Director Yeon Sang-ho on 'Paradise Lost': "I struggled with the role of Kim Hye-ju's son... Park Jeong-min is 40, so Baek Hyun-sung came to mind" [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

While Director Yeon Sang-ho expressed deep trust in Kim Hye-ju, with whom he once again collaborated on 'Paradise Lost,' he also revealed the behind-the-scenes story of casting Baek Hyun-sung.

On the 14th, an interview was conducted with Director Yeon Sang-ho, who wrote and directed the film 'Paradise Lost,' at a cafe in Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

'Paradise Lost' is a psychological thriller that begins when Ryu So-young (played by Kim Hye-ju), a mother who lost her son nine years ago in a camping school bus disappearance incident, is miraculously reunited with her son, Ryu Sun-woo (played by Baek Hyun-sung), whom she had believed to be dead.

Regarding the fact that actors such as Kim Hye-ju and Baek Hyun-sung readily agreed to appear in 'Paradise Lost,' which was produced on a low budget, Director Yeon Sang-ho said, "I don't think there are any actors who only want to work on commercial films. Of course, they cannot spend too much time on such projects, but I believe 13 to 14 shooting days would be sufficient."

In particular, Kim Hye-ju is an actor who has consistently maintained a connection with Director Yeon Sang-ho through works such as 'Hellbound,' 'Jeong-i,' and 'The Land of Morning.' In this 'Paradise Lost,' she portrayed Ryu So-young, a mother experiencing turmoil after her lost son suddenly returns nine years later.

Director Yeon Sang-ho emphasized that Kim Hye-ju is an "actor I trust," stating, "She is currently appearing in 'The 100-Day Lie' as well, and even while watching that work, I thought, 'She is truly demonstrating her worth as an actor.'"

He continued, "When working together, you naturally come to trust and entrust things to them. This is because I know that Kim Hye-ju is someone who thinks extremely deeply about expression." He added, "She is an actor who delivers expressions beyond what I had imagined. That is why I can trust and entrust the role to her."

He also shared his thoughts that Kim Hye-ju, who has maintained a top position for a long time, seems to be entering a new prime period as an actor. Director Yeon Sang-ho said, "Of course, she has been a top star continuously since she was 20, but I feel that her true worth as an actor and performer is being demonstrated even more now."

Baek Hyun-sung, who plays Ryu Sun-woo, had a brief connection with Director Yeon Sang-ho in Season 2 of the Netflix series 'Hellbound.' Baek Hyun-sung appeared at the time in the role of the son of Park Jeong-ja, played by Kim Shin-rok.

Director Yeon Sang-ho began by discussing the casting process for Baek Hyun-sung: "I struggled with who would be good for the role of Sun-woo. Because the budget was small, there were awkward aspects to making a formal proposal to an actor."

He continued, "When I thought about it, I realized that young male actors had rarely appeared in my works," and when Park Jeong-min was mentioned, he said, "He is 40 now. He cannot be Kim Hye-ju's son," eliciting laughter.

He then revealed, "I thought, 'Who are the young male actors I know?' and Baek Hyun-sung came to mind. I made a proposal, and he very readily agreed to appear."

Ultimately, casting Baek Hyun-sung was a satisfying choice for Director Yeon Sang-ho. He said, "His acting and the atmosphere he possesses as an actor were both excellent. It seems he created the character of Sun-woo in a way that was both eerie and unsettling." He expressed satisfaction by adding, "I made the decision without agonizing for too long, but in hindsight, I felt it was a good casting choice."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original