Sixteen years after the unofficial 'wind' of 10 million viewers... 'Changgu' Jung Woo's record of youth [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.

Jjang-gu, beloved for the film "Wind," returns to the screen after 16 years. Director and actor Jung Woo has infused "Jjang-gu" with an expanded narrative of youth and his own personal story.

On the 16th, a press screening for the movie "Crayon Shin-chan" was held at CGV Yongsan i-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Actors Jung Woo, Jung Soo-jung, Shin Seung-ho, Jo Beom-gyu, Kwon So-hyun, and director Oh Sung-ho attended the event and shared various stories.

"Jjanggu" is a lively and passionate drama about the audition genius "Jjanggu" (played by Jung Woo), who, despite being knocked down and frustrated time and again, endures and rises again with a single dream: to become an actor.

Sixteen years after "Baram," "Jjanggu" returns to the screen. Actor Jung Woo and director Oh Seong-ho have reunited for "Jjanggu," summoning back a youth icon that once defined an era. "Jjanggu" is a work depicting the survival story of a 20-something Jjanggu who, set in the 2000s, stepped out of the school fence and into the world.

Director Oh Seong-ho, making his directorial debut, said, "I am excited and nervous to present my first mainstream film." Co-director Jung Woo added, "I thought I was used to such occasions from my acting career, but I am also feeling excited and nervous. I hope you will view it favorably."

He added, "While filming, there can be various physical challenges and pressures, but I found it incredibly enjoyable. In a difficult film market, having the opportunity to work on this project was something I was grateful for, and I was thankful to be able to turn my story into a film. Because of this, I filmed each day with joy and happiness."

Jung Woo, a Busan-born aspiring actor, portrays Jjanggu, depicting a youth who refuses to give up on dreams despite facing the walls of reality. Through realistic daily-life acting and his unique human charm, he vividly captures Jjanggu's journey—awkward yet cheerful—in a more three-dimensional manner.

He said, "I introduced the character 'Jjanggu' in 'Wind,' which was a meaningful role in my acting career. In fact, since I was two or three years old, my real nickname was Jjanggu. While acting in 'Wind,' I often thought of my father, and the same was true for this current project. Anyway, it was personally refreshing to play the Jjanggu character again after 16 years. I hope the audience will feel the same warmth."

Jung Woo said that while he infused personal stories into "Crush," he noted, "This work originated from my own experiences, so I have unique feelings about it. However, I cannot say that all the characters in the film are based on real people." He further explained, "Especially a character like Min Hee (played by Jung Soo-jung) was drawn with the feeling of being every man's ideal."

He added, "Other characters are roles based on people I have experienced directly or indirectly ·," and stated, "The actual swimming scenes were performed while recalling the time when I auditioned for 'Silmi-do,' and some of the monologues in the film were taken from my free acting at that time." He further noted, "While my personal experiences served as the foundation, the story was adapted for cinematic purposes."

Additionally, the actor revealed, "While filming, I had many thoughts. My first movie audition was for a work by Director Jang Hang-jun. Trying to audition in front of the director made my heart swell with emotion," adding that they experienced "a complex mix of feelings."

Jung Soo-jung takes on the role of Min-hee, a master of the "pull-and-push" game, showcasing the charm of a character who stands firm in the face of love. Jung stated, "I thought it would be good for Min-hee to have a character opposite to Jjang-gu. I drew her that way because I thought it would help the audience relate more. As everyone knows, Soo-jung has a sophisticated and refined image, so I proposed that she would be a good fit for this role."

Jung Soo-jung then said, "I enjoyed watching the movie 'Wind' so much that I was very curious about the sequel, and I found the script fun to read when it was proposed. I also wanted to work well with senior actor Jung Woo, and we had a fun time filming on set."

Shin Seung-ho plays Jang Jae, a friend who stakes his life on loyalty and style, appearing with a weighty presence whenever Jjang-gu needs comfort, thereby maintaining the show's balance.

He said, "If it weren't for the work 'Jjanggu,' I would never have had the chance to work alongside senior actor Jung Woo as a friend. It was truly enjoyable, and throughout the entire shoot, senior Jung Woo always treated me with ease." He added, "Although the number of episodes was not as high as in my recent projects, it was a set where I looked forward to arriving each day. I believe our chemistry with senior Jung Woo was excellent, and I think we filmed so enjoyably that we almost forgot we were actually shooting."

Continuing, regarding Jung Woo's direction, he added, "It seems he guided us to perform with a live tone and situation, and I personally enjoy acting in that way."

Jo Beom-gyu, who played Kang-naeng-i, the younger sister of Jjang-gu's roommate, joined the cast through an audition. He said, "I was able to see Senior Jung-woo's passion. I felt that I would gain a lot from working on this film."

Jung Woo stated regarding appearing alongside the two actors of his generation, "I apologize," while also noting, "We conducted extensive script rehearsals and group readings beforehand. Just like in 'Wind,' we needed actors who could deliver dialects authentically. However, we invited these actors not merely because they excel in dialects, but because we believed their acting skills were exceptional and perfectly suited their characters."

In his directorial debut, he prioritized the actors' performances and characters above all else. Rather than focusing on fame or star power, he selected actors through auditions from thousands of applicants based solely on their suitability for the roles. During his first staff meeting, he personally performed all roles in the script from beginning to end to share the work's tone and emotional atmosphere.

Jung Woo said, "The actors have good character, and I believe that their good character led to their excellent performances. I feel Bae Deul-han-te (Auditor) about them." He added, "Especially actor Jo Beom-gyu, who plays Jjanggu in the film, along with the countless Jjanggus watching the film and many minor-role actors who auditioned, were cast solely through auditions, excluding considerations of recognition or star power. Beom-gyu, who had the largest role, endured significant hardship through four rounds of auditions. I believe Beom-gyu truly embodies the real Jjanggu of our film."

Finally, Jung Woo said he wants to make a film that offers encouragement to those going through an uncertain time. He stated, "I also nurtured my dream while attending acting classes as a high school student, and my dream was to get into the theater and film department. After that, my dream was to appear even in a minor role, and I believe that if we gradually break through barriers, the day will come when we can reach our bigger dreams. I wanted to convey that message."

The film "Baram" received widespread affection, to the extent that it was described as an "unofficial million-viewer film." In response, Jung Woo stated, "This is a different story from 'Baram.' 'Baram' was a small film, and 100,000 viewers was an enormous number for an independent film. We thought that alone would earn it great love from audiences, but the film later sparked an even bigger boom." He added, "I am curious about how 'Crayon Shin-chan' will be received by audiences."

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*This content was translated by AI.