[Park Chan-wook's Fog①] "Recording with Jeong Hoon-hee and Song Chang-sik, an Amazing Experience"

Jung Hoon-hee's Debut Song 'Angae' Re-recorded "Honored"
Version Sung with Song Chang-sik Appears in Ending Credits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"Only the fog walking alone thickly fills this street / The shadow of you who was once so kind / What use is thinking of the past memories / Still, the heart longs desperately / Ah, where has that person gone / In the fog, lonely and endlessly, I walk."

The song "Fog" plays in the movie Decision to Leave. It is the debut song of singer Jeong Hun-hee. Saxophonist Lee Bong-jo (1932?1987) composed it for director Kim Soo-yong’s film Fog (1967). The film’s backbone is the short story Mujin Travelogue (1964) by writer Kim Seung-ok, who adapted it himself. The fictional city of Mujin, famous for its fog, is depicted as an extraordinary space. It poetically shows the process of human truth fading and losing color.

The narrator is Yoon Ki-jun (Shin Seong-il), who succeeds in Seoul and returns to his hometown Mujin. He considers Ha In-sook (Yoon Jeong-hee), who teaches music in Mujin, as a refuge. Conversely, Ha In-sook sees Yoon Ki-jun as an escape. The structure of Decision to Leave is similar. Detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il), investigating the death of a middle-aged man, suspects the deceased’s Chinese wife Seo-rae (Tang Wei). However, through stakeout and interrogation, they naturally grow closer. Director Park said, "It’s a romance of people who try to maintain minimal dignity while being true to their desires."

"Fog" acts as a catalyst highlighting the romantic emotional line. Jeong Hun-hee re-recorded it. A version sung together with Song Chang-sik also plays during the ending credits. Director Park said, "They are my lifelong heroes," and "The moment recording in the studio was an amazing experience. A lifelong dream came true."

Asia Economy interviewed singers Song Chang-sik and Jeong Hun-hee, who deepened the meaning of Decision to Leave, about the film, the song, and life. The two senior artists expressed gratitude for Director Park’s call. Jeong Hun-hee said, "I felt a thrill I never experienced 55 years ago," and "It is an honor that it can resonate worldwide." Song Chang-sik said, "Since the film is the director’s art, I expect Director Park did well," and "I believe the emotions conveyed with my deepened voice will reach today’s audience well."

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