Kim Min-jong has opened up about his 20-year absence from the film industry.
On the October 3rd broadcast of MBN's 'Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night,' hosts Kim Joo-ha, Moon Se-yoon, and Jo Jazz were joined by guests Ye Ji-won and Kim Min-jong, stars of the film 'Florence.'
The film 'Florence,' which has been receiving praise internationally, has surpassed a total of 100 million views across related videos. However, behind Kim Min-jong's dazzling comeback lies a story of trials. When host Kim Joo-ha asked, "Why haven't you been making movies?" Kim Min-jong revealed, "The film industry turned its back on me. There was even talk that 'Kim Min-jong shouldn't do movies,'" admitting that his credibility in the industry had plummeted.
Kim Min-jong continued, "When I was younger, I had many hits with teen movies. As I got older, I ventured into commercial films, but faced several setbacks. My credibility dropped," confessing to a series of box office failures.
Regarding his 20-year hiatus, Kim Min-jong shared, "Even when there were good projects, they passed me by, leading to a 20-year break during which I did a lot of reflecting and self-improvement. Then, three years ago, I met the director of 'Florence.' The script was very challenging. I asked for a little more time and read it three times," he recounted.
Meanwhile, Kim Min-jong's return to the big screen after two decades is making headlines with the film 'Florence,' which became the first Korean film to win three awards (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay) at the 'Global Stage Hollywood Film Festival.' 'Florence' tells the story of a middle-aged man who overcomes loss and finds healing and reflection in Florence.
Reporter Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr