[Interview] Lee Jungeun, the K-pop Dancing Grandmother: "It's Funny but Moving, Because We're Family"

"Zombie Daughter" Opens July 30: Lee Jungeun as Bamsun
Back Scratcher in Hand, Dancing to 2NE1... A New Challenge in Comedy
"Sincerity Comes Before Chasing Only Results"

Actor Lee Jeongeun is having her photo taken ahead of an interview held on the 24th in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. NEW

Grandmother Eun Bongri, a lively and energetic woman well-versed in K-pop, offers a room to her son and granddaughter who have evacuated from Seoul. However, her granddaughter begins to act strangely. She avoids greetings, rarely makes eye contact, and suddenly starts making strange noises while baring her teeth. The scene where the grandmother swings her back scratcher at her zombie granddaughter in an attempt to discipline her brings laughter.

Actress Lee Jungeun fully displays her comedic charm in the film "Zombie Daughter." Having previously shown deep appeal in a variety of genres?as the mysterious housekeeper Moon Gwang in "Parasite" (2019), the warm-hearted Lady Gageo in "The Book of Fish" (2021), and the lovable Im Soon in "Her by Day and Night" (2024)?she returns once again with a new persona.

Meeting her on July 24 in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, she said, "Because I know how difficult it is to take responsibility for and protect a life, the situations in this 'zombie story' did not feel far-fetched." She added, "The family's choice to not give up and to continue living together even after their daughter becomes a zombie was something I could empathize with. The story posed questions that were not easy to answer, even on a personal level, beyond just acting."

"Zombie Daughter" is based on a webtoon of the same name, which was serialized from 2018 to 2020 in Japan, North America, and Thailand, and has recorded a cumulative 500 million views. In the film, Lee Jungeun plays Bamsun, who, along with her son Junghwan (Jo Jungseok), cares for her granddaughter Sua (Choi Yuri) after discovering she is infected. Although Bamsun is a grandmother full of energy who speaks with a warm Jeolla dialect, she is also the sharpest observer of the situation.

To enhance the credibility of her character, Lee Jungeun referred to videos and documentaries of real mothers from Chilgok. "She couldn't be a grandmother based on vague assumptions; she had to be grounded in references. Even the 'hip' aspect of the character needed a basis to appear genuine," she explained. To master the Jeolla dialect, she met with five coaches, recorded their speech, and learned various ways of speaking to apply them in the film.

The distinctive approach to the zombie genre was also appealing. She said, "When people think of zombies, they usually imagine terrifying beings that harm others, but this work was different. It starts with the question, 'Can parents really give up on their child if she becomes a zombie?' It tells the story of accepting a daughter who has become as unpredictable as a teenager going through puberty." She continued, "By using zombies as a device to address issues of family, parenting, and coexistence, the film gains deeper significance."

Comedy is a key device that shapes the tone of the film. However, Lee Jungeun noted, "The comedy in 'Zombie Daughter' is different from the usual humor found in dramas or movies." She said, "Traditional comedies prompt laughter through specific lines or gestures, but in this film, humor naturally emerges from urgent situations. The structure didn't require exaggeration or overacting. Instead, it demanded a denser form of comedy."

The dance scene to 2NE1's "I Am the Best" was perfected after one and a half months of practice. She recalled, "Even after memorizing the choreography, I would forget it as soon as I turned around." She added, "The 'hip grandmother' concept is not just a character trait but the driving force that sustains the entire mood of the film."

"Now, I value the process over the outcome in acting. Focusing on the process allows me to try different things and feel less exhausted. In the past, I often felt frustrated thinking, 'I've practiced this much, so why isn't it showing?' when it came to dialect acting. But now, I think it's more important to understand the emotions of people from that region. Rather than obsessing over results, I believe sincerity should come first."

With 35 years of experience, Lee Jungeun said, "I still don't consider myself fully mature. Acting is believing, but I am always full of doubts. However, when I push through those doubts and follow the director's guidance, there are moments when I reach a new place." Regarding the burnout she experienced last year, she explained, "Feeling exhausted was a physical issue, not a mental breakdown. The important thing is to adjust my own rhythm in accepting a project."

Her relationship with animals has also influenced her acting. Watching her companion cat Aeyong (Geumdong) in the film, she remarked, "There was a look in its eyes as if it knew something. I wished actors could act like that too." She said goodbye to her companion dog Heendungi, who had been with her for 19 years, in April this year. She spent many years feeding, clothing, and teaching Heendungi, who had been rescued as a stray.

"Through Heendungi, I learned how to wait. It's really similar to raising a child. The mischievous dog only settled down around the age of fifteen. Going through that process, I learned patience and how to live together. Even now, I prefer filming with animals. Because animals are unpredictable, as an actor, I have no choice but to stay completely focused."

Lee Jungeun is going through a difficult time after saying goodbye to her dog. In a congratulatory message for the picture book "Drawing Dobongi" (Iyagikkot), written by an acquaintance, she wrote, "I hope this will be a great comfort to all of us who are not used to farewells." She said, "I was writing the message the day after the funeral, and tears just poured out. That day is still vivid in my memory." The picture book will be published on July 30, the same day as the release of the film "Zombie Daughter."

Debuting in 1991 with the play "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Lee Jungeun has showcased a wide range of acting across genres in works such as "Cart" (2014), "The Wailing" (2016), "Okja" (2017), "The Day I Died" (2020), and "Dr. Cheon and the Lost Talisman" (2024). She said, "'Parasite' was a blessing of a project, and 'Mr. Sunshine' was the drama that raised my profile. Now, I hope as many people as possible will watch 'Zombie Daughter.'"

Finally, Lee Jungeun said, "I am trying to be more relaxed when choosing projects," and added, "I want to tell my juniors that only when you have the courage to rest can you truly have control over your choices as an actor."