'Smuggling' Hot Friendship of Women Unfolding in the Refreshing Sea (Comprehensive)

Ryu Seung-wan's New Film After 2 Years Since 'Mogadishu'
70s Haenyeo Roles Starring Kim Hye-soo and Yeom Jung-ah as Leads

Kim Hye-su (left) Yeom Jeong-a
Photo by Yonhap News

The film "Milsu" (Smuggling), which depicts the story of haenyeo (female divers) engaging in smuggling against the backdrop of the blue sea, will be released on the 26th. Actors Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah deliver a powerful catharsis of intense loyalty and solidarity set against the fishy sea. The outstanding friendship of these women unfolds refreshingly on the summer screen.

On the afternoon of the 18th, at the press screening of the film "Milsu" (director Ryu Seung-wan) held at CGV Yongsan in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Kim Hye-soo said, "I was happy to be offered a work that forms the axis of a female narrative," adding, "I liked it more because it is a light commercial film."

She continued, "From start to finish, I did not feel the need to bear the responsibility of doing a rare female-centered film," and said, "I thought being faithful to the fun was the answer." She emphasized, "From the moment I received the script, I tried not to forget what the film means."

"Milsu" is a maritime crime action film where a huge gamble of a lifetime unfolds, entangling people who made a living by salvaging daily necessities thrown into the sea. Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah play haenyeo living in a peaceful small seaside village in the 1970s.

Yum Jung-ah said, "I was happy to work with Kim Hye-soo, and although I had never been in the water before, I was eager to appear," explaining her reason for joining. Kim Hye-soo responded, "Yum Jung-ah is an actress who has strengths that I do not have." She added, "It was also encouraging to meet someone who complements me as a partner."

[Photo by Yonhap News]

The film is a new work by director Ryu Seung-wan, who directed "Berlin" (2013), "Veteran" (2015), "The Battleship Island" (2017), and "Mogadishu" (2021).

Director Ryu said, "If a director is given a good script and the staff and actors are provided, I think my role is done. I tend to think a lot during the casting stage." He added, "From the beginning, it was Kim Hye-soo and Yum Jung-ah. I was a fan and wanted to work with them throughout the scriptwriting process," explaining the reason for casting.

Why did he choose a female narrative? Director Ryu said, "I have long been interested in the story of women smuggling in Busan in the 1970s."

He continued, "The deputy director of 'Start-Up' found smuggling incidents in the West Coast region at a local museum during the filming in Gunsan, which led to the development of 'Milsu'."

Regarding the reason for setting the era in the 1970s, Director Ryu explained, "The story of smuggling daily necessities like Vaseline and jeans at that time was interesting. Korea was a developing country 20 years after the outbreak of the war, and there were many regulations. I wanted to tell the story of people living by smuggling in that era."

The thrilling underwater action of the haenyeo also draws attention. Director Ryu said, "In the film I made before, 'No Blood No Tears' (2002), when men and women engage in hand-to-hand combat, it inevitably becomes brutal, but I thought it would be different if the setting was the sea."

He added, "I thought if haenyeo performed fight action underwater, a lively and new rhythm genre would be born."

Director Ryu also emphasized, "I chose 'Milsu' because I wanted to realize underwater action." He added, "With direction in mind, the martial arts director and underwater choreography coach gave many ideas and help to complete it."

'Smuggling' stills [Photo by NEW]

Kim Hye-soo said she felt a strong bond with the actors while filming "Milsu." She recalled, "Although it is not shown in the film, the actors deeply connected on set."

She said, "While waiting in the water, we relied on each other by looking into each other's eyes, and the feeling of trust was communicated. We became one." She added, "It was a set where I had many unexpected first experiences, and those memories are precious. It is a work that makes you think a lot."

Yum Jung-ah recalled, "I received underwater training starting three months before filming. I could not swim at all, but I prepared by training with my colleagues." She added, "I hope 'Milsu,' which centers on a female narrative, succeeds at the box office so that many similar projects will increase in the future."

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