Lim Eun-jung, CEO of 'Wang-sa-nam', said, "Predicting Park Ji-hoon's syndrome.."Toughly lose weight" [an interview with]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lim Eun-jung (40), the producer of "The Man Who Lives with the King," revealed about Park Ji-hoon's casting.

At a cafe in Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 11th, I met with Lim Eun-jung, CEO of Onda Works, the production company of the movie "The Man Who Lives with the King" (director Jang Hang-joon).

"The Man Who Lives with the King" is a movie about Cheongryeongpo in 1457, a chief who claimed to be exiled for the revival of the village, and a young predecessor who was expelled from the throne and exiled. On the 31st day of its release, the cumulative audience exceeded 10 million on the 6th.

It became the first 10 million movie in 2026 and the first 10 million movie in about two years since "The Outlaws 4" (2024). It is the 34th record of all time and the 25th record for a Korean movie. It is the fourth historical drama film after "The King's Man" (2005), "The Gwanghae, the Man Who Became the King" (2012), and "The Roaring Currents (2014).

On the same day, CEO Lim Eun-jung said about the "monopoly syndrome" brought about by "The Man Who Lives with the King," "Scenario is important, but so is the combination of casting." I didn't expect such a big syndrome, but we all thought Park Ji-hoon's discontinuation would have an impact. That's why I ran with confidence as soon as I saw the director," he said.

"No one has ever doubted that. Before the casting began, there was no direction to discover new masks before Haejin (Yoo) also came. But Haejin joined and decided, "Let's go in that direction." When asked about the discontinuation syndrome, he says he has foreseen it now. Isn't the movie a result anyway?" he laughed.

CEO Lim Eun-jung, who recommended Park Ji-hoon to director Jang Hang-joon after watching the drama "Weak Hero" series, recalled the time of the first meeting. He said, "As the director said, at first, he showed up enjoying his vacation well and was tanned. The visual was not without question marks, but I felt the attitude, affection, and passion for acting. I thought that if I could diet as much as that passion, I would have a chance of winning, he said. "There are some things that the director fell in love with after seeing the 'weak hero' but I think there is a big part I fell in love with after meeting him in person."

"While working with the director this time, I was moved by the writer's ability. When working on a scenario, I even think, "You're writing this much?" but he also knows how to easily throw away the scenario he wrote. As such, the most important focus is on communicating with actors and bringing out acting," he said. "I think the passion (Park Ji-hoon) showed at the meeting gave as much confidence as the visuals he showed in "Weak Hero."

CEO Lim Eun-jung said, "I heard a lot about Park Ji-hoon because I was close to the "Weak Hero" production team, but I was worried about what it would be like at the site with many seniors because I worked with actors of my age. But I think it was my prejudice. He had a strong sense of responsibility that he should not be someone. I was surprised to see how he gradually lost weight every time we met, and there were times when we met and were united before filming, but he was still strong. Coach Jang Hang-joon also shook it, but I felt cool because I had a goal."

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*This content was translated by AI.