“When the screening ended and the audience started clapping, I felt so emotional. It was moving to see a Korean film screened in France and to feel that cultural connection as so many international viewers loved it and applauded,” Jun Ji-hyun shared.
Actress Jun Ji-hyun, whose role in Director Yeon Sang-ho’s new film ‘Swarm’ led to an invitation to the Midnight Screening at the 79th Cannes Film Festival, looked back on the experience, saying she felt like she might cry.
Speaking on the terrace of the Palais des Festivals, the main venue of the festival, on the 16th (local time), Jun Ji-hyun expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’m so thankful to Director Yeon Sang-ho. I wonder where I would be if he hadn’t cast me.”
‘Swarm’ had its world premiere early that morning at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. The 2,300-seat theater was packed, and the audience welcomed Director Yeon Sang-ho and the cast, including Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, and Shin Hyun-bin, with cheers and applause. A five-minute standing ovation followed the screening before Director Yeon shared his thoughts.
While Jun Ji-hyun previously walked the Cannes red carpet in 2011 for Director Wayne Wang’s ‘The Secret Fan’, this marks her first time attending as the lead of a Korean film.
In Director Yeon’s new zombie flick ‘Swarm’, Jun Ji-hyun plays Kwon Se-jung, a biotechnologist who survives a massive infection outbreak inside a large shopping mall and leads a group of survivors.
Unlike the zombies who share intelligence and move as one, Kwon Se-jung is a steadfast character who pushes forward with what she believes is right, even if it’s a minority opinion. She also showcases intense action as she throws herself into the fight to survive.
“I found the action scenes exciting and charming to perform,” Jun Ji-hyun explained. “However, I felt it wouldn’t be fitting for a biotechnology professor to be too good at action, so I adjusted my performance accordingly.”
Director Yeon was reportedly so satisfied with Jun Ji-hyun’s action acting in ‘Swarm’ that he expressed a desire to work with her again on a film where action is the main focus.
Working with Director Yeon for the first time, Jun Ji-hyun recalled, “As an actress, I’m used to performing, but I often hit a wall. I’ve had a longing or conflict where I wanted someone to lead me. I felt I could experience that with Director Yeon, which made me eager to join.”
She also shared her wish to continue working with him, stating, “I want to work hard and become the director’s true persona within the ‘Yeon-iverse’ (Yeon Sang-ho Universe).”
The role of Seo Young-cheol, the character who clashes most dramatically with the survivor leader Jun Ji-hyun, was played by actor Koo Kyo-hwan.
Seo Young-cheol believes that humans perfectly sharing thoughts without communication barriers is the evolution of mankind, leading him to trigger the massive zombie outbreak. His plan is to connect all humans into one “zombie swarm” that shares intelligence.
The fresh concept of a villain who controls zombies provided a new perspective, with some foreign media comparing Koo Kyo-hwan’s performance to the ‘Joker’.
Koo Kyo-hwan responded, “I’m so honored by the Joker mention. It makes me feel that the character of Seo Young-cheol was introduced well to the audience.”
He humbly added, “The tension Seo Young-cheol provides wasn’t created by me, but by the reactions of the other actors. The atmosphere of the characters observing the series of events is what made Seo Young-cheol.”
Reflecting on walking the Cannes red carpet for the first time, he recalled, “I felt so many emotions, including overwhelming excitement, joy, and nervousness, that it can’t be explained in a single word.”
