Jun Ji-hyun (44) is back on the big screen after 11 years with ‘Gunche’ (directed by Yeon Sang-ho). Returning to theaters for the first time since ‘Assassination’, she plays Kwon Se-jung, a biotechnology professor and leader of a survivor group, earning praise for her commanding aura that fills the movie.
‘Gunche’ is a film where isolated survivors in a building locked down by a mysterious infection face off against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. It is the latest work from director Yeon Sang-ho, known for ‘Train to Busan’, ‘Peninsula’, and ‘Face’, and was invited to the Midnight Screening section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The movie is a huge hit, surpassing 2 million viewers in just 5 days, marking the fastest box office growth of the year.
Since her debut in 1997, Jun Ji-hyun has solidified her status as a top star through numerous works like ‘My Sassy Girl’, ‘Introducing My Girlfriend’, ‘The Thieves’, ‘Berlin’, ‘My Love from the Star’, ‘Assassination’, ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’, and ‘Kingdom: Ashin of the North’, as well as her massive success as a CF star.
Returning to the big screen after a long hiatus, Jun Ji-hyun met with reporters on the 25th to share honest stories about ‘Gunche’ and her life as an actress.
-You’ve lived as a top star your whole life. Do you feel any pressure regarding that?
▶Haha. I’ve been working for so long now that I don’t think it’s right to be shy or say “I can’t do it, you do it.” Actually, because I started working so young, I didn’t have as many chances to experience social life as others, but I believe I’ve learned and grown a lot through my works and characters. Even when I visited the Blue House last month, if it weren’t for ‘North Star’, where would I have learned that kind of attitude or been able to act with such ease in front of a leader? I surprised myself. I think it comes naturally as I encounter different works and people. Also, I’m grateful because there are people who would want that kind of pressure but can’t.
-The name ‘Jun Ji-hyun’ is a brand in itself. Do you have a specific direction you want to move in?
▶I have no such intention. I feel like the moment I start thinking that way, I might head down a very bad path. My purpose and goal are always to do what I’m good at. I believe that if I focus on that, my work will naturally turn out well.
-Your previous works have had amazing box office results. Since ‘Gunche’ is your comeback film, do you feel any pressure?
▶Actually… human greed has no end. Haha. It’s been a long time since I’ve met audiences through a movie. Of course, I’d be grateful just to break even (laughs), but if many viewers come to see it, it would be meaningful for me personally, as an actress, and for everyone involved. Haha. Also, the atmosphere for Korean cinema is great right now. Many genre films are being released one after another, and it would be wonderful if they all do well.
-You were very active in expanding overseas before, but now the environment has changed because global interest in Korean cinema is so high.
▶That’s true. I believe that what is most Korean is what is most global. I am a Korean person and a Korean actress. I feel that I must first deliver great acting and establish my position in Korea for it to be truly global. Since the atmosphere has changed from before, I’m trying to focus more on what I can do here.
-Your recent interactions with fans during stage greetings have become a hot topic. Since it’s been 11 years, the stage greeting culture must have changed a lot.
▶It’s not difficult, but I was surprised by how much the culture has changed. But I loved it. When else would I get to meet and interact with so many people? I was touched by the manners and politeness of the Korean audience, as their standards are very high. So, I really enjoyed that time. Also, I can see the audience’s faces better than I thought, and the messages they write on sketchbooks are surprisingly easy to read. Actually, there aren’t many that have my name on them. I’m just focusing on those few (laughs). And the time feels precious. I couldn’t feel it when I was younger, but after doing this for a long time, I feel how precious and grateful I am for this time.
-Your abs shown during the stage greetings also became a topic of conversation.
▶Aren’t my abs already famous? Haha. They’re always there. But what people don’t realize is that the back is more important than the front, and the inside is more important than the outside. Those things are more important. I’ll stop there (laughs).
-The term ‘Tae-Hye-Ji’ (referring to top stars Kim Tae-hee, Song Hye-kyo, and Jun Ji-hyun) is very famous. What are your thoughts on it?
▶I’m grateful. Personally, I don’t think one has to be pretty. As I get older, I believe how a person lives is more important than whether they are pretty or handsome, so I don’t spend too much time worrying about it in the mirror every day. However, I must live well. Some people think of me as a star, and I hope those people live well too. They hold onto memories of my youth, and if they fall apart… just like how we want the singers of our favorite songs to live well. It’s like that. I have my own era, and it feels wrong to see the people from that time broken. Since I’ve been active for a long time, I’m probably a part of someone’s memories, so in that sense, I think I should live well. What’s the point of just working out hard? I need to work, do that work well, and also maintain a good family life. Keeping this balance is the most important thing in my life. And to maintain this, I need to move forward with consistency, which I consider the biggest homework of my life.
-How do you feel about acting these days?
▶Especially for actresses, as they get older, opportunities decrease and the space they can stand in inevitably narrows. That’s why I want to find roles where I can effectively convey emotions, and I believe that’s the right path. Without being tied to the past or struggling by trying to get too far ahead, I believe I need to find characters that allow me to convey current emotions well and act them out effectively.
