Director Jung Ji-young on ‘My Name Is’: “Why I Stick to True Stories”

Director Jung Ji-young, nearing 80, is currently the oldest active director in the Korean film industry. His bravery is legendary, even among his actors. He is always focused on raising awareness and presenting discussions on various social issues, as seen in his previous works like ‘Southern Army’, which dealt with ideology, ‘White War’ about the Vietnam War, and ‘Broken Arrow’ regarding the judge crossbow terror incident.

This time, he has brought one of the most painful chapters of modern Korean history, the Jeju April 3 incident, to the big screen in the film ‘My Name Is’, starring Yeom Hye-ran and Shin Woo-bin, which premiered last month. While Director Jung’s sense of social responsibility is as bold as the lead actress Yeom Hye-ran, he considered the public’s perspective in his approach. He chose a directing style that naturally weaves in the 4.3 incident through a woman’s journey to find her name.

“Jeju residents are still suffering from the 4.3 incident, but people on the mainland don’t know much about it. This is especially true for young people,” Jung shared. “I felt that a movie strictly about 4.3 would be difficult, so I thought about making a movie about the journey of discovering 4.3. While others may not know, for Jeju residents, it was something they had to overcome. Ultimately, I believe this is a movie about recovery and restoring love.”

He first met Yeom Hye-ran in the 2023 film ‘Boys’. At the time, she played the wife of the protagonist played by Sol Kyung-gu, and her realistic, flavorful acting captured Director Jung’s interest. From then on, he began writing the role of Jung-soon specifically for Yeom Hye-ran. Coincidentally, he also watched her play the Jeju mother Jeon Gwang-rye in ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’. The level of trust Director Jung has in Yeom Hye-ran is evident in the highlight barley field dance scene, where he left everything entirely in her hands.

“Why did it have to be 4.3 now? I thought someone else would do it. If I handled it vaguely, it would have to involve ideology or national division again. I already covered those in ‘Southern Army’ and ‘Namyoung-dong 1985’. I hoped someone else would do it. However, I didn’t see much investment. Then, the 4.3 Peace Foundation brought me a winning entry from a contest, and while it didn’t entirely appeal to me, the idea was good. Eventually, I started the project after being asked if I could take that idea and run with it.”

As of the 5th, ‘My Name Is’ has nearly reached 200,000 viewers and is currently ranking 2nd in the independent and art film box office, following Director Lee Myung-se’s ‘Ran 12.3’. Leveraging the recognition he gained from appearing on YouTube shows like ‘Maebul Show’, the film was produced with support from nearly 10,000 citizens. Recently, President Lee Jae-myung and the First Lady also viewed the film. The veteran director’s pride lies elsewhere: the driving force for him is the realization that people still value his messages and stories and continue to trust him.

“When I said I was making a meaningful movie, many actors stepped forward to help. Actors like Yoo Jun-sang, Oh Ji-ho, and Oh Yoon-ah were among them. They said, ‘I’ll appear without thinking about the money,’ but unfortunately, I couldn’t accept everyone. I wanted to give them at least transportation costs, but even that wasn’t possible. Kim Min-jae also appeared because he is from Jeju. The villagers in the latter half were all theater actors based in Jeju.”

His message continues to resonate abroad, and the film was invited to the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival. His movies feature love and friendship, as well as jealousy and hatred, but these are often rooted in specific events or the social atmosphere of the era. While true stories always leave a deep impression, they can be burdensome for a director. For Director Jung, the reason for sticking to true-story-based films is simple and clear.

“Of course, I want to keep working with these subjects. But I don’t know how long I’ll be able to. A film director needs to be called upon and hired. Ultimately, the film has to be a hit. In this rapidly changing era, I do wonder if the works and themes I want to pursue are still valid.”

Director Jung Ji-young is already preparing his next project. Since it is a large-scale production, he joked, “An investor needs to come forward. I can’t do it by begging.” As can be felt in his previous works, it will be a project supported by a heavy, meaningful message.

“An artist shouldn’t film while thinking about the audience; they should do as they please. If you create while worrying about ‘how much the audience can understand my story,’ it becomes too distant. I wouldn’t feel like an artist. I think that’s just my nature. Perhaps the tendencies from when I was a ‘literary boy’ remain. During my school days, I read many novels and plays about society after the war, and I was fascinated by how the relationship between society, history, and events was revealed. I liked Director Hitchcock. There is mystery in my films, but I believe that personal love or affection ultimately exists within the flow of society and history. I think it’s impossible to be separate from that influence. I don’t think it’s great courage. In the end, I just want to make works that others don’t.”