Movie 'The Moon' director Kim Yong-hwa, "SF is not the exclusive property of Hollywood"

Director Kim Yong-hwa revealed that he wanted to show that the science fiction genre is not exclusive to Hollywood through the movie 'The Moon'.

On the 27th, at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, I started an interview about the movie 'The Moon' (director Kim Yong-hwa).

'The Moon' is a movie depicting the desperate struggle between Seon-woo (Do Kyung-soo), a space crew member stranded on the moon due to an accident, and Jae-gook (Sol Kyung-gu), the former head of the space center desperately trying to save him.

Kim Yong-hwa, who became a director of 'Twin Ten Million', achieved 14 million cumulative audiences in the movie 'Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds' (2017) and 12 million cumulative audiences in 'Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days' (2018). Regarding his feelings on returning after 5 years, he said, “I am happy. 20 years have passed, and there aren't many directors I worked with. I hope that good juniors will come out and develop Korean films a lot,” he explained.

Recently, Korean sci-fi has been appearing more and more, but there is still a fixed idea that sci-fi is Hollywood. He said, “The public thinks science fiction is exclusive to Hollywood. I thought, 'If it's delayed, it can become a movie that I can't help but watch forever'. After 'Along with the Gods', I received good reviews, so I thought about whether to take on a new challenge or choose safety. Of course, making a good space movie is the most important thing. Now, I thought that I could go to space with enough technology.”

Then, when asked about the reason for producing 'The Moon', he mentioned that it started with a special lecture by Dr. Lee at the Korea Astronomical Research Institute at Bon EBS 10 years ago. He said, “During the broadcast, a student asked a question. The question was, 'You are a person who observes the universe, how do you deal with the stress occurring on Earth?' At this time, the doctor said, 'At the moment when there is a misunderstanding or when you feel something wrong, let's buy soju and go out. He looked at the vast stars and talked candidly. He said that he became weak and sublime. There was an echo when I heard that. Aren't we, who live on the Earth seen from space, really small beings? Maybe if I broaden my horizons, I can live a more worthwhile life.”

As much as the moon was used as a cinematic background, much effort was put into realizing it. He said, “The moon is a satellite star, so I think it implies a relationship. It is the force that manpower gives. In other words, I think stars are good metaphors for human relationships that we have no choice but to go through, whether we like it or not. In fact, we always see only the front of the moon and never the back. I haven't seen such a movie. The front side is a material that gives us fantasy, while the back side is a pitch-black space. Unlike the front side, I thought the irony of the back side would be a good setting for a movie,” he said, explaining why he chose the material.

He said that the scientific field was verified and tried to be implemented similarly to reality. In order to explain the dramatic part of the movie, I asked 'if it's possible' every time. Among the reviews of scientists, it is said that no one knows how meteor showers fall. A meteor shower causes a tremendous shock with just a small piece,” he said, referring to the part that had been meticulously investigated in advance. He continued, “I received a lot of support. The impossible part was not implemented in the scientific or not part. It was presented within the scope of scientific verification or analogy, and I was told to make it wild.”

'The Moon' will be released on August 2nd.

Reporter ha neul Lee, Ten Asia greenworld@tenasia.co.kr