PD Hyun Jung-wan of "Sulrae Game": "Two Pillars of Survival with PD Jeong Jong-yeon of 'Great Escape'? We Have Met Separately" [Interview ③]

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Hyun Jung-wan, the producer behind "Game of Blood" and "Sulrae Game," shared his thoughts on being mentioned alongside Jeong Jong-yeon, the producer famous for "The Genius" and "Great Escape," as a leading figure in survival variety shows.

An interview with Hyun Jung-wan, the producer of Disney+ variety show "Sulrae Game," was conducted at a cafe on Bukchon-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 13th.

"Sulrae Game," the new work from Hyun Jung-wan, the producer of "Game of Blood," is an extreme experiential chase survival variety show that combines the familiar game of hide-and-seek with the tension of psychological warfare. First released on September 30, "Sulrae Game" consists of 10 episodes, and Episodes 7 and 8 will be released simultaneously on the upcoming 14th.

Hwang Jae-gyun, Panni Bottle, Kyung Soo-jin, Malwang, Jang Eun-sil, Park Ji-min, Kim Ddol-ddol, Yang Da-il, Yook Jun-seo, Ji Ji-won, Shin Ji-eun, Yoon Sang-hyun, and Lee Jun-su appeared in "Sulrae Game." In particular, Hwang Jae-gyun entered the survival arena after retiring from professional baseball, while YouTuber Malwang boasted an overwhelming physique and unexpected "brainy character" traits.

YouTuber Kim Ddol-ddol was active with political maneuvering and humor, and Lee Jun-su, son of actor Lee Jong-hyuk, was reborn as "Tong Jun-su," who does not hesitate to betray or collude, unlike his cute image from the past MBC variety show "Dad! Where Are We Going?" Actor Yoon Sang-hyun stood out with exceptional speed, leveraging his strength as a relay runner during his school days. YouTuber Panni Bottle and announcer Park Ji-min caused tension that evoked a sense of imminent crisis.

The directing skills of PD Hyun Jung-wan and the performances of the cast turned "Sulrae Game" into a hot topic. According to "RACOI," a broadcast content value information analysis system operated by the Korea Communications Commission's kobaco, 13 cast members of "Sulrae Game" occupied ranks 1 through 13 in the "OTT Variety Show Buzzing Cast Ranking" surveyed from September 28 to October 2. Panni Bottle took first place, Lee Jun-su second, and Hwang Jae-gyun third, followed by Jang Eun-sil (4th), Malwang (5th), Ji Ji-won (6th), Park Ji-min (7th), Yang Da-il (8th), Yook Jun-seo (9th), Kim Ddol-ddol (10th), Yoon Sang-hyun (11th), Kyung Soo-jin (12th), and Shin Ji-eun (13th).

-The explosion scene in "Sulrae Game" was impressive. How did you direct that scene?

▶I had a desire to try directing something cinematic.

-Having directed various survival shows, you must have directly discovered many different aspects of human nature.

▶At first, I thought, "Humans are kinder than expected." The cast members actually struggle to betray each other and sometimes shed tears, but when people put on the mask of a role, things can completely flip. I realized that someone who is usually kind and gentle can change. It made me think that humans are complex beings. I wondered if Lee Jun-su would fall apart while smiling innocently, but he did well to survive the game. He said he really likes survival shows and had been immersed in watching them.

-Was there anything you regretted while making "Sulrae Game"?

▶I thought that since it was a chase, maybe they didn't have to run all the time.

-PD Jeong Jong-yeon, who directed tvN's "The Genius" and "Great Escape," and Netflix's "Devil's Plan," is often cited alongside PD Hyun Jung-wan as one of the two pillars of survival variety directing. I am curious if you two have ever met each other.

▶I have met PD Jeong Jong-yeon at an awards ceremony, and we once had a conversation over coffee. He gave me good advice, and I think I am still working hard to catch up to him.

-Where do you usually get inspiration when planning content?

▶I get inspiration from watching various works such as movies and dramas, and also from console games. Since the spatial composition of buildings is important for survival shows, I subscribe to and frequently watch the YouTube channel of architect Yoo Hyeon-jun.

-It seems survival shows are divided into several branches, such as brain games and physical games.

▶Initially, there were board game-centric survival shows, but it seems they have gradually become diverse, including politics, not just brain battles. Viewers used to perceive cast members in line with their real-life characters, but now they seem to understand them as game-like characters. Also, while previously a format where one person dominated, like Hong Jin-ho or Jang Dong-min, was popular, it seems games that require diverse dynamics and discussion are becoming more popular.

-Your previous work, "Game of Blood," gathered many fan viewers. Are there plans to produce the next season of "Game of Blood"?

▶I think we might do it someday.

-What kind of fun do you want to provide in your future directing projects?

▶I want to provide diverse fun. I prefer survival shows that reveal human psychology and politics well, rather than functional survival shows like "Black White Lisa" or "Physical: 100." I also want to try a survival show that runs for 30 days.

-Recently, as a social phenomenon, "Police and Thief," where citizens gather on the spot to play hide-and-seek, has become a trend.

▶It just so happened that "Gyeongdo" (Police and Thief) was trending while we were doing simulation filming for a long time. Thanks to that, we were able to do simulations well in open areas like plazas without being too self-conscious. If my previous work was deep, complex, and full of devices, I tried to keep this one lighter.

-The chase special episode of the MBC variety show "Infinite Challenge," which you participated in as an assistant director, is still loved as a popular content on YouTube.

▶Classics seem to be eternal. I also participated in "Run with the Money Bag" and the "Busan Chase," and when I was planning "Sulrae Game" this time, I watched them again. My wife is from a generation that hadn't seen the "Infinite Challenge" chase episodes, so we watched them together this time, and it turns out people still find it fun even when watching it anew.

-Netflix's "Jang Dong-min Game" is your next project.

▶That one is a battle of wits.

-How do you think "Sulrae Game" will be remembered for you?

▶It was an enjoyable work. I hope it is a work I want to pull out and look at again. It would be fortunate if we showed a new kind of survival show.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original