"70s Election Scene, Ongoing"... Seol Kyung-gu & Lee Sun-kyun, Becoming 'Kingmaker' This December [Comprehensive]

Film 'Kingmaker' Production Report Meeting

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Actors Seol Kyung-gu and Lee Sun-kyun pose the question, "Is it justified to use unjust means for a righteous purpose?" in the upcoming film Kingmaker, set to release in December.

At the online production briefing for the film Kingmaker (director Byun Sung-hyun) held on the morning of the 22nd, Seol Kyung-gu said, "Although the political scene of the 1970s is the backdrop, the story closely relates to the present, which was a heavy burden."

Kingmaker, opening next month, is a drama about Kim Un-beom, a politician who has lost four elections and challenges to change the world, and Seo Chang-dae, a hidden election strategist whose existence and name are concealed, as they dive into a fierce election battlefield.

The film has attracted attention as it reunites director Byun Sung-hyun and Seol Kyung-gu, who previously collaborated on the 2017 film Unfair: The World of Bad Guys, which was invited to the Midnight Screening at the 70th Cannes International Film Festival.

Director Byun Sung-hyun, presenting a new work after four years, said, "I wanted to pose the question, 'Is it justified to use unjust means for a righteous purpose?' and wondered if that question is still valid today." He added, "I wanted to depict the journey of two men with different beliefs working toward the same goal."

He also emphasized, "I wanted to make it easy to understand even for those who don't know much about politics," and "I aimed to create a sophisticated political film."

Seol Kyung-gu plays Kim Un-beom, a politician with conviction and passion, while Lee Sun-kyun portrays Seo Chang-dae, the election strategist who worked alongside him.

Seol Kyung-gu, who worked again with director Byun after their previous film, revealed, "When we were working on Unfair, I received the script for Kingmaker as a 1+1 package. Because the previous film was well-loved, I accepted the role, but the character Kim Un-beom was quite a burden."

He continued, "Although it is not a current story, it is still related and remains relevant. I was curious because I felt that if this story was told stylishly, it would create a political drama unlike any other genre."

Director Byun Sung-hyun said, "I wanted to make Seol Kyung-gu a great man. We talked a lot about Un-beom’s tone. I wanted to portray a character who seems serious but does not act pretentious."

Reflecting on reuniting with the Unfair production team, Seol Kyung-gu recalled, "It was unbelievably comfortable. I trusted them to capture everything well, so I acted very comfortably."

Lee Sun-kyun said, "I received the offer while filming the drama My Mister. There was a scene in the drama where a movie was being watched, and Seol Kyung-gu’s leading role film Peppermint Candy appeared. It felt like the universe was telling me that I had to work with Seol Kyung-gu in Kingmaker."

Director Byun Sung-hyun recalled about Lee Sun-kyun, "It was like a twist of fate; we met by chance at a hair salon. It was the first day Lee Sun-kyun moved his hair salon there. We met by chance, exchanged greetings saying 'I read your book well,' and then worked together."

Seol Kyung-gu and Lee Sun-kyun portray two men with different approaches. Seol Kyung-gu expressed trust, saying, "I trusted Lee Sun-kyun and felt like he would accept any kind of acting."

In response, Lee Sun-kyun said, "I was overwhelmed. It was a very strange feeling on set. It was an overwhelming honor to act alongside Seol Kyung-gu, whom I have been a fan of since I was young."

Recalling Parasite, which swept the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival and the 92nd Academy Awards, Lee Sun-kyun said, "I was grateful just to be there. I received good energy," and added, "My attitude toward acting has not changed."

The film also features actors Yoo Jae-myung, Jo Woo-jin, Park In-hwan, Lee Hae-young, Kim Sung-oh, Jeon Bae-soo, Seo Eun-soo, Kim Jong-soo, and Yoon Kyung-ho, who create a strong synergy with their powerful presence. Speaking about Yoo Jae-myung, Seol Kyung-gu said, "He is an actor who acts almost mercilessly when performing. I was happy when I heard Yoo Jae-myung would appear. Although his screen time is not much, the role required a strong presence, and he was intense."

Photo = Megabox JoongAng Corp. Plus M