Rising stars Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won and five others unite in a fierce job-hunting war: "Final Interview" [Summary]

*This content was translated by AI.

Adding mystery and psychological warfare to the realistic theme of job hunting, "Final Interview" depicts the fierce survival competition of young people, driven by the passionate performances of popular actors.

The production report for the film "Final Interview" (Directed by Kim Jung-hoon) was held on the 29th at Lotte Cinema Gangnam Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Jung-hoon and actors Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, and Bae Gang-hee attended the event.

"Final Interview" tells the story of six applicants who gather for a final interview and discover mysterious envelopes containing each other's confessions, leading them to suspect one another and fall into confusion.

Director Kim Jung-hoon, who has consistently presented popular works such as "Pirates: The Last Queen," "Detective: The Beginning," and "Awkward Romance," directs the film. Actors Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, Gwak Dong-yeon, and Bae Gang-hee, currently among the most watched actors, have come together as the six applicants.

Recalling when he first encountered the work, Kang Yu-seok said, "The immersion was over 100%, reaching 200%." He continued, "As I read the script, the envelopes opened one by one, and I became increasingly curious about what each character's secret would be. I remember reading it in one go while thinking, 'How can they create a story like this?'"

Bae Gang-hee also emphasized the unique appeal of the mystery genre. He said, "I originally love the mystery genre, but because you cannot know who is hiding what, you keep wondering about the next part of the story." He added, "It does not simply follow the events; rather, the characters' psychology and relationships constantly shift, giving the work a power that keeps curiosity alive until the very end."

The film directly addresses the new gate that those who have passed through the college entrance exam war face as they enter society, capturing on screen the emotions and situations that any job seeker would have experienced with sharp precision.

Regarding why she could empathize with the situation in the work, Jo Yi-hyun said, "Actors also go through auditions and wait for acceptance notices, right? That process felt similar to an interview, so I was able to relate."

She continued, "I think there have always been interviews not only in my acting career but throughout my life. There were interviews when I entered high school and at university as well." She explained, "Because I have always lived with that tension and waiting, those emotions from the past seemed to serve as a great reference for performing this role."

Kang Yu-seok also revealed that he incorporated his own experiences into his character. He said, "Heechan is someone who has failed multiple interviews in the past, and I have a similar background." He shared, "I repeated my first year of university, and before becoming an actor, I went through a huge number of auditions."

He added, "I remember being extremely desperate at that time. So when performing as Heechan, I think I was able to focus on that desperation."

Director Kim Jung-hoon revealed that it was important for the actors to blend naturally, like actual friends, during the casting process.

The director explained, "It was most important that they looked like friends, and I also valued the individuality and image each character possessed."

He continued, "Moon Hye-in (played by Jo Yi-hyun) is a complex character whose inner thoughts are hard to read, while Han Jin-woo (played by Kim Jae-won) is a trustworthy figure. Baek Seung-bin (played by Shin Seung-ho) has leadership qualities, Lee Hee-chan (played by Kang Yu-seok) is cheerful, Cha Ju-won (played by Bae Gang-hee) is sensitive, and Jeon Yo-han (played by Gwak Dong-yeon) is a cool-headed character," outlining the characteristics of each person.

He then stated, "I believe the actors' inherent charm matched well with the personalities of their respective characters," expressing satisfaction with the casting.

Since six actors had to drive the drama forward, their actual relationships and chemistry were also important elements.

Director Kim Jung-hoon said, "I thought that since they are actors of the same age, they would get along quickly, but at first, they seemed more awkward than expected." He revealed, "As filming began, they became close immediately. Inside the film, their relationships were falling apart, but outside the camera, they became real friends."

Jo Yi-hyun said, "Since it is a story about taking a final interview, we filmed together in one location for a long time." She shared, "After spending more time together than with family for several months, we naturally grew much closer."

Kim Jae-won also said, "We talked a lot about acting, and we really talked a lot about what to eat for meals today." He added, "From work matters to various chit-chat, that space felt like a hideout for us, and it was also a place where we could cheer each other on."

Shin Seung-ho stated, "The first thing that comes to mind is the power of the space. I think the chit-chat and gossip we actually shared in that space helped in moments when we were performing."

Regarding their chemistry on the actual filming set, Jo Yi-hyun said, "I am quite shy, but everyone approached me first and talked to me a lot." She added, "It felt like I had become the youngest member on set."

She continued, "Actor Jae-won is younger than me, but he took care of me so much that I thought he was an older brother. The other older sisters and brothers also took great care of me," expressing her gratitude.

Kim Jae-won revealed that he relied particularly heavily on Shin Seung-ho and Gwak Dong-yeon. He said, "When I had acting questions or doubts, I often asked Seung-ho hyung." He explained, "If I asked whether a certain emotion was okay, instead of simply saying 'it's fine,' he would share his thoughts and then say, 'Do what you want to do,' leaving the door open."

He added, "Having someone to lean on itself was a great strength. Thanks to that, I was able to perform with a relaxed mind."

Regarding Gwak Dong-yeon, he said, "I learned a lot about preparation." He marveled, "Seeing him show over 200% of what he had prepared when immersing himself in the role, or even expressing the trembling under his eyes, I thought it was truly impressive."

In response, Shin Seung-ho said, "I knew what kind of heart Jae-won had when he asked me questions. So I wanted to help." He replied, "While I cannot judge a colleague's acting, I wanted to help them perform with confidence at the very least."

Director Kim Jung-hoon requested delicate emotional expression from the actors. He said, "If one word from the other person could mean passing or failing, how tense would that be? I wanted to capture that tension." He revealed, "I asked them to give their full sincerity even for small emotions or expressions. I told them the camera would capture it all."

Kim Jae-won said about Director Kim Jung-hoon's direction, "Each actor had many questions regarding their respective characters. We tried to find reasons even for a small movement from left to right, and we asked the director many questions with various doubts in order to persuade the audience."

He continued, "Every time, he gave very meticulous directions while also leaving a lot of room for the actors." He shared, "Because he trusted and entrusted us so much, I think I was able to perform with a sense of mental stability."

Meanwhile, "Final Interview" is scheduled for release on November 4.

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*This content was translated by AI.