Jun Ji-hyun Opens Up About Working with “Zombie Father” Director Yeon Sang-ho in ‘Gunche’!

Actress Jun Ji-hyun, who met Director Yeon Sang-ho for the first time through the movie ‘Gunche’, revealed that working with him was both comfortable and enjoyable. Although her role required intense action and rapid emotional shifts in a zombie setting, she noted that the precise direction kept her from feeling physically or mentally exhausted.

On May 26, Jun Ji-hyun met with YTN Star at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to celebrate the release of ‘Gunche’. The film has already shown strong box office potential, surpassing 2 million viewers just five days after its May 21 opening. Through this project, Jun Ji-hyun officially entered the ‘Yeon-niverse’ (Yeon Sang-ho + Universe), the director’s signature zombie world.

Jun Ji-hyun expressed her long-time admiration for Director Yeon Sang-ho. She shared, “I’ve watched all of Director Yeon Sang-ho’s works and really wanted to work with him. While watching his films, I sometimes thought, ‘I wish I could have played that role.’ Once I heard a script from him was coming, I had already mostly made up my mind. After reading it, I loved it, so deciding to appear in the film was easy.”

Among the director’s previous works, she particularly enjoyed the series ‘Hellbound’. Jun Ji-hyun said, “The subject matter was fresh and the direction was great. The female characters in his works are central to the story and are often proactive, so there were many roles I was greedy for. I want to continue working with the director and join the ‘Yeon Sang-ho squad’,” she added with a laugh.

She was specifically drawn to the unique worldview of ‘Gunche’. Jun Ji-hyun explained, “Existing zombies usually move individually and are uncontrollable, but this time, they move in clusters due to a network. I felt that Director Yeon Sang-ho, the ‘Zombie Father’ (Jom-beoji), wittily and critically captured the way people in modern society delegate their thinking to AI.”

Describing her character, she said, “I believe human nature is most clearly revealed in chaotic situations. I found it charming that Kwon Se-jung tries to explain things using her knowledge even in a crisis, and I thought that was an important part of the movie. Some viewers have mentioned that she grounded the story, making the flow feel natural, so I think I succeeded in that regard.”

Despite the breathtaking confrontations with zombies throughout the runtime, she found the various scenes manageable. Jun Ji-hyun noted, “Many people who saw the movie told me it must have been hard, but it wasn’t at all. Working with the director was actually comfortable. People with a clear vision only ask the actor for exactly what they need, allowing me to focus my energy on those specific parts and feel free within that framework, which was very comfortable for me as an actor.”

She joked, “There weren’t many lines, and the genre itself provided a lot of fun. During ‘North Star’, there were so many lines that I felt burdened just going to the set,” which sparked laughter. She also mentioned her co-star Goo Kyo-hwan, adding, “He’s the actor I spent the most time with on set. He’s so cheerful and we had many chances to talk, so we naturally became close.”

With a hearty laugh, Jun Ji-hyun clarified that there was no special treatment. She continued, “Even though we didn’t intend it, some people felt it was ‘too much’ and felt wronged. I was simply staying true to my role. That’s something that can happen when you’re immersed in a situation. I was literally just wearing jeans and a white t-shirt… but I’m grateful for those reactions,” expressing her thanks to the fans for their interest.

‘Gunche’ was officially invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, where Jun Ji-hyun attended the local schedule with Director Yeon Sang-ho and her fellow actors. She confessed, “It was great for our team to visit a place that can be called a sanctuary for filmmakers and experience that atmosphere. The whole city felt like a party, so I spent every day in a state of excitement. While Cannes isn’t the ultimate goal, I’ve developed a desire to visit often.”

Finally, she touched upon her future direction as a film actress. Jun Ji-hyun revealed, “I want to do as many movies as possible whenever the opportunity arises. However, I feel it’s meaningless if I choose a project I love but it isn’t chosen by many people, which is why I’ve been cautious with my selections. I believe I should choose works that audiences can enjoy rather than just what I want to do, so the selection process is quite difficult.”

Meanwhile, ‘Gunche’ opened on May 21. Alongside Jun Ji-hyun, the film stars Goo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-bin, Kim Shin-rok, and Go Soo.