MOVIE
Choi Yoo-ri Talks About Learning Choreography for 'Zombie Daughter' and Her Unique Hobbies
On the 1st, Choi Yoo-ri, who stars in the film 'Zombie Daughter,' was interviewed at the Ten Asia office in Jungnim-dong, Seoul.
'Zombie Daughter' is a comedic drama about a father who undergoes secret training to protect his daughter, the last remaining zombie in the world. Choi Yoo-ri plays the role of Sua, the last zombie.
The film features the song 'No.1' by singer BoA, which Sua uses to prepare for a dance competition. The song also metaphorically represents the relationship between her and her father, Jeong-hwan, played by Jo Jung-suk.
Born in 2009, Choi Yoo-ri was unfamiliar with 'No.1,' which was released in 2002. She said, "I knew of BoA but not the song 'No.1.' I learned about it through this project. The director mentioned that it fits well with our movie and the lyrics seem like something Jeong-hwan would say to Sua. Initially, I thought it was just a background song, but after listening to it again, I realized it has a bright tune but carries a sad emotion."
Choi Yoo-ri explained, "There was a teacher who taught me the choreography. I practiced in a separate studio for a little over four months. Since I'm not a natural dancer, it wasn't easy at first. Thanks to the choreographer's guidance and the director's direction, I appear less awkward on screen," she laughed. When asked if she has an interest in K-pop choreography, she replied, "I have hobbies far removed from dancing. In the movie, dance is one of the connections between Jeong-hwan and Sua, so I felt I had to do it well."
When asked about her actual hobbies, she said, "Observing and birdwatching." She added, "I love birds, so I look at bird guides and go for walks to observe them. I particularly like owls, nightjars, and crows. While owls and nightjars are rare to see, crows are more common. I often go for walks to see crows."
When asked if she has traveled far to see birds, she replied, "I went to Seoul Grand Park Zoo to see Eurasian eagle-owls." She recalled, "There were two adult owls and about three young ones. The young ones were fluffy, looking like cotton balls with beaks, which was adorable." She added, "Female eagle-owls are larger, and I find them more impressive. Their brown feathers are beautiful."
Choi Yoo-ri also revealed her "embarrassingly well-known hobby of writing." Fellow actor Yoon Kyung-ho, who also stars in 'Zombie Daughter,' has praised her talent for writing novels. Choi Yoo-ri said, "I mainly write novels. Recently, I've been writing stories about birds, particularly crows and eagle-owls. My experience at the zoo helped with my writing. Seeing the eagle-owls in person was a new experience for me." She admitted to having many drafts but said, "I have one completed short story, and I write more poetry than novels. Sometimes, my stories go off track, and I think, 'The material was good, but...' and leave them unfinished," she laughed.
Choi Yoo-ri plans to complete her current bird-themed novel soon, stating it's about 15% done.
As a high school freshman, Choi Yoo-ri shared her concerns, saying, "As a student, managing grades is important, but it's not too serious yet. I often worry about 'What's for lunch?'" she laughed. She also mentioned, "I'm trying to memorize the names of different owl species, but it's challenging," she said with a smile.
'Zombie Daughter,' released on July 30, topped the box office for two consecutive days. It recorded 430,095 viewers on its opening day, achieving the highest opening score of the year. It surpassed the opening score of the hit comedy film 'Extreme Job,' which had 368,582 viewers, setting a new record for the highest opening score for a Korean comedy film. It also achieved the highest pre-sale numbers among this year's releases.
Kim Ji-won, Ten Asia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr
