Ra Mi-ran and Lee Re Bring Magic to Life in ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’!

The movie ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ is set to stir the childhood innocence of audiences as a healing fantasy film.

A press and distribution preview for ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ was held on the 13th at Megabox Coex in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Actors Ra Mi-ran, Lee Re, and Director Park Bong-seop attended the event.

Opening on the 29th, ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ is a fantasy drama directed by Park Bong-seop. It tells a magical story about guests with lucky coins who visit ‘Zenitendo,’ a candy shop that grants wishes.

‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ is based on a bestseller that sold over 11 million copies worldwide and 2 million in Korea. Director Park Bong-seop, who gained recognition for his unique fantasy direction in the drama ‘The Uncanny Counter,’ took the helm to enhance the film’s quality. Regarding his decision to direct, he shared, “I was already familiar with the original. I have a daughter in elementary school, and she really enjoyed it.” He added, “I’ve directed many genre pieces and intense works in the past, but this time I wanted to challenge myself with a completely different genre. I chose this project wondering what it would be like to watch my own work with my daughter.”

The actors also proved their irreplaceable presence. Ra Mi-ran, who plays Hong-ja, the mysterious owner of Zenitendo, said, “Since the original work is so beloved, I felt a lot of pressure when I was first offered the role of Hong-ja.” She continued, “However, I joined because I thought we could create a uniquely Korean ‘K-Zenitendo.’ While I’ve mostly focused on realistic dramas and movies, I really wanted to try my hand at fantasy this time. It’s such a beautiful and warm piece.”

In particular, as soon as the poster was released, fans were amazed by her high synchronization with the character. Ra Mi-ran revealed, “I thought there might be a gap between me and the image of Hong-ja from the animation. I wondered if I could pull off that kind of aura, but with the help of the staff, the moment I put on the white hair, I thought, ‘Oh? This looks good!'” She added, “It was a challenge and a joyful process for me. I wondered when I’d get an experience like that again. It was fun maintaining the white hair during filming.”

When asked about the difficulties of filming, Ra Mi-ran replied, “The wig was quite heavy, so filming for about 12 hours took a toll on me. Even when resting, I had to stay still like a statue so it wouldn’t get messed up, and I had to eat very carefully.” She jokingly added, “When I get a lot of white hair later in life, I won’t dye it.”

Lee Re joined the cast as Yomi, the owner of Hwaang-dang, who threatens Zenitendo. She shared, “I felt a sense of mystery when I first read the script. I’ve always had a romanticized view of fantasy since I enjoyed dramas and animations as a child, and ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ really moved me.”

This marks her second project with Ra Mi-ran following the movie ‘Hope’. Lee Re expressed her satisfaction, saying, “I feel a strange sense of comfort when acting with her. We worked together on a project that felt like my debut. Since she’s seen me grow up, I felt mentally at ease during this shoot. I also had faith that she would support whatever acting I did. We had a great time on set, and I remember laughing a lot with the staff.”

When asked about her new transformation, Lee Re replied, “Things that were hard to imagine just by reading the script came together the moment I got my costume, hair, and makeup. The staff created the perfect elements for me to become Yomi.” She added, “I love my outfit. It was a princess-like look I’ve never tried in my life, paired with a sharp bob cut.”

Finally, ‘The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo’ is planned to meet viewers as a series after the movie’s release. Director Park noted, “Since it’s a fantasy piece, I thought audiences could enjoy it on a big screen with great sound in theaters. In the series, I think viewers will be able to encounter many more episodes and diverse characters. The charms of a movie and a drama are different, so I hope you look forward to it.”