Director Park Seong-kwang, “I lost my hair due to the pressure”

Comedian Park Seong-gwang achieves his dream of becoming a film director through the movie 'Woongnam'. Due to the heavy burden, he suffered from hair loss and groin inflammation.

On the morning of the 13th, a production briefing session for the movie 'Woongnam' (director Park Seong-gwang) was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Park Seong-kwang and actors Park Seong-woong, Lee Yi-kyung, Choi Min-soo, and Baek Ji-hye attended the event.

'Woongnam' is a comical action film in which a man with a special secret called Asiatic Black Bear uses his unique beast-like abilities to cooperate in an investigation against an international criminal organization.

Comedian Park Seong-gwang directed the short film 'Swear' in early 2011. He then directed the short film 'Sad Because It's Not Sad' in 2017 and the film project 'Strong', which was part of 'Don Rix 2' in 2020 .For him, 'Woongnam' is his first commercial film.

On this day, director Park Seong-gwang said, "I have directed independent films, but I felt that commercial films are definitely different. I feel that the directors who are filming films and have already filmed them are great and respectable. The actors do “I felt it,” he said.

He continued, "Many people say that directing is a lonely job, but as much as it was difficult, there were also many good things. I thought, 'I'm never going to direct again', but then I thought, 'I want to do it again,' so I have mixed feelings. Now, the only thing I can do is ' “I just hope that 'Woongnam' does well," he added.

Why did director Park Seong-gwang decide to make 'Woongnam' as his first commercial film? He explained, "Before, when I made short films, I did a lot of heavy films. As a comedian, I wanted to break the prejudice. When I made short films, I made a lot of heavy topics. When I made commercial films. , I thought I should do what I do best, so I decided to do comedy." .

Park Seong-woong responded to the love call of his close younger brother, Park Seong-gwang. Park Seong-woong said, “I received the script the year before last. I was amazed and proud because I thought, 'Hey, this guy can pull it off.' I guess it’s weird that they wrote it about me,” he said, making everyone laugh.

Park Seong-woong also said, "I heard the news. I directed a short film, worked on an independent feature, and won an award. They said I was in an accident, but I got into an accident and they gave me a difficult role, but I had fun filming it," he said. “I played two roles.” “It wasn't easy to do. It was difficult to be 25. I played dual roles in 'The Guy Inside Me' and I thought the fundamentals were the same,” he said with a laugh.

Lee Yi-kyung said, "Director Park Seong-gwang is my favorite brother, so I said I would be of help if I could. I received the script for 'Woongnam' while I was filming another movie in Busan. The company had to deliver it to me, but I couldn't do it." My brother knew that I was doing it for sure. So the assistant director of the film called the company to coordinate the schedule, but the company didn't know about it. Since I had work to do in the play, I persuaded the company to do it. Now, I am the actor and director. “It's a relationship, but I have to do it as a younger brother because he's my favorite older brother,” he said.

Choi Min-soo said, "The investment environment must have been difficult at first, so I was curious about who the CEO of the film company was. Should I say that it was the thoughts in that person's mind from the start of filming until the end, the love for movies, and the various ideas he possessed as a person? "He said, "Even though those parts are adults, I was like a child at heart. Even when I first met director Park Seong-gwang, he said that he didn't listen to me. I used the word naughty in my own way, but now I am hardened. It was my arrogant greed to succeed that made me hard. “I think he is. I hope he remains a naughty person. “Until the end,” he said.

Director Park Seong-gwang said about the title 'Comedian', "Honestly, I feel a lot of pressure. I often thought that 'Comedian' could be my biggest weapon or my biggest enemy. If I do this movie and it doesn't do well, the next "I also feel like I'm blocking the path for my juniors to come in. I also think about what I should do if people view me with prejudice. To be honest, as a comedian, I'm not that grateful to be a director. "It's a lot of pressure," he confessed.

Lee Yi-kyung, who watched Park Seong-gwang from the side, said, "I was under a lot of pressure. I suffered a lot of hair loss during filming. My groin was so inflamed that it was indescribable and I couldn't walk. After filming the movie, my older brother and younger brother had a drink and complained to each other by exchanging six-word letters. "He listened to me. The next day, there was a lot of work to do as usual. Sometimes, when I checked the depth of the sea, I was so scared that I almost held on to it." Lastly, Park Seong-gwang asked, “Please watch director Park Seong-gwang, not comedian Park Seong-gwang.”

Meanwhile, 'Woongnam' will be released in March.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr