Quit Her Job and Reached 10 Million... Eunjeong Lim, CEO of "The Man Living with the King" [Culture Interview]

Eunjeong Lim, CEO of ONDAWORKS, the production company of the film "The Man Who Lives with the King," is posing to wish for 10 million viewers after finishing an interview with The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

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The movie "The Man Living with the King" has surpassed the milestone of 10 million viewers. This achievement comes after it recorded an overwhelming seat occupancy rate during the Lunar New Year holidays and exceeded 800,000 daily viewers, driving its box office success. Without relying on flashy visuals or provocative developments, the film brought together all generations through its intense emotional lines between characters and a weighty sense of solidarity.

This work, which deals with the exile of Danjong during the Joseon Dynasty, boldly cut out the political power struggles among palace elites. Instead, it spotlighted the ill-fated young king Danjong (played by Park Jihoon) and the village chief on the periphery swept up in the tides of history, Eom Heungdo (played by Yoo Haejin). The poignant narrative of a king who fell from the highest place and a villager who learned compassion from the lowest captivated audiences. Amid an extreme investment freeze, Eunjeong Lim, CEO of Onda Works, completed the film without relying on proven box office formulas. In an interview, she discussed the project’s trajectory and her future resolutions.

CEO Lim faced numerous twists and turns in the early stages of planning. The industry’s response was cold to the idea of telling the story of an ordinary villager rather than a great figure. Even writer Hwang Sunggu declined to write the script several times. The breakthrough that moved the stagnant project forward was the introduction of modern desires. Lim explained, “I thought the narrative would gain vitality if I transplanted the ambition of revitalizing the village by attracting exiles into the otherwise passive exile story.”

Still cut from the movie "The Man Who Lives with the King"

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Hwang developed the narrative by adding realistic concerns to this ingenious premise. At that time, living far from the city, he worried about his children’s educational environment. Lim said, “Because the education gap between Seoul and the provinces is so wide, he even considered moving to another city. He realized such concerns existed in the past as well, and discovered the historical fact that the exile of noblemen sometimes led to the revitalization of local communities, which inspired the backbone of the character.” Lim added, “We strengthened Eom Heungdo’s multifaceted personality by reflecting even the modern longing for real estate.”

In the film, Danjong sits at the same table and shares a meal with the villagers-an unthinkable act in the strictly hierarchical society of Joseon. However, Lim boldly pressed ahead, firmly rooting the film’s central theme. By transforming the king and people’s vertical relationship of loyalty into a horizontal bond of ‘family’ sharing food, the narrative’s strength was maximized. Director Jang Hangjun’s unique personality also played a key role in this portrayal. Lim said, “He likes people and enjoys spending time with many. His belief that sharing a meal makes you family, and experiencing hardships together makes you friends, naturally permeated every scene.”

The driving force that pushed production forward during a period when everyone was shying away from film investment and turning to online streaming series was conviction and a profound sense of responsibility. The “Man Living with the King” project, which began in 2018, hit a major obstacle in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic put everything on hold. As a member of a major investment-distribution company, Lim paused development and entered a period of deep contemplation. She could not just stand by while creators who trusted her waited indefinitely. After much deliberation, she left the organization in 2023, taking projects in progress with her. “I couldn’t turn my back on the creators who followed me based solely on trust. Especially since I had promised to make ‘The Man Living with the King’ into a film within five years, I had to keep my word,” she recalled.

Eunjeong Lim, CEO of the production company Onda Works for the film "Man Living with the King," is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongju Yoon

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After deciding to go independent, Lim’s top priority was to find a director. The answer came right after she left her company, while watching the movie “Rebound.” She felt that the director’s warm perspective toward ordinary people was perfectly suited for “The Man Living with the King.” Lim said, “Since the story deals with ordinary people experiencing tragedy, the director’s perspective on the world was more important than anything else. The moment I watched ‘Rebound,’ I was convinced that it was exactly the direction our film should take.” She continued, “When I first met Director Jang, I was amazed by how precisely he articulated the message the film contained in concrete terms. I felt a thrilling sense that I had found the perfect person for the job.”

The casting process for the actors was a rough journey. Yoo Haejin was the top pick, but whether he would actually join remained uncertain until the very end. The deadlock was finally broken by a drunken phone call from Director Jang. Lim recalled, “After finishing a broadcast together, Director Jang called Yoo Haejin while intoxicated and said, ‘It would be amazing if Haejin played Eom Heungdo. I think he really enjoyed the script.’ Hearing that excited voice instantly put the stalled production into high gear.” She added, “Right before filming, Director Jang nervously joked, ‘What if Haejin gives me a hard time on set?’-he was so anxious their lifelong friendship might be in jeopardy, and I still vividly remember that moment,” she laughed.

Movie Still Cut from "The King and the Man Who Lives"

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For the role of Danjong, Lim had a clear standard from the start: she wanted a fresh yet profound face, not a familiar young star. Lim said, “Together with the investment team at Showbox, we thoroughly analyzed Park Jihoon’s performance in the drama ‘Weak Hero’ and chose him for the role. His eyes, glistening with tears, captivated not only me but also Director Jang.”

The actors’ passionate performances truly shone in the latter half of the film. In particular, the archery scene at the end drew an enthusiastic response from the audience. Lim said, “We deliberately excluded any flashback montages, relying solely on the raw, intense expressions of the actors. Yoo Haejin was so immersed in the role that he continued his harrowing emotional performance even after Director Jang signaled ‘cut.’ I was nervous that the staff, thinking the scene was over, would leave and break the tension.” Watching this performance from behind the camera, she sensed the film’s success. Lim said, “I witnessed the moment when the entire narrative closed with just the actor’s face. I became certain that we could truly move the audience’s hearts.”

Movie still cut from "The Man Living with the King"

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The starting point of the narrative, woven with humor and everyday life, was the scars of modern society. Lim wanted to explore on screen how ordinary people, who have endured a series of massive tragedies, remember and process these events. She said, “I can never forget the scene on the subway during my commute the day of the Sewol ferry disaster, when people quietly held back tears as they read the news. Everyone says ‘Let’s never forget,’ but in reality, we don’t know how to remember, and end up letting tragedy slip by too easily.” She added, “The wrenching emotions of a villager facing Danjong’s tragedy would not have been so different from our own. I hoped the audience would feel a lasting resonance and strive to become better adults in their daily lives.”

On the day of the pre-release screening, while sitting in the very back row with the audience, Lim teared up once again during the archery scene, which she must have replayed hundreds of times. She saw firsthand the moment when the sadness on screen was transmitted directly to the passionate reactions in the audience. Lim said, “From the conception of the project eight years ago, I have always held close the essence of mourning. To witness it reach the audience, without any coercion, was a miracle beyond numbers. The fact that so many viewers resonated with the film’s sincerity is a tremendous miracle.”

Eunjeong Lim, CEO of Onda Works, the production company of the movie The Man Living with the King, is giving an interview to The Asia Business Daily. Photo by Dongjoo Yoon

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Now, Lim’s focus is on the next story. She will continue to pursue works that are rich with the scent of humanity. The values she seeks differ from blind sentimentalism. “I won’t settle for simple inspiration or momentary comfort. Even if I deliver warmth, I will release stories into the world that have a clear ‘reason,’” she said. Ultimately, her goal is to create films that encourage audiences to rediscover their precious emotions. She wants to restore the feelings that modern people lose in their pursuit of speed and efficiency, and awaken the intrinsic value of being human. “I want to offer solid comfort and extend a hand of solidarity to those passing through these wounded times. This is our unchanging promise for the stories we will engrave on the next screen.”

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