Jung Ho-yeon soars with excitement over starring in 'Hope'.. "'Growth Beyond Proof' After 'Squid Game'" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

After 'Squid Game', Jung Ho-yeon's time was not about "proof" but toward "growth." Making his screen debut with 'Hope', Jung Ho-yeon stated he wanted to grow as an actor step by step.

On the 8th, we met with actor Jung Ho-yeon of the film 'Hope' (directed by Na Hong-jin) at a café on Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and exchanged various stories.

'Hope' begins with a story where Panseok, the head of the Pohang outpost located in the Demilitarized Zone, hears from local youths that a tiger has appeared, putting the entire village on high alert as he encounters an unbelievable reality. In the film, Jung Ho-yeon plays Seong Ae, a police officer at the Pohang outpost, a character with clear standards of good and evil who does his duty in any situation.

Jung Ho-yeon said ahead of the release, "I feel very excited. It's a work I've waited for a long time, so I can't wait to hear audience feedback. I looked up many post-screening reactions, and everyone said they enjoyed it, so I was grateful. It might be premature to feel relieved; I think my biggest emotion is excitement."

Jung Ho-yeon, who leaped to global stardom through the Netflix series 'Squid Game', showcased action and deeper emotional acting different from before in 'Hope', further expanding his scope as an actor.

Jung Ho-yeon said that when offered 'Hope', "it felt like I was flying."

He said, "I was pondering my next project when Director (Na Hong-jin) requested a meeting to meet me. However, my mindset was as if I were going to an audition. On the way there, I imagined many things. To be honest, I think I wanted to look good."

He continued, "When I met the director, my first impression was that his gaze was truly intense. At that moment, I thought I shouldn't put on any act. It seemed like he could see right through me. After meeting, we mostly talked about daily life, and the director said, 'Actor Jung is now entering Chungmu-ro; shouldn't you treat him to a bowl of jjajangmyeon?' and bought me delicious jjajangmyeon."

He then added, "After that session ended, Je Jak-sa (CEO) told me, 'Please deliver the script to Actor Jung,' which surprised me. I didn't expect to receive the screenplay or hear about anything next right there. I was so happy to get the screenplay," he smiled.

He said, "The screenplay in my hand felt more valuable than any gold or jewels, so I hugged it and went home. The first thing I did was write my name under 'Hope'. That shows how earnestly I wanted it." He added.

Regarding working with director Na Hong-jin, Jung Ho-yeon said, "I heard he never compromises. I heard he wouldn't yield and would do anything for a perfect result; even during fittings, I felt his persistence. 'Hwang Jeong-min is also a perfectionist, and both of them are big figures on the set. Since they approached this work with such an attitude, I naturally had no choice but to follow along.'"

Earlier, director Na Hong-jin revealed that he received Hwang Jeong-min's recommendation and held a meeting with Jung Ho-yeon. In response, Jung Ho-yeon said, "At first, I didn't know about this fact; I only heard about it later. The director and Senior Hwang Jeong-min discussed that they wanted the character 'Seong Ae' to be fresh and that they hoped for an actor whose appearance as a police officer wouldn't seem awkward. They also mentioned that Senior Hwang Jeong-min remembered watching 'Squid Game' and casually asked, 'How about Ho-yeon?' I heard the director said he would like to meet him."

He continued with a laugh, "On set, I encouraged the actors by saying, 'Cheer up,' 'You can do it,' but at some point, I didn't know what those words meant anymore. They just waited silently for me. After filming, I thought I should be grateful if I returned safely." He shared his review.

Regarding his chemistry with Jo In-sung, he said, "Senior (Hwang) Jeong-min is never late; he always arrives about 20 minutes early on set. Thinking I couldn't arrive later than the senior, I tried to go even earlier," he laughed.

He continued, "Above all, he never lets his guard down on set. Even though working together might make you familiar and comfortable with each other at some point, it seemed like he was always wary of such moments. Especially when filming an action movie, safety accidents must be avoided, so he maintained the concentration and energy to not even blink once. I learned a lot that such an attitude is truly essential."

He further said about Jo In-sung, "Senior (Jo) In-sung is truly flexible. He carefully takes care of every staff member on set and has the energy to make the atmosphere flow naturally and comfortably."

Additionally, Jung Ho-yeon said, "When I saw the 'Hope' poster, just seeing my name next to Hwang Jeong-min and Jo In-sung felt like a dream. It gave me goosebumps. Just being able to watch Senior Hwang, Senior In-sung, and Director Na Hong-jin talking about the movie on set was an experience I couldn't have gotten even if I paid for it, so I was very happy." He added.

After his debut work 'Squid Game', Jung Ho-yeon, who rose to the ranks of a world star, stated that instead of rushing into his next project, he focused on giving himself enough time.

He said, "After 'Squid Game', I exercised and took breaks without trying to find a work too quickly. It was my mindset to give myself time. I am well aware that everything I am doing is a great opportunity compared to my own time, experience, and know-how. Since I am so grateful and happy about that, my desire to do well has grown, and I found myself facing the point where that desire and experience clash." He revealed.

He continued, "Whenever that happened, I tried to give myself more time. I thought, 'It's okay. In acting, you just take one step at a time. Let's not try to prove or show off.' I lived with the mindset of doing my best within what I have now and trying as much as I can so as not to disappoint the audience. Those thoughts calmed my anxiety, and that time was truly important."

He also said, "I thoughtfully considered things moment by moment, and I really pondered a lot during the preparation process. 'What kind of actor am I, and which direction am I going? People watching from outside will evaluate me more accurately than I can myself. I am just living my life. I want to continue my acting career with a healthy mindset always in the future.'"

Finally, Jung Ho-yeon expressed his wish that "'Hope' be a work that brings as much joy as the time audiences spend watching it," and said, "I want to receive praise from the audience: 'You made it to the end,' 'You didn't give up and made it to the end.'"

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*This content was translated by AI.