[Exclusive]Creating the sound for Bong Joon-ho's films, Choi Tae-yeong (CEO): "Good sound? A sound that moves the heart" [★Research Lab] [Interview ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

[Editor’s Note] [★Research Lab] StarNews meets with individuals driving the entertainment industry, uncovering their unique know-how and success strategies. We introduce the practical experience and philosophy of those who quietly pave the way behind the scenes of glamorous stars.

-Continuing from Interview ①

Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) and director Bong Joon-ho have been together at every major moment in Korean film history. From "A Petal" to the recent "Mickey 17," Choi Tae-yeong (CEO), who handled the sound for all of director Bong's feature films, is a partner who has watched his work more closely than anyone else.

The two's connection dates back to when director Bong Joon-ho worked as an assistant director on "Motel Cactus." Later, when they collaborated on the debut film "A Petal," Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) was deeply impressed by his relentless attention to detail.

Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) recalled, "In a scene where Bae Doona chases a homeless person running through an apartment complex, a jazz drum performance plays, but the rhythm didn't match the visuals at all. He asked me to sync everything perfectly." He added, "Normally, that falls under the music team's domain, but because I have a background in music, I remember staying up all night to work on it." He further noted, "He also asked to include the sound of a dog barking only five times at the beginning of the film. It was intended to check the theater speaker conditions using the Dolby Digital system."

Although the debut film failed at the box office, Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) recognized director Bong's potential early on. When they reunited with "Memories of Murder," he predicted, "This film will exceed 5 million admissions," and the prediction proved accurate. The subsequent collaborations on "The Host," "Snowpiercer," and "Parasite" became a turning point that elevated the level of Korean film sound to the global market.

After working on hundreds of productions, his standard for "good sound" is not merely technical perfection. True good sound is that which naturally blends into the visuals and touches the audience's emotions.

Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) defined it by saying, "I had the habit of listening with my physical ears, but directors listen with their heart's ears." He explained, "Listening with the heart's ears means not asking 'what frequency is it?' but rather 'what resonance does it create in my heart?'" He added, "Even a single door sound or a single wind sound must have a reason. Depending on the role the sound plays in this scene and this emotion, its volume, distance, and sense of space are determined."

To create such "heart-listening" sound, one must accumulate mastery in their craft. This mastery becomes the foundation of "imagination." Choi Tae-yeong (CEO) said, "It is like a novice driver who is so focused on driving that they cannot think about dinner menus." He continued, "Once you become skilled and familiar, your body and cells move instinctively, and your mind gains the leisure to imagine better."

-Continuing to Interview ③.

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*This content was translated by AI.