[Lee Isul, Entertainment Reporter]
It is the dazzling 'Time to Hunt,' which came into the world as if from a movie.
Actors Lee Je-hoon and Park Jung-min have grown into treasure-like actors in the Korean film industry after 9 years since 'The Guard Post.'
The two actors appeared like a comet in March 2011 with director Yoon Sung-hyun's 'The Guard Post.' Playing Gitae and Hee-joon respectively, Lee Je-hoon and Park Jung-min captivated audiences throughout the film, marking a significant discovery in Korean cinema.
Over the past 9 years, Lee Je-hoon and Park Jung-min have worked tirelessly. They earned the nickname 'Ox actors' for working like oxen in Chungmuro. Behind this was the love calls from many directors. They responded quietly and rose as the brightest young actors in the film industry.
Lee Je-hoon, with a cool gaze behind a gentle smile and an inscrutable multifaceted mask, stimulates the curiosity of directors and audiences alike. He looks kind when he smiles but cold when expressionless, and his eyes, imbued with a strange sadness and compassion, shine brightest on the screen. After showing a strong presence once again in 'Architecture 101,' he led films such as 'Detective Hong Gil-dong: The Missing Village,' 'Anarchist from Colony,' and 'I Can Speak.'
Park Jung-min is an actor who seems like he could be sitting next to you on the subway but gives a sense of trust that he will ultimately succeed in any role, whether a gangster or a chaebol. He delivered a cheerful high kick to stereotypes about himself and rose as a lead actor. Leading films like 'Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet,' 'Keys to the Heart,' 'Svaha: The Sixth Finger,' and 'Tazza: One Eyed Jack,' he became a representative face of youth.
Lee Je-hoon and Park Jung-min teamed up with director Yoon Sung-hyun, their film comrade who made them who they are, to work on 'Time to Hunt.' How the past 9 years each has run in the film industry will sparkle in the movie is also a point of interest. This is why the reunion of the three carries special expectations.
With Ahn Jae-hong, Choi Woo-shik, and Park Hae-soo joining, 'Time to Hunt' has emerged as a highly anticipated film in Chungmuro.
Fans who remember the deep impression of 'The Guard Post' have eagerly awaited the release of 'Time to Hunt,' but its release was postponed due to the unexpected disaster of COVID-19 (novel coronavirus infection). Moreover, as the film experienced various ups and downs including the actors' sincerity, carefully crafted casting, and prolonged post-production, affectionate attention from the film industry continued.
After a regrettable legal dispute between the production company Little Big Pictures and the overseas distributor Content Panda over the Netflix release, 'Time to Hunt' will be released at 4 p.m. on the 23rd. Although it is unfortunate that the film cannot be seen in theaters, it holds another significance in that it will meet audiences in their homes in over 190 countries worldwide.
The crisis may turn into another opportunity. Along with the long trials and tribulations, expectations for 'Time to Hunt' have also grown. Given the attention it has received from many, the viewing enthusiasm on the day of release is expected to be intense.
Attention is focused on what form 'Time to Hunt,' which will finally come into the world after a long labor, will take.
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