[Interview②] 'Peninsula' Yeon Sang-ho "Reasons for Casting Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Re, and Kim Do-yoon..."

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Director Yeon Sang-ho expressed his affection for actors Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, and Lee Re, who played key roles in ‘Peninsula’.

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

‘Peninsula’ is an action blockbuster film depicting the final battle of those left on a ruined land four years after ‘Train to Busan’. It stars Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Min-jae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Re, and Lee Ye-won. It was officially selected for the 2020 Cannes International Film Festival. The film expands its setting from a running train to the heart of a ruined city, showcasing a larger scale and overwhelming visuals. Notably, it features the first post-apocalyptic universe set in South Korea. Director Yeon Sang-ho has built his own universe that spans across platforms such as animation, films, dramas, and webtoons, connecting ‘Seoul Station’, ‘Train to Busan’, and now ‘Peninsula’.

‘Peninsula’ is simultaneously released in special theaters such as 4DX, ScreenX, and IMAX. Director Yeon Sang-ho said, “The day before the press screening, I watched the film three times in each special theater to confirm. Going to the theater after a long time, I felt, ‘So this is what a theater is like.’”

He continued, “I thought a lot about what a movie shown in a theater really is. What does it mean to watch a movie in a theater? The result of that contemplation was ‘Peninsula’.” He added, “I don’t usually give many opinions during the special theater work process. IMAX requires exchanging opinions with the U.S., but ScreenX is very active. In the flashback scenes, the story unfolds on three sides. 4DX is similar, and each artist working on each format interprets the film differently. Watching those parts is fun.” He also said, “The intention I want to convey is well delivered through the original film in regular theaters.”

Previously, Director Yeon Sang-ho named Kim Eui-sung’s character Yong-seok as the most relatable character in ‘Train to Busan’. When asked who it was in ‘Peninsula’, he chose Captain Seo, played by Koo Kyo-hwan. Director Yeon said, “He is a human and vulnerable character who evokes affection. He is a character with a twitchy madness, and I understand Captain Seo’s thoughts. If I were in his position, I might have made the same choice.”

‘Independent film star’ Koo Kyo-hwan plays Captain Seo, the commander leading the 631st unit. Captain Seo is a character with a different exterior and interior, fiercely pushing forward with a desire to escape the ruined peninsula, leaving a strong impression. Previously, Koo Kyo-hwan gained attention at the 21st Busan International Film Festival for his role as transgender Jane in ‘Jane of Dreams’ (2017). He unleashes the skills he built through short films such as ‘Kim’s Drifting’ (2009), ‘Our Grandson Best’ (2016), ‘Today’s Movie’ (2015), ‘Seoul Romance’ (2014), and ‘The Catfish’ (2019) in ‘Peninsula’ with full intent.

Director Yeon Sang-ho said, “I thought a lot about who could best portray Captain Seo. I caused a fuss with the investment and distribution company, saying ‘Koo Kyo-hwan must do it.’” He laughed and added, “I wanted Captain Seo to be a fresh character. Koo Kyo-hwan is a shining actor in the independent film scene. His acting tone and cinematic sensibility are excellent. The anxious look he showed in ‘The Catfish’ is also attractive. The ambiguous point of whether he is a villain or not is good. I expected the acting vibe he showed in previous works to bring vitality to the film. I also gave Koo Kyo-hwan different directions. I think the character’s tension was well brought to life because Koo Kyo-hwan played Captain Seo,” showing his affection.

Regarding Kim Do-yoon, who played Jung-seok (Kang Dong-won)’s brother-in-law in ‘Peninsula’, Director Yeon Sang-ho said, “After watching ‘The Wailing’ (2016), I could only see Kim Do-yeon. Later, he appeared in an important role in ‘Psychokinesis’ but was edited out.” He continued, “I saw that he acted really well on set. I definitely wanted to work with him later, and we also worked together in the drama ‘The Cursed’. We plan to collaborate again in the next project.”

In ‘Peninsula’, Jun-yi (Lee Re) captivates the audience with a spectacular car chase. Jun-yi is a character who survives in a city overrun by zombies after a disaster that engulfed the entire country. She fights zombies while driving in the ruined land to survive.

Director Yeon Sang-ho expressed satisfaction, saying he portrayed an autonomous female character in ‘Peninsula’. He said, “Previously, casting top stars and focusing on male actors had a certain inertia, but this time we broke away from that. While thinking about how to express the post-apocalypse, the image of a small child driving a dump truck came to mind. Kang Dong-won also really liked the depiction of Jun-yi. Lee Re did well.”

‘Peninsula’ opens on July 15.

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