Actress Jun Ji-hyun has expressed her absolute trust in director Yeon Sang-ho, with whom she collaborated for the movie ‘Gunche’.
During an interview on the 26th at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to celebrate the release of ‘Gunche’, Jun Ji-hyun spoke about her return to the big screen after 11 years. She shared, “I feel a sense of responsibility when choosing a movie. Since audiences spend their time and money to watch, I choose scripts based on what the audience would want to see rather than just what I want to do.”
Jun Ji-hyun had previously declared herself a fan of director Yeon Sang-ho during an interview at Cannes, expressing her wish to “become the persona within the ‘Yeon-niverse’ (Yeon Sang-ho Universe).” This admiration played a huge role in her decision to join this project.
Jun Ji-hyun said, “I’m a fan of director Yeon Sang-ho and have seen all of his works. That’s why I decided to do it even before reading the script when the offer came. While my fan heart played a part, I also loved the new charm of the zombies and the message the director wanted to convey in the movie.”
She emphasized that the Yeon Sang-ho she saw on set was just as great as the one she admired as a fan. “Directors have their own colors. Based on his works, I thought director Yeon Sang-ho might be sensitive or dark, but he actually has a great sense of humor and is very bright. The atmosphere on set was wonderful too. Everyone arrived and left on time. Because the director’s worldview and style are so distinct, it was incredibly comfortable for the actors. I didn’t have to worry about anything else and could just focus on my acting. It felt like I was riding on the director’s vision. Plus, his results never disappoint. ‘Gunche’ was truly amazing,” she praised.
‘Gunche’ ends with a hint of a sequel. When asked about her expectations for a follow-up, Jun Ji-hyun replied, “If I get an offer, I’ll definitely do it. Actually, the director talks more about his next project than a sequel. I’d do any project as long as it’s his.”
When asked if she discovered the secret behind director Yeon Sang-ho’s prolific creativity, producing more than one work a year, she praised him again, saying, “He just has so much material; it never runs dry. Isn’t that great? He’s the kind of director that actors and the film industry need. He works across various genres and formats. Since there are so many opportunities, it’s great for actors to have more directors like him. Moreover, his distinct style makes it even better.”
‘Gunche’, the collaboration between Jun Ji-hyun and director Yeon Sang-ho, tells the story of survivors trapped in a building locked down due to a mysterious infection, facing infected beings that have evolved in unpredictable ways. It serves as the grand finale of director Yeon Sang-ho’s zombie trilogy, following ‘Train to Busan’ and ‘Peninsula’. Released on the 21st, the film is currently a hit, surpassing 2 million viewers nationwide in just five days.
