Seol Kyung-gu and Director Byun Sung-hyun Reunite for Netflix Film 'Good News'

Actor Seol Kyung-gu and director Byun Sung-hyun have teamed up for their fourth official collaboration with the Netflix film 'Good News'. The duo, known for their long-standing partnership, expressed mutual trust and affection with witty remarks.

On the 19th, a press conference for 'Good News' was held at the 30th Busan International Film Festival's Gala Presentation at the Busan Cinema Center in U-dong. Attendees included director Byun Sung-hyun, actors Seol Kyung-gu, Hong Kyung, and Yamada Takayuki.

'Good News' is a film set in the 1970s, depicting a suspicious operation by a group determined to land a hijacked plane by any means necessary. It is inspired by the real-life Yodogo incident.

Director Byun explained, "The title is 'Good News'. News is the result, isn't it? We created the process leading to the result without distorting the facts."

The actual event was Japan's first aircraft hijacking, where a passenger plane was hijacked and taken to North Korea. Director Byun approached the story with a black comedy angle, stating, "When I first encountered this incident, it felt like a comedy. Adding 'black' means it should not only be entertaining but also sharp. Although this incident occurred in the 1970s, I felt it could also speak to the present day, which is why I chose it as the subject."

Seol Kyung-gu plays the role of a mysterious fixer known as 'Amugae'. He explained, "It's based on a true story that spans Korea and Japan in the 1970s. The characters are plausible." He added, "The role of Amugae felt like something the director created and threw in. My first question after reading the script was whether my character should blend with others or not, and the answer was that it didn't have to. There were theatrical elements, and I was asked to act exaggeratedly. I worked with the director, oscillating between abnormal and normal. When I returned to normal, I wanted to show just that moment." He also noted, "Our film was entirely directed by Byun Sung-hyun. It was a calculated film."

This marks the fourth collaboration between Seol Kyung-gu and director Byun Sung-hyun. Seol shared, "Working with director Byun for the fourth time was actually more challenging. I was concerned that audiences might find my continuous appearances in his films burdensome. I had a lot of concerns." He continued, "Initially, I had some resistance to this style, like in 'The Merciless'. But after that, I found it enjoyable. With 'Good News', I was curious about how it would be presented." He added, "With 'The Merciless', I was told to stand tall, but this time, I was told to crumple, so I was curious about how that would be done. I'm grateful for the effort to transform me."

Director Byun expressed his fondness for Seol Kyung-gu, saying, "I like Kyung-gu as an actor, as a senior, and as a person. I like him," eliciting laughter.

Hong Kyung plays the role of elite Air Force Lieutenant Seo Go-myung. He stated, "Seo Go-myung is based on a real person, but much of it is fiction. There was freedom in discovering this young character written by the director. I worked hard to develop the character of Go-myung."

Hong Kyung, who also delivered lines in Japanese, said, "I felt embarrassed because I didn't think I was exceptional. The representatives and producers gave me ample time." He added, "Having a long pre-production period is crucial for an inexperienced actor like me." He concluded, "I was given enough time, but my skills didn't match, so I feel embarrassed. I'm grateful if you viewed it positively."

Yamada Takayuki plays the role of Shinichi, the Deputy Minister of Transport, who is dispatched to Korea. He explained, "I researched the real person and discussed with the director on set. We decided to focus on the fictional character created by the director rather than a factual portrayal."

When asked about the challenges of working on a Korean project, Yamada Takayuki said, "Not only me, but many Japanese actors are doing it. We exchange opinions as we proceed. It was the same this time." He added, "Language is also culture. Direct translations don't always convey the intended expression, which is challenging. This was an opportunity to try various things and learn. I realized it's a significant task to carry forward. If I have the chance to work collaboratively with other countries in the future, I want to do it actively."

'Good News' will be officially released on Netflix on October 17th.

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