[Interview] Author Cheon Seong-il "For Globalizing K-Content, More Important Than Money Is..."

Interview with Author Cheon Seong-il
Writer of 'Pirates: Goblin Flag' and 'All of Us Are Dead'
Feeling Changes in Film, Drama, and OTT Markets
Bitter Atmosphere Chasing Capital
Qualitative Improvement of K-Content Remains a Challenge

Chun Sung-il, Writer / Photo by Lotte Entertainment

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] "The market is changing rapidly, and K-content is expanding globally, but as more works are produced, is there also qualitative improvement? We are going through a kind of renaissance period."

Screenwriter Cheon Seong-il said this during a video interview with Asia Economy on the 10th, stating, "Through 'Squid Game,' the barriers to Korean content in overseas markets have been broken down."

Cheon wrote films such as "Once Upon a Time" (2008), "My Girlfriend Is an Agent" (2009), "Dad Likes Women" (2010), "Minority Opinion" (2014), and dramas like "Chuno" (2010), "Runaway Plan B," and "Dear Judge" (2018). In 2015, he also actively participated in production, directing the film "Western Front."

After founding a production company in 2007, Cheon Seong-il roamed Chungmuro with completed scripts when the company's capital ran out. Recalling that time, he said with a hearty laugh, "I started writing scripts myself because there was no money to contract writers. So some people call me an illegitimate street writer."

Cheon wrote the screenplay for the recently released film "Pirates: The Goblin Flag" (directed by Kim Jeong-hoon) and the Netflix series "All of Us Are Dead" (directed by Lee Jae-gyu). As a creator presenting works both in theaters and on OTT platforms, his feelings are special.

He said, "The format to tell the stories I want in a 3-hour movie or a 6-episode drama has been created, and K-content has reached number one worldwide, which was unimaginable before," expressing his sense of market change.

He added, "There are more OTT platforms now. If you subscribe to all, household finances might be shaken, and the number of works has increased. I don't know if K-content has achieved qualitative improvement along with quantitative expansion, or if these changes are good. It feels like a renaissance."

Cheon also said, "Dramas have a fixed basic format and limits, so writing was difficult. Movies don't have those restrictions; you just get the appropriate rating. Working on OTT was closer to movies. I could freely do what I wanted within reasonable limits."

Chun Sung-il, Author / Photo by Lotte Entertainment

After the pandemic, the content market changed rapidly, and competition intensified. When asked about the changes he feels, his expectations, and concerns, he said, "That's a difficult question," but answered, "Unfortunately, money."

"As the market grows, the capital moving also grows. In the past, people talked about 'who is making what story' or 'who is working with whom,' but nowadays, the first thing you hear is 'who got paid how much.' Honestly, it's regrettable. I don't even know which wave I'm being swept away by."

Cheon also expressed gratitude toward director Hwang Dong-hyuk of "Squid Game," saying he benefits from the changed status of K-content. He said, "It seems the barriers to Korean content overseas have been broken down. I even talked with director Lee Jae-gyu that we will benefit a lot from 'Squid Game.' It feels like the door has been opened."

He said there is one thing he strictly adheres to as a writer. He emphasized, "It might be a shallow thought, but the work must be fun."

"No matter what exterior it wears, I want to write entertaining works. Popular culture and arts still have considerable influence. At least, I vow not to have a harmful impact on the world. I don't know about having a good influence, but I try to avoid the negative parts."

Cheon Seong-il also expressed regret about the disappearance of comedy from theaters and living rooms. He said, "I don't know why, but recently comedy has disappeared. Maybe it's an era that doesn't forgive laughter. It's similar to how comedy programs disappeared from TV. The people watching comedy before and now are different, but the people making movies and broadcasts are still the same as before. Maybe the mismatch in that connection is why."

When asked if platforms that make it easier to enjoy comedy are changing, he hesitated before answering.

"Comedy and horror seem to be the hardest genres to make. It's difficult to make the audience laugh or be scared for two hours. Writing comedy is the hardest and one of the genres I least want to do. Recently, many short-form comedy contents have come out, and I enjoyed 'Jojo's Show.' It's a realistic black comedy, and watching it reminded me of my old office life. The production team seems to keep making YouTube content, so comedy might shine actively there. Existing personnel might also enter that market. Fresh and ingenious laughter comes from people who don't follow the existing system from planning to production."

Photo by Lotte Entertainment

Photo by Netflix

The common theme in the recently released "Pirates: The Goblin Flag" and "All of Us Are Dead" is hope. Cheon Seong-il said, "'All of Us Are Dead' wanted to tell a story where hope and despair intersect. Ultimately, great hope comes from the greatest despair. I hoped it wouldn't be a world someone desperately wishes for."

He continued, "'Pirates' is about desire and complacency. It tells the story of people moving forward with desire and groups who want to live comfortably among themselves. It talks about traitors, righteous thieves, and pirates moving with hope."

Regarding releasing a sequel eight years after "Pirates: The Bandit Who Went to the Sea" (2014), he calmly said, "I'm sorry to 'Pirates,' born during the COVID period, leaving behind that good time. Truly good works remain good even after ten years." He added, "It ranked number one at the box office during the Lunar New Year holiday, but the audience numbers were disappointing. The most memorable review was that my mother went to the theater alone to watch it."

When asked about the production of "All of Us Are Dead" season 2, Cheon laughed and said, "I'm trying not to hear about it as much as possible." He added, "There seems to be talk about 'whether it will happen or not,' 'whether it can or can't at that time,' but I told them to let me know when it's decided."

Cheon Seong-il revealed, "I am planning a historical drama about a dockworker in the Joseon era who becomes a nationwide organized crime boss, and an interesting comedy work."