hair and fighting add vividness through the actors' convincing performances.
Although they bicker in everyday life, their sisterhood shines brighter in moments of crisis. When the murderer who kidnapped their family, "Baek Sang-hyun" (Byun Yo-Han), threatens their mother, "Dong-ju" rushes in without hesitation, and "Jang-ju" and "Yeong-ju" tend to their mother with care, each protecting the family in their own way. In particular, Dong-ju subdues an opponent while out handling the aftermath of the incident, and the sisters watch him silently, showing a clear division of roles among the three sisters and their strong loyalty to one another in decisive moments, which amplifies the film's entertainment.
Actual viewers who watched the film said, "It's hard to portray the deficiencies and conflicts that inevitably arise from sibling hierarchy and personality so well" (sleeping***), "The three sisters' chemistry is good!" (Park***), "Kong Hyojin's acting is astonishing every time! It's like someone brought in the eldest daughter and sat her down" (hi***), "Although called cold, Park So-dam naturally expressed Yeong-ju's love for her family and desire for recognition, which I liked" (talking***), and "Lee Yeon's acting as Dong-ju becomes so immersive toward the end that I watched while groaning" (Moves***). Audiences are sending deep empathy for the three actors' realistic performances.
Currently, The Journey to Gyeongju (written and directed by Kim Mi-jo, presented by Lotte Entertainment·Michigan Venture Capital Co., distributed by Lotte Entertainment, produced by Studio High Five, co-produced by Euphoria ENT) depicts a family revenge story of four mothers and daughters who, after eight years of waiting for the youngest daughter "Gyeong-ju," who did not return from a school trip, embark on a "killer" trip. Even among Hollywood blockbusters such as The Odyssey 2026, which surpassed 9 million and is nearing 10 million, and Spider-Man 4, which exceeded 8.5 million, it is maintaining a high rank at the box office. It has held the No. 1 spot on the Korean film box office for six consecutive days as word of mouth spreads.
[Photo] Lotte Entertainment
[OSEN]