[Interview①] Director Yeon Sang-ho: "Gong Yoo Recommended Kang Dong-won After Reading 'Peninsula' Script"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "'Peninsula' is a story about ordinary, mundane people. Perhaps the virtue of the film lies in portraying our ordinary selves against an immense and grand backdrop."

Director Yeon Sang-ho has returned after four years with the sequel to 'Train to Busan,' titled 'Peninsula.' We asked how the K-zombie film starring Kang Dong-won differs from the original.

On the afternoon of the 10th, Director Yeon Sang-ho shared various insights about the film during an interview held at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, ahead of the release of 'Peninsula.'

'Peninsula' is an action blockbuster depicting the final battle of survivors left on a ruined land four years after 'Train to Busan.' The cast includes Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re, and Lee Ye-won.

Following 'Seoul Station' and 'Train to Busan,' 'Peninsula' expands Director Yeon Sang-ho's universe and has already attracted worldwide attention. 'Train to Busan' was invited to the Midnight Screening at the 69th Cannes Film Festival in 2016 and was hailed as the bible of K-zombie films. It drew 11.56 million viewers domestically and achieved a worldwide box office revenue of $140 million. It also topped box offices in major Asian countries such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, recorded the highest opening for a Korean film in Singapore, and secured the most screens ever for a Korean film in France, continuously breaking records and gaining global love. Following 'Train to Busan,' 'Peninsula' was officially invited to the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time a Korean film series sharing a single universe received consecutive invitations to Cannes, adding special significance.

Returning with the sequel to 'Train to Busan' after four years, Director Yeon Sang-ho said, "People around me asked why the sequel wasn't titled 'Train to Busan 2.' I wanted it to be an independent film separate from the original. While 'Train to Busan' depicted a battle on a train, 'Peninsula' focuses on the story of ordinary people in the city. I wanted to tell how ordinary people have changed."

Director Yeon added, "Zombies weren't created by me; the term originated from George Romero's films. It's like an open-source in the film industry. That's why zombie films often feel like one continuous work. The recently released 'Alive' can even be considered part of the 'Train to Busan' series. Since the events happen around the same time as 'Train to Busan,' they connect," he said with a witty remark.

Is there any pressure releasing a film amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Director Yeon Sang-ho said, "There were many differing opinions internally at the early stages of the outbreak. We had been preparing for a summer release, hoping the virus would weaken by then (which it did not). The situation took an unexpected turn. Seeing that the Cannes Film Festival was canceled this year made me realize how serious it was. We can't guarantee safety going forward, and we couldn't wait endlessly," he confessed.

'Peninsula' expands its setting from a moving train to the heart of a ruined city, showcasing a larger scale and overwhelming visuals. It is the first post-apocalyptic film set in South Korea. Director Yeon Sang-ho has built his own universe spanning animation, films, dramas, and webtoons, connecting 'Seoul Station,' 'Train to Busan,' and now 'Peninsula.'

Director Yeon recalled, "During pre-production, there was great confusion. When I thought about where to find images, I connected them to apocalyptic images from Eastern Japanese manga. I also tried to find inspiration for Kang Dong-won's costumes within that context," reflecting on the early production process.

Regarding casting Kang Dong-won as the lead, he said, "I really hoped he would be cast." When told that the dazzling visuals felt like fantasy, Director Yeon laughed, "Isn't Gong Yoo the lead in 'Train to Busan'?" He continued, "I thought 'Train to Busan' had enough genre tension. It was hard to give that up in 'Peninsula' as well. I talked with Gong Yoo about casting, and after reading the script, he recommended Kang Dong-won."

'Peninsula' also offers another fun point for audiences. Scenes such as handing over a can of tuna or Kang Dong-won calling his nephew "Dongwon-ah (= Donghwan-ah)" are examples. Director Yeon said, "It wasn't intentional, but watching the film, I felt it could be interpreted that way," with a smile. He added, "While preparing the film, I realized that ramen's shelf life isn't very long. It expires quickly. So I thought of canned food. Maybe that's another fun aspect for the audience to enjoy," sharing behind-the-scenes details.

Director Yeon said, "Since the setting is a world that has lost humanity, humanism is the theme. It's a work that can show this indirectly. The charm of the genre might be that humanity stands out in a world where humanity has been destroyed." He added, "'Peninsula's' protagonist is not a hero. It's a story about ordinary, mundane people."

'Peninsula' opens on July 15.