[Interview] 'Seungriho' Song Joong-ki "Melodrama Likes and Dislikes? Instinctively Drawn to Jo Seong-hee's Style" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actor Song Joong-ki expressed his desire to work again with director Cho Sung-hee on their next film.

On the morning of the 9th, Song Joong-ki shared his thoughts about the movie Space Sweepers (directed by Cho Sung-hee) during a video interview.

Space Sweepers is set in 2092 and tells the story of the crew of the space debris collector ship Space Sweeper who discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy, known as a weapon of mass destruction, and get involved in a dangerous deal. Song Joong-ki plays Tae-ho, a pilot who will do anything for money.

The film is a space sci-fi blockbuster presented by director Cho Sung-hee, who previously directed A Werewolf Boy, Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Missing Village, The End of Animal, and the short film House of Hummingbird.

Space Sweepers was initially planned for theatrical release but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually released on the OTT platform Netflix. Song Joong-ki said, “I heard it ranked number one worldwide on streaming charts. I wondered if it was really our movie,” adding, “I received a lot of feedback from people around me. Getting messages saying they watched it in the UK, Colombia, and Hong Kong made me feel good.”

The film, released directly to home viewers, has been widely praised for its impressive space battle scenes filled with massive VFX (visual effects). Some have expressed regret about not being able to watch it in theaters.

Song Joong-ki said, “Times have changed. I have no personal regrets,” and added, “I saw verified photos on SNS of people watching it while ordering chicken. My nephews also sent me proof shots. There are pros and cons, I guess. I’m just grateful it could be released during such a confusing time.”

Reuniting with director Cho Sung-hee after eight years since A Werewolf Boy (2012), Song Joong-ki said, “The director had been preparing the project for 10 years, revising the script. When I first heard about it on set, it was a very different version from now. I remember receiving the casting offer about a year and a half ago. Through script revisions, Tae-ho’s age changed and the crew characters were created.”

“When the director and the production company’s CEO sent me the script and texted me, I had already decided to appear. I had great trust in the film company and director Cho Sung-hee. After reading the script, I was certain. Once filming started, we didn’t need much conversation. Maybe because we’ve worked together for a long time, we just understood each other. However, since the director is quite shy, I helped with communication with other actors. I played a role like an interpreter.”

Song Joong-ki added, “I believe if the outside and inside don’t match, it decays, so I remain unchanged,” and said, “I think the character Cheolsu from A Werewolf Boy is still director Cho Sung-hee. Even after a long time, he’s still quiet and innocent.”

Having worked on two consecutive projects with director Cho Sung-hee, Song Joong-ki built strong trust. When asked if they would work together again, he replied, “Of course. If the director doesn’t find me boring. (laughs) I like the emotions the director has, so I’m drawn to his stories. Whether it’s a short film or any genre, his stories always include the keyword ‘family.’ That instinctively matches me, and I like it.”

Asked if he felt any pressure being part of Korea’s first sci-fi film, Song Joong-ki answered, “Not at all.” He explained, “Genre isn’t important when choosing a project. I had a desire to try various genres, so I wanted to do it. Some people around me worry, saying I choose projects boldly, but I just follow what draws me.”

He laughed, saying, “Some say I only pick difficult projects and call me a weirdo. I just follow what attracts me and have a strong desire for genres. When I decided to appear in the film Bogota, people reacted like, ‘Are you really going all the way there to shoot?’”

Regarding the paternal love emotion, he said, “I worried about whether I could express feelings I’ve never experienced and how the public would receive it. During filming, talking with Yoo Hae-jin, Jin Sun-kyu, and Kim Tae-ri helped me feel something loosening up. I concluded that the character is stagnant, not changed. Since Tae-ho’s story is briefly expressed through montage, I thought about how to convey it in a short time.”

Addressing mixed reactions to the melodramatic elements in Space Sweepers, Song Joong-ki said, “I saw articles saying it was either disappointing or good. When a work is presented, various reactions come out, so I try to listen carefully,” adding, “That seems to be director Cho Sung-hee’s style. I like that style, which is why I chose the project. Personally, I’m satisfied.”

Song Joong-ki showed special affection for working with Captain Jang Kim Tae-ri, Jin Sun-kyu, and Yoo Hae-jin as Up-dong, saying, “We were the most open during filming.” He said, “From the first day we met, we got along so well that it became playful. I believed other actors would fill in my shortcomings.”

He recalled, “Up-dong wasn’t supposed to interact on set, but Yoo Hae-jin came out and delivered lines. Many ideas were created together. In that sense, he helped keep the balance.”

At the earlier Space Sweepers production briefing, Song Joong-ki revealed, “When I read the script, the word ‘desperation’ first came to mind. The character starts as someone who has given up everything in life and is stagnant. Filming felt similar to my actual state of mind.”

Regarding this, he said, “That’s literally all I can say. I used the word ‘desperation’ because that’s how I felt at the time,” and added, “I want to explain more, but it’s personal. I want to leave some room for interpretation.”

Photo = Netflix

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