[Interview] 'Peninsula' Koo Kyo-hwan "I Act Because I Enjoy Meeting the Audience"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Gu Gyo-hwan has recently attracted significant attention in various ways. Known for his intense acting in films and rumors of a romantic relationship, he carefully chose his answers throughout the interview. He began by saying, “I’m not very good at this kind of setting,” and added, “I hope my story is conveyed without any misunderstandings.”

On the morning of the 22nd, Gu Gyo-hwan shared various stories about the film Peninsula (director Yeon Sang-ho) during an interview held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Peninsula is an action blockbuster film depicting the final battle of those left behind on a ruined land four years after Train to Busan. The cast includes Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Gu Gyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re, and Lee Ye-won.

Gu Gyo-hwan, known as a “star of the independent film scene,” plays Captain Seo, the commander leading Unit 631. Captain Seo is a character with a dual nature who fiercely pursues his desire to escape the devastated peninsula, leaving a strong impression. Previously, Gu gained attention at the 21st Busan International Film Festival for his role as transgender Jane in the 2017 film Jane of Dreams. He honed his skills through short films such as Kim’s Drift (2009), Our Grandson Best (2016), Today’s Movie (2015), Seoul Romance (2014), and Megwi (2019), and unleashed his full potential in Peninsula.

Peninsula marks Gu Gyo-hwan’s first commercial film. He said, “When approaching a project, I don’t distinguish between commercial and independent films. I simply choose and act out characters that pique my curiosity. Although I love independent films the most, my main criterion for selecting works is curiosity.”

He continued, “I had many discussions with director Yeon Sang-ho. Rather than labeling it as a commercial film, I approached it as the next project after Megwi. If I had felt the burden of it being my first commercial film, I might have been more rigid.”

Gu recalled that the filming environment was different from independent films. “The scene of eating meals on a large scale was unique,” he said, “It felt like becoming part of a family, which was special.”

Having acted alongside Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, and Kim Min-jae, Gu expressed, “They helped me a lot to exist as Captain Seo. Seniors Kim Min-jae and Kang Dong-won reacted to my acting in every take on set. I also approached it that way,” showing affection by adding, “The back-and-forth was especially enjoyable.”

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. It also set records as the number one box office hit in major Asian countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, the highest Korean film opening in Singapore, and the widest release of a Korean film in France, receiving global love. Peninsula continued the legacy and was officially invited to the 2020 Cannes Film Festival. It was simultaneously released on special screens such as 4DX, ScreenX, and IMAX on the 15th, attracting 2 million viewers.

In a previous interview with this publication, director Yeon Sang-ho shared behind-the-scenes stories about Gu Gyo-hwan, saying, “I thought a lot about who could best portray Captain Seo. I insisted to the investment and distribution company that ‘Gu Gyo-hwan must play the role’.” Director Yeon expressed strong affection, saying, “I wanted Captain Seo to be a fresh character. Gu is a shining actor in the independent film scene. His acting tone and cinematic sensibility are excellent. The anxious side he showed in Megwi is also attractive. The ambiguity of whether he is a villain or not is great.”

Regarding this, Gu said, “I recently heard about the casting behind-the-scenes. The director personally demonstrated the role before filming, which increased my sense of responsibility as an actor. I’m quite shy, but I decided not to be embarrassed in front of the director,” he laughed. He added, “The director instilled a sense of ownership. He helped all actors to move creatively.”

Gu laughed, saying, “It felt like receiving a touching letter” about the firm trust shown by director Yeon Sang-ho.

Gu said he drew inspiration from the image of Captain Seo painted by director Yeon. “Captain Seo in the picture was a precarious and collapsing person, and that image was impressive,” he recalled. He added, “The costume, hairstyle, and office also provided hints about Captain Seo. When I went to the set, it felt like a real existing space.”

He continued, “I thought about how Captain Seo might have been when the first zombie outbreak happened four years ago. Just before the village collapsed, he might have been continuously sending distress signals. I thought it would be similar to our current situation. Although it doesn’t appear in the film, that image was very attractive,” explaining his motivation for taking the role.

Gu Gyo-hwan signed an exclusive contract with Namoo Actors in 2019 and debuted in his first commercial film in 2020. Regarding this, he asked rhetorically, “I joined because I liked it; do I really need a reason?” He added, “Their direction aligned well with mine. I thought that with such a partner, I could share positive concerns, so I liked it.”

He continued, “I didn’t expect to be asked such questions,” and laughed, “I didn’t receive offers from agencies before.”

Recently, Gu’s seven-year relationship with director Lee Ok-seop, which began in 2013, has also been spotlighted anew. The two have collaborated on numerous projects since 2014. They worked together as lead actors, screenwriters, editors, and directors on films such as Fourth Grade Bokyung (2014), Today’s Movie (2015), Love Documentary (2015), After School Tea Time Returns (2015), Fly to the Sky (2015), Girls on Top (2017), Three Horses (2018), and Megwi (2019).

Regarding the dating rumors, Gu said, “It was surprising and astonishing. I wondered, ‘Why did this come out?’” and called Lee his “cinematic comrade.” When asked if the sudden spotlight was burdensome, he shook his head and said, “It’s not a burden. I even took the subway here today,” smiling.

The two also run a YouTube channel together. Gu said, “We need a cinematic outlet to show short films. We are also presenting ultra-short films disguised as vlogs, and we operate the channel as an archive of our work.” He added, “There’s no reason to be picky about the format when meeting the audience.”

Finally, when asked why he acts, Gu said, “Meeting the audience excites me. So I always act with the meeting in mind,” adding, “The best moment is when my film is screened in theaters. I love films.”

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This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.