Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun's Heartfelt Friendship Unveiled in 'Laws of the City'

From ages 20 to 33, the tender friendship between Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun unfolds.

On the 23rd, a press screening for 'Laws of the City' was held at Megabox COEX in Gangnam, Seoul. Attendees included Kim Go-eun, Noh Sang-hyun, and director Lee Eun-hee.

'Laws of the City' is based on a novel by author Park Sang-young. It portrays the unique love story of Jae-hee (Kim Go-eun), a free spirit who knows no bounds, and Heung-soo (Noh Sang-hyun), who is accustomed to distancing himself from the world. The film was invited to the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's top four international film festivals, where it received critical acclaim.

Director Lee Eun-hee stated, "Since we were adapting a short story into a feature film, a lot was needed in between. I wanted to know more about Jae-hee and Heung-soo, to get closer and understand their stories better. While the film is based on the short story, we worked hard to fill in their narratives."

Kim Go-eun, who plays Jae-hee, expressed a sense of vicarious satisfaction. She said, "Jae-hee and I are the same age. It was my first time playing a character my age, and I was glad. While acting as Jae-hee, I thought, 'Why couldn't I have fun like that at that age?' I was envious of Jae-hee and acted with a sense of vicarious satisfaction."

She added, "Jae-hee is a very lively and eye-catching character in the script. I wanted to portray her as accurately as possible. Jae-hee is often misunderstood and disliked by many, but I tried to express the underlying aspects so she wouldn't appear one-dimensional."

Kim Go-eun, who earned the title of 'ten million actress' with the film 'Phantom', hopes for another box office success. She said, "I earnestly hope for success. Many people worked hard to produce 'Laws of the City'. Just being able to release and showcase it is overwhelming. If it becomes a hit, I would be delighted."

Noh Sang-hyun, who plays the LGBTQ character Heung-soo, shared, "Heung-soo has various repressed emotions like frustration, isolation, and shame from his childhood. Before filming, I met with LGBTQ individuals to hear their stories, which was helpful. I liked how Heung-soo grows by sharing his secret with Jae-hee."

Towards the end of the film, Noh Sang-hyun performs Miss A's 'Bad Girl Good Girl'. He commented, "The dance was very challenging. I took lessons and practiced hard to get it right. I tried not to make mistakes during filming. It was fun."

In real life, Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun, who are a year apart, showcase a sparkling chemistry. Noh Sang-hyun said, "We are of similar age. Although we were shy at first, Kim Go-eun approached me, and we became close by joking around."

Kim Go-eun added, "We were already very close before filming started, so there was no pressure to become closer on set. Many scenes were shot at Jae-hee's house, where Jae-hee and Heung-soo build their narrative. From the moment we started set filming, I had many conversations with Heung-soo."

The film also tackles realistic themes like LGBTQ discrimination and dating violence, which were not in the original novel. Director Lee Eun-hee explained, "The events the two characters experience are not extraordinary but moments anyone could face. I wanted to show how Jae-hee and Heung-soo handle these situations."

'Laws of the City' will be released on the 1st of next month.

Seo Yoon Kim, TenAsia Reporter, seogugu@tenasia.co.kr