Ha Jung-woo Returns as Director with Bold New Film 'The People Upstairs'

Actor Ha Jung-woo has unveiled his latest directorial work, 'The People Upstairs,' just eight months after his previous film, 'Lobby.' This new film is a unique R-rated sex comedy that intriguingly features no nudity.

'The People Upstairs' tells the story of an upstairs couple (played by Ha Jung-woo and Lee Ha-nee) known for their loud nighttime activities, and a downstairs couple (played by Kong Hyo-jin and Kim Dong-wook) experiencing a mundane marriage. The plot unfolds when they share a meal together. The film is based on the Spanish movie 'Sentimental.' Ha Jung-woo not only directed but also stars in the film as Mr. Kim, the passionate husband from upstairs. In a recent interview at a café in Seoul's Sogyeok-dong, Ha discussed various aspects of the film.

'The People Upstairs' marks Ha Jung-woo's fourth directorial project, following 'Fasten Your Seatbelt' (2013), 'Chronicle of a Blood Merchant' (2015), and 'Lobby' (2025). With 'Lobby' released in April, Ha has become a director who released two films in a single year. He humorously noted, "It wasn't my decision to release them so close together; it was the distributor's choice." He expressed concerns about the potential audience fatigue from releasing two films within eight months, but also acknowledged the positive impact of showing that Korean cinema is alive and thriving despite industry challenges.

The film's R-rated sex comedy genre might seem risky due to its limited mainstream appeal. However, Ha Jung-woo stated, "There was no other choice. As a director, it was the right decision. While compromises could be made for business reasons, I felt it was important to pursue the film's vision to the end."

Ha emphasized that he didn't view the film as merely a sex comedy. "What attracted me to the original was its message of 'relationship recovery.' It's a drama about couples rediscovering their feelings for each other and mending their relationships. My challenge was to maintain that deep resonance while maximizing the comedic elements," he explained.

Despite its R-rating, the film contains no nudity. Ha Jung-woo remarked, "I didn't think it was necessary," jokingly adding, "You can still get an R-rating without nudity." He admitted he wasn't confident in persuading the actors to do nude scenes, but noted that there was no moderation in the dialogue's explicitness.

Unlike Ha's previous works, which featured numerous characters, 'The People Upstairs' focuses solely on the four main characters, with the setting limited to the downstairs apartment where their dinner takes place. Ha reflected, "In my past films, I wanted to tell more stories through various characters. After filming 'The People Upstairs,' I realized I might have been too ambitious before. This time, I decided to scale back."

Ha Jung-woo, who is also an active painter, contributed his artwork to the film. When asked if he painted all the artworks seen in the downstairs couple's home, he replied, "I only painted the main piece." He explained that it was a cost-saving measure, as using other artists' works would incur additional expenses.

The cast also made financial sacrifices, allowing the production budget to be used more efficiently. Kong Hyo-jin, who plays the downstairs wife, not only reduced her fee but also took care of the crew and playfully nagged Ha Jung-woo on set. Ha humorously noted, "Hyo-jin has a lot of 'shares' in this film," adding, "She nags like a little sister, and it almost gave me appendicitis."

Ha Jung-woo also stars in the film as Mr. Kim, the upstairs husband. Contrary to the stereotype of a dull high school Chinese teacher, Mr. Kim is an expressive and candid 'free spirit' who is open about his emotions and sexuality. Ha described the character as "overly honest and energetic," and shared that the idea for Mr. Kim's distinctive mustache came just days before filming, thinking it would make him look more eccentric.

Ha Jung-woo highlighted the film's hidden depth, stating, "It's not just a simple sex comedy or a film filled with my typical witty banter. I didn't try to imprint my DNA on it. The twist is the drama of relationship recovery." He hopes audiences will leave with something meaningful, saying, "I don't want to make people cry, but I hope it leaves them with a slight emotional twinge, like the sting of mustard in cold noodles."

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