'COLONY' Jeon Ji-hyun: "Chose it because it's a work by director Yeon Sang-ho... Felt moved at Cannes" [Interview ①]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Jeon Ji-hyun revealed the reason she decided to return to the screen with the film 'COLONY'.

On the 26th, we met with actress Jeon Ji-hyun of the film 'COLONY' (directed by Yeon Sang-ho) at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and had a wide-ranging conversation.

'COLONY' is a film about isolated survivors inside a building sealed off by an unidentified infectious outbreak, fighting against infected individuals evolving in unpredictable forms. The mere fact that it is a new work chosen by actress Jeon Ji-hyun, making her comeback to the screen after 11 years, has already positioned it as one of the most anticipated productions in both domestic and international film circles.

Jeon Ji-hyun portrayed Kwon Se-jeong, the leader of the survivors. Regarding her choice of 'COLONY' as her screen comeback project, she stated, "I didn't have any specific goal I felt I had to achieve. I simply had a strong desire to work with director Yeon Sang-ho."

Citing that it was a work by director Yeon Sang-ho, she said, "I thought I would just do it unconditionally. Personally, I like the director's works, and I found the casting process interesting. As a director, he might have had great ambitions, but I felt a sense of humanity in him working with actors one after another. Many of the director's works have focused on female characters, and seeing that made me think, 'I can do this well too,' which made me both eager and curious."

She continued, "The director is very prolific, and from the perspective of the film industry, we need directors like him. When we were filming 'Polaris,' I heard that Kang Dong-won called director Yeon Sang-ho to ask him to read the script carefully. Since I had already made up my mind, I wanted to meet him quickly."

Regarding her first impression of the 'COLONY' script, Jeon Ji-hyun said, "The script was naturally interesting, and around that time, I felt that long-breathed works could be boring. It was the first time in a while that I reviewed a film script, and I felt it was tense, fast-paced, and like I was reading a movie I wanted to see, which made it even better."

She also spoke about her first collaboration with director Yeon Sang-ho. Jeon Ji-hyun said, "I thought the director had dark sides and that the set wouldn't be entirely comfortable, but the set was so comfortable and enjoyable. It was unexpected, and I thought, 'This is why so many actors work with the director one after another.'"

She added, "I also felt eager, and we naturally discussed how the next project would proceed. Still, I thought I should decide after reading the script, but this time, after attending the Cannes Film Festival, I was deeply moved. I was very grateful to the director. As an actress, I am so thankful for achieving my dream, and I had a strong desire to share this honor once again."

Visiting the 79th Cannes Film Festival with 'COLONY', Jeon Ji-hyun added, "Actually, this was my first time attending Cannes with a Korean film. The Cannes I had attended as an ambassador before wasn't really Cannes. It also served as motivation for me as an actress. When I walked the red carpet before, there was a sense of being rushed by time, but this time, it was our own red carpet, so I could enjoy it fully."

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*This content was translated by AI.