[Limelight] The Joys and Sorrows of Youth Living in This Era Reflect on His Face

Netflix's 'Now at Our School' Cheongsan Role Yoon Chan-young
Even in Desperate Situations, Like His Name Cheongsan, He Plays a Role in Cleanly Washing Away Past Negative Elements
Clumsy and Flimsy but Youth Marked by Sacrifice... Mainly Represents the Pain of Young People

In Netflix’s All of Us Are Dead, Lee Byung-chan (Kim Byung-chul) develops a virus that turns humans into zombies. Driven by the determination to create a cure, he names it “Jonas” after the philosopher. Hans Jonas (1903?1993) was a figure who argued for expanding the scope of responsibility to include not only intentional acts but also the consequences of unintentional acts. He believed that the horizon opens not in the contemporaneous space of action but in an uncertain future. This called for a change in everyone’s awareness and mindset.

Director Lee Jae-gyu enumerates various school issues without filtering: bullying, abortion, violence, entrance exams, corruption... While adults evade responsibility, students turn into zombies. The director indirectly references the Danwon High School students who died trapped in the Sewol ferry disaster by adding various devices such as the yellow ribbon. He stated, “There are too many adults who do not take responsibility. I filmed this hoping people would reflect on what it truly means to be an adult.”

Netflix 'All of Us Are Dead' Still Cut

The English title of All of Us Are Dead encapsulates a meaning close to destruction, embodied in the protagonist Cheong-san (Yoon Chan-young). In a desperate situation, he cleanses the negative elements of his past, just like his name suggests. Although somewhat clumsy and imperfect, he consistently demonstrates a spirit of sacrifice, appearing as a beautiful youth. The director explained, “We cast the actor whose real personality was most similar.” Yoon Chan-young said, “If I were in a similar situation, I think I would have responded like Cheong-san. I tend to step forward first to help in both good and difficult times.”

Yoon Chan-young’s gentle face and soft voice have often represented the joys and sorrows of young people in our era. A representative example is Jong-wook in the film Your Request (2017), who accepts his father’s new wife Hyo-jin (Im Soo-jung) as his mother. He expressed feelings of fear and anxiety through the disguised phrase “It’s okay.” This highlights wounds that adults tend to overlook. The depth of this is felt in his willingness to take responsibility for the child of his friend Joo-mi (Seo Shin-ae), even though he is neither the father nor a boyfriend. He hopes the child will not suffer the same feverish struggles he did, saying, “The real dad is the one who raises the child. So I have responsibility too.”

Movie still cut from 'Your Request'

In the film Sunshine of the Young (2019), high school student Lee Joon is not allowed even a glimmer of hope. He is an intern at a subcontracted call center for a major credit card company. He endures a constant barrage of calls, facing repeated persuasion and threats. He gets by on triangular kimbap and cup noodles, and even his bathroom breaks are controlled, yet he tries to smile through it all. However, caught in a ruthless food chain, he unwillingly becomes a perpetrator and stands at the edge of life’s cliff. “I had so many things I wanted to do when I turned twenty...”

Yoon Chan-young naturally blends into the story not only through his acting but also by embodying the role’s appropriate demeanor. He said, “While taking on various roles, I often wondered, ‘How can I become a good adult?’ I think the most important attitude is not to look down on someone younger than yourself. You have to respect and consider any opinion.”

Movie still cut from 'Jeolmeuniui Yangji'

His generation, including himself, has not built trust in society, having gone through the Sewol ferry disaster and candlelight protests. They believe that schools and companies do not protect them, so they trust only themselves and their parents. They tend to hold back their passion and spirit of challenge, fearing betrayal.

To break down invisible walls, a shift in perspective is necessary. Generational differences should be transformed into “generational strengths” to foster new harmony. Yoon Chan-young expressed, “I hope we can see each other not as students but as members of the same society, aiming for friendship and love.” He added, “We must acknowledge differences and avoid forming factions. If we understand and consider each other, we can definitely move forward.”

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