Director Bong Joon-ho Praises 'The Journey to Gyeongju' as a Textbook Collaboration of Great Acting and Direction

Director Bong Joon-ho recently praised the film "The Journey to Gyeongju," calling it a textbook example of what happens when great acting meets exceptional direction.

On August 26, Lotte Cinema World Tower successfully hosted the second installment of the Killing GV series featuring Director Bong Joon-ho. The event drew massive attention and sold out all seats early, as the world-renowned auteur stepped in as a moderator to support the film.

Notably, the event sparked a warm and lively atmosphere by reuniting Lee Jung-eun and Park So-dam, who previously collaborated with Director Bong on the global cinematic phenomenon "Parasite."

Stepping up to the stage amidst enthusiastic applause after the screening, Director Bong did not hold back his praise for "The Journey to Gyeongju," describing it as a prime textbook example that shows the kind of magic that unfolds when great actors encounter a strong script and direction. He also highlighted the film's fluid shifts in tone and manner across various genres, sharing, "The weight of the incidents and the characters' emotions run deep, yet I could feel the director's bold audacity in sometimes delivering sudden, roaring laughter."

In response, Director Kim Mi-jo shared the intense behind-the-scenes production process, saying, "I felt that a heterogeneous tone was inevitable because this is an inefficient revenge mission where they cannot even catch a flying bug and are bound to fail. Even the slightest change in music or cut length could drastically alter the tone, so I struggled deeply with matching the tone throughout the entire editing process."

The discussion continued with in-depth behind-the-scenes stories about the characters. Lee Jung-eun, who plays Ok-sil, a character described by Director Bong as someone drowning in unbearable pain and anger, shared her immersion and dedication, saying, "I worried throughout filming whether she would actually be able to carry out her revenge until the very end."

Director Bong expressed admiration for the eldest daughter Jang-ju, played by Kong Hyo-jin, noting, "The detail of her brushing off her mother's hand after touching the broken car glass exquisitely portrays their mother-daughter relationship." Kong Hyo-jin explained her meticulous character-building process, sharing, "I acted with the mindset of an eldest daughter who has watched over her mother for eight years, taking care of her well-being to an excessive degree."

Regarding Park So-dam, who plays the second daughter Young-ju, Director Bong remarked, "Her cold acting followed by the heart-wrenching outburst of tears in the latter half is deeply poignant and moving." Park So-dam described her character's inner self by saying, "She is the most sensitive and lonely character, wearing a suit of armor to keep her emotions hidden."

Lee Yeon, who plays the third daughter Dong-ju—praised by Director Bong for her "rough and tough yet delicate moments defined by deep wounds"—added, "I acted with the thought that acting on impulse rather than thinking in every moment might be a way to feel less pain," offering a glimpse into the four actors' fierce dedication to their roles.

"The Journey to Gyeongju" is a family revenge story about four mother and daughter figures who embark on a "killer" trip after waiting eight years for Gyeongju, the youngest daughter who never returned from a school trip. The film was released on August 26 and is currently holding the No. 3 spot at the box office.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)