Actor Jun Ji-hyun has revealed the reason behind her return to the big screen in ‘Gunche’, marking her first movie role in 11 years since ‘Assassination’.
On the 17th (local time), the team of the movie ‘Gunche’ met for an interview on the terrace of the Palais des Festivals, the heart of the 79th Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France.
Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, ‘Gunche’ is a new zombie thriller following ‘Train to Busan’ and ‘Peninsula’. The story follows isolated survivors trapped in a sealed building who must fight against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways.
Having returned to cinema 11 years after the 2015 film ‘Assassination’ (directed by Choi Dong-hoon), Jun Ji-hyun shared her thoughts on attending the Cannes Film Festival.
Expressing her joy, Jun Ji-hyun said, “This is my third time visiting Cannes formally, but it’s the first time I’ve been invited for a Korean film. I felt so moved yesterday when our movie was screened at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. It reminded me to live with more gratitude. I’m also very thankful to the director.”
When asked about the long hiatus from movies, she explained, “The atmosphere of the film industry changed significantly after COVID. Production conditions shifted, and honestly, it wasn’t easy to find a great script.”
“Naturally, my activities shifted toward dramas,” she added, explaining her choice of ‘Gunche’: “After reading Director Yeon Sang-ho’s script, I actually said, ‘Isn’t this exactly how a movie script should be?'”
Showing her love for the project, Jun Ji-hyun shared, “When picking a role, I believe it’s more important to choose a work that I would want to watch as an audience member rather than just what I want to do. I feel a particular sense of responsibility with films. When I go to the cinema, instead of watching something too dark that makes me overthink, I want to relieve stress. ‘Gunche’ felt like the perfect fit for that.”
