Why 'COLONY' Star Jun Ji-hyun Wants to Be Director Yeon Sang-ho's Ultimate Muse: "He's the Director Every Actor Needs"

Actress Jun Ji-hyun has expressed her boundless trust in director Yeon Sang-ho, with whom she collaborated on the film 'COLONY.'

On the afternoon of May 26, Jun Ji-hyun sat down for an interview at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to celebrate the release of 'COLONY.' Reflecting on her return to the big screen after 11 years, she shared, "When it comes to choosing a film, I feel a deep sense of responsibility. Audiences spend their hard-earned money and valuable time to come to the theater, so rather than just doing what I want, I choose scripts based on what I think the audience would want to see."

Even during her previous interviews at the Cannes Film Festival, Jun Ji-hyun openly declared herself a fan of director Yeon Sang-ho, expressing her desire to "become the director's ultimate muse in the 'Yeon-niverse' (Yeon Sang-ho Universe)." This highlights just how much the director influenced her decision to join the project.

Jun Ji-hyun said, "I am a huge fan of director Yeon Sang-ho and have watched all of his works. So when the offer came in, I decided to do it even before reading the script. Of course, my fan heart played a part, but when I did read the script, I loved the fresh take on zombies and the message the director wanted to convey through the film."

She emphasized that Yeon Sang-ho as a director on set was no different from the creator she admired as a fan. Jun showered him with praise, saying, "Every director has their own distinct color. Looking only at his works, I thought director Yeon Sang-ho might be sensitive or dark, but he actually has a great sense of humor and is very bright. The atmosphere on set was amazing. It was a set where everyone arrived and left strictly on time. Because the director's vision and style are so clear, it was incredibly comfortable for the actors. We didn't have to worry about anything else and could just focus entirely on our acting. It felt like we were effortlessly riding on his coattails. On top of that, his final products never disappoint. I absolutely loved 'COLONY' as well."

'COLONY' ends with a hint of a sequel. When asked about her expectations for appearing in a follow-up, Jun Ji-hyun said, "If an offer comes, I will definitely take responsibility and do it. Actually, rather than talking about a sequel, the director talks a lot about his next projects. I would do any project as long as it's directed by him."

When asked if she had figured out the source of director Yeon Sang-ho's prolific creativity—releasing more than one project a year—she repeatedly praised him, saying, "He just has so many ideas. His creative well never runs dry. Isn't that wonderful? He is the kind of director that actors need, and the kind of director the film industry needs. First of all, he works across a wide variety of genres and formats. Since that creates so many opportunities, it's great for actors to have more directors like him. On top of that, his distinct style is so firm, which makes it even better."

'COLONY,' the collaboration between Jun Ji-hyun and director Yeon Sang-ho, tells the story of survivors isolated inside a sealed building due to a mysterious outbreak, fighting against infected beings that evolve in unpredictable ways. It serves as the grand finale of Yeon Sang-ho's zombie trilogy, following 'Train to Busan' and 'Peninsula.' Released on May 21, the film is currently a box office hit, surpassing 2 million viewers nationwide in just five days.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)