[Interview①] 'Peninsula' Lee Jung-hyun "Kang Dong-won, No Top Star Complex... A Shy Mischievous Boy"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Iseul] A new face is welcome. Actress Lee Jung-hyun challenges action acting for the first time, exuding a strong charm.

On the morning of the 16th, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, she shared various stories about the film ahead of the release of 'Peninsula' (Director Yeon Sang-ho) in an interview.

'Peninsula' is an action blockbuster film depicting the final battle of those left on the ruined land four years after 'Train to Busan.' It stars Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re, and Lee Ye-won.

Following 'Seoul Station' and 'Train to Busan,' 'Peninsula' expands director Yeon Sang-ho's universe and has attracted worldwide attention early on. 'Train to Busan' was invited to the Midnight Screening at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and was recognized as the bible of K-zombie films. It attracted 11.56 million viewers domestically and achieved worldwide box office revenue of $140 million. Subsequently, 'Peninsula' was selected as an official entry at the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first series film to be consecutively invited to Cannes.

According to the Korea Film Council's integrated ticketing system, 'Peninsula,' released on the 15th, attracted 352,926 viewers on its opening day, ranking first at the box office. This broke the opening record of 252,059 viewers set by 'The Man Standing Next,' released in January this year. This figure includes an estimate by distributor NEW for the number of viewers omitted due to a system failure at Lotte Cinema.

On this day, Lee Jung-hyun expressed her feelings, saying, "Recently, the theater industry has been very difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so I was glad to bring some vitality." She added, "I was very worried. Since COVID-19 is ongoing, I was concerned whether it was okay to release the film. I was also worried if many viewers would come, so I am truly grateful."

Lee Jung-hyun gained significant attention for her bold acting in the 1996 film 'Flower Petal.' Since then, she has continued her strong performances in films such as 'The Admiral: Roaring Currents' (2014), which attracted 17 million viewers, 'Alice in Earnestland' (2015), and 'The Battleship Island' (2017). In 'Peninsula,' she plays Min-jung, a survivor turned wild dog on the ruined land. Min-jung spares no effort to protect her family from zombies and attacks by Unit 631.

Regarding her casting in 'Peninsula,' Lee Jung-hyun said, "One day, I received a text from director Yeon Sang-ho. He asked how I was and said he would send me the script and to contact him after reading it. I liked the 'Peninsula' script and was happy. I like his films, from animation to 'Train to Busan,' so I was grateful for the offer." About her role, she said, "I accepted the setting of a strong mother. Above all, I enjoyed reading the script."

Lee Jung-hyun took on her first action challenge through this film. She said, "I really wanted to try it. It seems like a genre that actors always want to try." She continued, "Even before filming, I went to an action school without the director telling me to. For several months, I practiced holding guns and rolling on the ground. But when filming actually started, I ended up doing only simple movements," she laughed.

She added, "There was no big difficulty. The director created and attached only the necessary movements, but the completeness was high. It was amazing." She also said, "The atmosphere on set was always good, so it was even more enjoyable."

Lee Jung-hyun expressed satisfaction with working with director Yeon Sang-ho. She said, "He is excellent at leading the staff on set and making decisions. He also listens a lot to other actors' concerns. He is a warm person. I saw Kim Min-jae talking with him like an older brother. They seem like good friends. He also has a delicate side, but I felt his human charm, which I liked."

In the film, Lee Jung-hyun sports a plain face without makeup, tangled hair, and shabby clothes, portraying a fierce appearance of someone who has survived for four years. Her ability to fully immerse herself in her characters in every work is impressive. She said, "I have no desire to look pretty. Maybe I would have if I were in my twenties, but I believe in being faithful to the character." She added, "I was excited to think that I could do makeup according to the role after reading the script. In the film 'Limit,' which I am currently shooting, I play a middle-aged police officer with curly perm hair and freckles. I try to be faithful to the character's appearance and feel satisfied when it is captured as is."

Lee Jung-hyun joins Kang Dong-won, who plays Jung-seok, a survivor returning to the locked-down peninsula after four years, in the fight for survival. She said, "Kang Dong-won's first impression was really good. I wondered, 'Is he even human?' because of his proportions. When I actually met and talked with him, I thought, 'So this is why Kang Dong-won is Kang Dong-won.' He is kind and polite," showing affection.

She added, "I think Kang Dong-won doesn't even date," and laughed, "Now I understand why female fans like him so much." Lee Jung-hyun praised him, saying, "I can't find any flaws. The only flaw is that he is very shy. He is shy but sometimes mischievous. He has no top star attitude and is a kind actor."

She also did not hide her affection for Lee Re, who plays her daughter Joon, and Lee Ye-won, who plays Yoo-jin. Lee Jung-hyun said, "Child actors these days are different from before. I was surprised by their adaptability on set. Even though we only rehearsed a few scenes, they followed me calling 'Mom, Mom.' They act well and have rich emotions, which amazed me." She added, "I even asked the director, 'Are all child actors like this these days?' because I thought they were amazing."

She recalled, "The filming environment has changed a lot since I shot 'Flower Petal.' On the first day of shooting, the director threw the script at me, saying I couldn't act. We had to stop filming that day. After that, I wondered if I had to act like a crazy person, so I actually took a bus and wandered around Jeolla Province in advance. When I got hurt, I couldn't gauge the pain, so I actually inflicted wounds. I told my parents not to come to the set because I was worried they might be concerned."

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