YoonA Shines in Dual Role in New Film 'The Devil Has Arrived'

The film 'The Devil Has Arrived' combines elements of comedy, thriller, romance, and healing drama. The lead actress, YoonA, skillfully transitions between the roles of an angel and a devil. Despite initial concerns about portraying such duality, she embraced the challenge and completed the character by doing everything she wanted.

On the 6th, a press screening for 'The Devil Has Arrived' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Sang-geun, along with actors YoonA, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Joo Hyun-young, attended the event.

'The Devil Has Arrived' is a romantic comedy about a young unemployed man, Gil-gu (played by Ahn Bo-hyun), who takes on an extraordinary part-time job monitoring Seon-ji (played by YoonA), who turns into a devil every dawn. This is the latest work from director Lee Sang-geun, who previously attracted 9.42 million viewers with his 2019 debut feature 'Exit'. He reunites with YoonA for this new project.

Director Lee, releasing a new film after six years, expressed, "If I knew nothing back then, I'm even more nervous now." He began working on this film in earnest in 2022, admitting, "I didn't realize three years had passed in the outside world. Time flew by as I was engrossed in the project." He added, "After the success of 'Exit', I pondered what to do next, but I believed that if I did what I was good at, people would enjoy it."

In both 'Exit' and this film, the male protagonist is portrayed as unemployed. Director Lee explained, "It's easy for creators to project themselves onto characters. Having spent much time as an aspiring filmmaker without a job, I'm drawn to such stories." He continued, "I often tell stories about young people taking a break from work rather than being unemployed. Next time, I want to write about a character with a profession."

YoonA plays Seon-ji, who runs a bakery by day and transforms into a devil by night. Describing her dual role, she said, "I made sure the differences between day Seon-ji and night Seon-ji were evident. During the day, I styled her innocently and introvertedly. At night, she was glamorous from head to toe, with flashy styling like nail art. Her speech was exaggerated and energetic, unlike her daytime persona." She added that perfecting the devil's signature laugh required practice.

Having previously worked with Director Lee on 'Exit', YoonA shared, "Reading the script, I could imagine how things would unfold on set because of our past collaboration." She described her character as having the most energy among those she's played, allowing her to act freely during filming. "Honestly, I was worried about how to express certain things. But the director guided me and even demonstrated himself. I immersed myself in the energetic character and enjoyed acting," she said.

Ahn Bo-hyun plays Gil-gu, who discovers Seon-ji's secret. He said, "After first encountering the character of Gil-gu in writing, I researched and focused a lot on him. However, it wasn't easy to portray. I've often played masculine and energetic characters, but this time, Gil-gu is someone you want to protect, with an extreme introverted nature. I relied heavily on the director, as Gil-gu is a reflection of him."

Director Lee commented, "(Ahn Bo-hyun) may not look like me on the outside, but inside, we're similar. We both share the INFJ personality type," drawing laughter. He added, "Ahn Bo-hyun has shown strong characters before, but this time, he'll reveal a different side."

Regarding the film's blend of comedy, romance, family, and human drama, Ahn Bo-hyun said, "I even asked the director about the film's genre. It's a unique mix of various genres." He highlighted the film's appeal, saying, "It's a movie you can watch comfortably without frowning. I hope many people find healing through it. There's a touching moment at the end."

Ahn Bo-hyun praised his co-star YoonA, saying, "She's energetic and bright in real life, which was very helpful." He added, "YoonA excellently portrayed both day and night Seon-ji. Gil-gu is just one person, but the points where he changes because of Seon-ji were interesting. I think the chemistry was well captured, and I want to give it high marks."

Joo Hyun-young appears as Seon-ji's cousin, Ara. She said of the film, "It has a strong sense of family. The warmth of characters like the father, cousin, and Gil-gu considering each other as family is heartwarming. However, it's not a film that drains emotions. It's warm and has many moments that make you smile. It's a comfortable movie to watch with family."

Known for her skillful comedic acting on variety shows, Joo Hyun-young said, "I didn't think about differentiating from the MZ character I played in variety shows. The director encouraged me to do whatever I wanted. When things went overboard, the director, YoonA, and Bo-hyun helped." She added, "Ara is a relaxed character, but I was very nervous during filming. I'm worried that the audience might notice. However, I'm proud to have played a role that refreshes the audience's perspective."

Director Lee previously worked with Jo Jung-suk on 'Exit' and is currently enjoying success with 'Zombie Daughter'. He expressed his hopes, saying, "With the success of 'Zombie Daughter', audiences are returning to theaters for a fun experience. I hope Korean films shine this summer."

'The Devil Has Arrived' is set to be released on the 13th.

By Ji-won Kim, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr