Interview with Seol Kyeong-gu's 'Ghost', as Junji Murayama

“Director Lee Hae-young, meticulous + pure, but possesses obsessive-compulsive disorder.”
Seol Kyeong-gu "I feel sympathy for Junji, who is of mixed Korean and Japanese descent, in 'Ghost'"
Sol Kyeong-gu, “Director of ‘Phantom’ is pathologically obsessed with left-right symmetry”
Sol Kyeong-gu, “Director of ‘Phantom’ is pathologically obsessed with left-right symmetry”
Actor Sol Kyeong-gu (56) spoke about the ‘Ghost’ director’s meticulous obsession.

On the 12th, Sol Kyung-gu told stories about his work and life in an interview with the movie 'Ghost' (director Lee Hae-young) at a cafe in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

On this day, Sol Kyung-gu revealed the story behind the inciting speech scene at the public hall in the movie. In that scene, Junji, who was born to a Japanese father and a Korean mother, stands on Japan's side and criticizes Joseon and its people for losing their sovereignty. Although Sol Kyung-gu was born into a prestigious Japanese family, he drew attention with his vicious, inflammatory speech by depicting Junji's inner self in a three-dimensional way, unable to erase his complex about his lineage.

"I thought Junji's speech was closer to self-contempt than a simple speech. He viciously criticizes and despises Joseon, but Joseon is inside me. I think it was a speech made to erase that. I don't know Junji's true feelings. There must have been a fight. His mother killed his father, and he forced his mother to commit suicide. Junji kills his mother without even getting blood on his hands. On the other hand, I feel pity for him. He feels confused about his identity and feels inferior because of his bloodline, which he cannot do anything about. “I wonder if you felt it.”

Director Lee Hae-young, who directed 'Ghost', said, "I have a lot of affection for the character," and added, "I also paid attention to color when directing. I thought it was a bit excessive, but as I got used to it, I think Junji's color came alive."

“I think the colors were overdone. I applied the colors more intensely to Junji. It was a burden at first, but as I got used to it, I think Junji’s colors came to life. One of the reasons I did this work was because I was curious about the era, and I liked the costumes. There are also things like uniforms and the color of clothes that show the character well.”
Sol Kyeong-gu, “Director of ‘Phantom’ is pathologically obsessed with left-right symmetry”
Sol Kyeong-gu, “Director of ‘Phantom’ is pathologically obsessed with left-right symmetry”
At the same time, regarding his impressions of watching the current affairs, he said, "In the beginning, I thought each and every cut was carefully cleaned," and "I felt like every corner was cleaned." Seol Kyeong-gu also talks about director Lee's obsessive obsession and how filming was not easy.

"Director Lee Hae-young's left and right sides must be perfectly symmetrical. It's at a pathological level," said Sol Kyung-gu. "I once wore a hat, and he made requests such as 'Please lower the hat a little,' and 'Please lower it just 2 mm.' “To be honest, I was worried and annoyed,” he said. “There were two members of the Black Order hanging around the public hall, and that arrangement had to work out well without error. “He’s very meticulous,” he said, laughing.

Sol Kyung-gu plays the role of Junji Murayama in the play. He was born in the 7th generation of the prestigious Murayama family to a Japanese father and a Korean mother. He was an elite soldier who was on the road to success, but he was demoted and sent to the communications department as a supervisor. He succeeded in arresting a 'ghost' and dreams of returning to the police department.

'Ghost' is a story about the desperate struggle of suspects trapped in a remote hotel under suspicion as 'ghosts', spies planted by an anti-Japanese organization planted at the Japanese Government-General of Korea in Gyeongseong in 1933, and the unstoppable operation of the real 'ghosts' to overcome suspicion and escape. .

Released on January 18th.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr