"The driving stunt was actually too scary." 'Hope' actor Jung Ho-yeon in U.S. People interview: "Even stopped the car on the highway" [K-EYES]

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Stopped car while training on highway, police arrived

"The driving stunt was actually too scary."

Actor Jung Ho-yeon, who delivered intense action performances in the film 'Hope', revealed behind-the-scenes stories in an interview with U.S. media outlet People. She particularly disclosed incidents she experienced during actual driving practice, noting that she faced significant stress ahead of performing car stunts.

Jung Ho-yeon played rookie police officer Im Sung-ae at Pohang Police Station in director Na Hong-jin's SF action film 'Hope'. The movie features high-intensity action scenes including gunfights and chase sequences.

Ahead of filming, Jung underwent approximately six months of training in firearms handling, driving, and weight management. In particular, she obtained a manual transmission driver's license and learned to drive manual vehicles to operate them directly in the film.

However, there were also genuinely embarrassing moments during her driving practice. Jung revealed that after just obtaining her manual transmission license, her car suddenly stopped while she was practicing on a highway. She felt something had gone wrong, and eventually, police officers arrived. When the police asked if she was okay and what had happened, Jung explained that she was still not fully accustomed to driving a manual vehicle.

Car stunts in the film presented another kind of burden beyond simple driving practice for her, as she had to drive at high speeds while simultaneously delivering character performances. Jung stated that she felt considerable anxiety ahead of executing complex car stunts.

The person who offered help at that time was Alicia Vikander, who also starred in the film alongside her.

Shortly after her driving training, Jung shared her stress with Vikander over dinner while Vikander was still in Korea. Vikander advised that one of the best aspects of being an actor is the ability to experience things one would never normally try or even imagine, suggesting she focus on finding joy in new experiences rather than dwelling on fear and tension.

Upon hearing this advice, Jung changed her perspective. She explained that she began viewing action training not as something to fear, but as an enjoyable challenge she could experience as an actor.

'Hope' was released in North America on the 9th. It premiered in approximately 1,560 theaters across the United States and Canada, marking the largest North American release for a Korean film since 'Parasite' in 2019. The film earned $1.1 million on its opening day and accumulated $4.92 million by the 13th. It also secured a spot in the North American box office top 10 during its first week of release.

For Jung Ho-yeon, 'Hope' is her first feature film since 'Squid Game'. The cast includes director Na Hong-jin, Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell. The film was released in Korea last July, drawing over 4.57 million viewers, and was also invited to the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival in May.

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*This content was translated by AI.