Yoo Hai-jin has praised Park Ji-hoon for his performance in 'The King's Warden.'
On the 19th, a production briefing for the film 'The King's Warden' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Jang Hang-jun, along with actors Yoo Hai-jin, Park Ji-hoon, Yoo Ji-tae, and Jeon Mi-do, attended the event.
'The King's Warden' is set in 1457 Cheongnyeongpo and tells the story of a village chief who volunteers for exile to revive his village and a young dethroned king in exile. It explores the hidden story of Danjong, the 6th king of Joseon.
Yoo Hai-jin plays Eom Heung-do, the village chief of Gwangcheongol who dreams of a prosperous life for his community. Park Ji-hoon portrays the young dethroned king, Lee Hong-wi. Yoo Ji-tae takes on the role of Han Myeong-hoe, a powerful figure who helped place Suyang Daegun on the throne. Jeon Mi-do appears as Mae-hwa, a court lady who assists Lee Hong-wi.
Regarding his reason for joining the film, Yoo Hai-jin stated, "It's the same reason as the director's. History books don't tell us how he lived in exile, who he met, or what relationships he had. I liked the story of friendship between the exile's overseer and the king, and the human stories within."
On playing the role of Eom Heung-do, based on a real person, he shared, "I heard that he is a revered ancestor in the Eom family. I tried to imagine what his emotions were like at the time after reading the script." He continued, "I visited Yeongwol a lot and even went to Jangneung, the tomb of Danjong. There's a statue of Eom Heung-do in front of Jangneung, and it was so realistic. I tried to remember that gaze until the end. That statue inspired me a lot."
Yoo Hai-jin expressed his appreciation for working with Park Ji-hoon, saying, "I'm grateful to Park Ji-hoon. He influenced me a lot. Sometimes I felt sympathy for him. There's a sad scene at the end. I think my performance came out because it was Park Ji-hoon. He's a grateful presence to me." He also praised Park Ji-hoon's acting, saying, "His acting was amazing. It wasn't just his acting. From the makeup trailer to the set, it's 2km, and I like to walk and think about what I'll do that day and recite my lines. Sometimes Park Ji-hoon would catch up and ask, 'Can I walk with you?' We talked about the project and various things while walking together. I thought he was a really good friend. We built a lot of affection."
'The King's Warden' is set to be released on February 4th next year.
Kim Ji-won, TENASIA Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr