Actress Jang Hye-jin Reunites with Choi Woo-shik as Mother and Son in 'Number One'

Actress Jang Hye-jin shares her thoughts on reuniting with Choi Woo-shik as mother and son, seven years after their collaboration in the film 'Parasite' (directed by Bong Joon-ho).

Recently, Jang Hye-jin, who stars in the film 'Number One' (directed by Kim Tae-yong), sat down for an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul.

'Number One' tells the story of 'Ha-min' (played by Choi Woo-shik), who begins to see a decreasing number 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.

Jang Hye-jin plays 'Eun-sil', a mother who feels distant from her son as he establishes himself in Seoul.

Jang Hye-jin shared, "(Choi) Woo-shik was cast first, and I joined later. Honestly, I never thought I would play mother and son with Woo-shik again," she began. "'Parasite' left such a strong impression, and many people still talk about it. When I was offered the role again, I had concerns and expectations, but I never thought I could do it again," she reflected.

However, her perspective changed once filming began. Jang Hye-jin said, "I was close with Woo-shik during 'Parasite', but hearing that we were cast as mother and son in 'Number One' made me realize how much time had passed. Both Woo-shik and I have built our careers, and now it feels like the right time for 'Parasite' and 'Number One' to stand on their own," she explained.

She also expressed gratitude towards Choi Woo-shik multiple times. Jang Hye-jin recalled, "Back then, I didn't have an agency and used to take taxis, but since we lived close, Woo-shik would often give me rides. He called me 'mother' and hugged me a lot," she laughed. "On my birthday, Woo-shik even brought over some boiled pork and prepared a meal for me. I always felt sorry and grateful because I couldn't reciprocate as much," she added.

The dynamic hasn't changed much in this project either. She admitted, "I thought I should take better care of him this time, but Woo-shik ended up taking care of me more. All I could do was cheer him on," she said candidly.

Jang Hye-jin also expressed her trust in Choi Woo-shik as an actor. "The image the public knows from his variety shows is different from the Woo-shik I know. He's always polite and does his work exceptionally well," she praised. "He thinks carefully before speaking, ensuring clear communication, and he doesn't take acting lightly," she evaluated. "His ability to calculate the flow of acting while embracing it emotionally is remarkable. I learned a lot from acting alongside him," she concluded.

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

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