Director Kim Tae-yong's 'Number One': A Heartfelt Tale of Family and Sacrifice

"A Film Made with the Heart of Serving a Warm Meal"

Director Kim Tae-yong describes his latest film, 'Number One,' with this sentiment. After 12 years since their collaboration on 'Set Me Free,' Kim reunites with actor Choi Woo-shik, and after 7 years since 'Parasite,' Choi and Jang Hye-jin come together again as mother and son, sparking interest in the story they will unfold.

On the 29th, a press screening for 'Number One' was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by actors Choi Woo-shik, Jang Hye-jin, Gong Seung-yeon, and director Kim Tae-yong.

'Number One' tells the story of Ha-min (played by Choi Woo-shik), who begins to see numbers decreasing every time he eats his mother's food. He discovers that when the number reaches zero, his mother, Eun-sil (played by Jang Hye-jin), will die, prompting him to do everything he can to protect her.

Director Kim Tae-yong shared, "With the abundance of sensational content, I feel there's a growing indifference towards death and murder. This film invites viewers to reflect on how precious one's life is, whether it's their own or someone else's. It's a story that lingers in the heart rather than just passing by."

Choi Woo-shik, who reunites with Kim Tae-yong after 12 years since 'Set Me Free,' expressed, "I felt a lot of pressure. Many people loved 'Set Me Free,' and meeting the director again, I wondered how I could do well."

He added, "I relied a lot on the director. I had many questions and felt lacking, especially since it was my first time doing a Busan dialect, which needed to be fun. The film's theme can be heavy, but we often lightened it with wordplay and banter, so we worked a lot on our dialogue on set."

When asked about the changes over the past 12 years, Choi reflected, "When we met for 'Set Me Free,' I was 24, and the director was 27, so we both lacked experience. Ten years later, we've both gained experience, making the process smoother. The director understood without me having to explain, and I was truly happy acting."

Regarding reuniting with Jang Hye-jin as mother and son after 'Parasite,' Choi noted, "In 'Parasite,' the ensemble was more prominent, with many actors in one scene, so there wasn't much one-on-one emotional exchange. This time, I enjoyed the one-on-one interactions and banter, and it was easy since we were already close."

Jang Hye-jin also spoke about reuniting with Choi Woo-shik, saying, "When I met Woo-shik, we were already comfortable with each other, and he took care of me during 'Parasite.' But I realized I hadn't really supported him. Through 'Number One,' we talked a lot more."

She added, "The poster of Woo-shik looks so much like my own son. I once told Woo-shik, 'I hope my son grows up to be like you.' His personality is similar, so acting was easy. I'm grateful Woo-shik joined this project."

Gong Seung-yeon plays Ryeo-eun, Ha-min's girlfriend. When asked if she resembles her character, Gong replied, "I'm kind too," bringing laughter. She added, "I want to be like Ryeo-eun, who is confident and speaks her mind. I'm envious of her wonderful boyfriend and mother."

Director Kim Tae-yong concluded, "I made this film with the heart of serving a warm meal. I hope audiences leave the theater wanting to have their next meal with their mother and feel compelled to call her."

'Number One' is set to release on the 11th.

Reporter Kim Se-a, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr