Jang Dong-yoon Debuts as Director with Heartfelt Film 'Nurook'

Actor Jang Dong-yoon makes his directorial debut with the feature film 'Nurook', emphasizing its warm message about people and hope.

On the 4th, a press screening for 'Nurook' was held at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, attended by director Jang Dong-yoon and actors Kim Seung-yoon and Song Ji-hyuk.

'Nurook' tells the story of Dasul, the daughter of a brewery owner, who notices a change in the taste of makgeolli and embarks on a journey to find the missing nurook, the main ingredient. This film marks Jang Dong-yoon's first feature-length directorial work. Kim Seung-yoon plays Dasul, an 18-year-old girl who loves makgeolli, while Song Ji-hyuk portrays her seemingly aloof but caring brother, Dahyun.

Ahead of the release, director Jang expressed, "I never thought the film would be released. The moment of its release is overwhelming." On why he ventured into directing, he shared, "The dream of directing didn't start grandly; it grew as I wanted to create while acting, leading to my feature film directorial debut." He added, "I felt the weight of responsibility as a director this time."

Jang Dong-yoon imbued the film's nurook with hidden meaning. He explained, "I think nurook represents something humans believe in and live by, and I tried to convey that throughout the film." He continued, "Dasul gains courage and comfort, and I wanted the film to end on a hopeful note. I hope viewers gain courage and strength from what they believe in, and I made this film with that warm intention." Initially aiming for a light black comedy, he decided to focus on humanity and people, leading to the film's current form.

When asked about memorable and challenging moments, Jang said, "The most grateful and touching moment is right now, as the release approaches." Regarding challenges, he mentioned, "It was tough on set, but the hardest part was during post-production, facing the 'I should have done better on set' moments. It was a learning experience, and I hope to do better next time."

The film features producer Lee Tae-dong, known for 'Peninsula', 'Samjin Company English Class', 'Space Sweepers', 'Good Manager', and 'Chief of Staff'. Jang expressed gratitude, saying, "Without director Lee Tae-dong, completing the film would have been difficult."

Actor Park Myung-hoon adds humanity to the film as the brewery owner and father of the siblings. On casting, Jang revealed, "Over 90% of the actors and staff in this film are my acquaintances. I reached out to connections made on set." He added, "I asked Myung-hoon, whom I worked with as a colleague, to play the father role, and it felt right writing the script with him in mind."

The actors shared behind-the-scenes stories of working with director and actor Jang Dong-yoon. Song Ji-hyuk said, "Seeing the director reminded me of 'Jekyll and Hyde'. His demeanor changed drastically between the start and end of filming, but his charisma and cool judgment brought the film to life."

Kim Seung-yoon praised, "The director is the epitome of 'soft on the outside, strong on the inside'." She candidly shared, "The set was challenging and tense. There were more troubles than expected." She added, "When the director did 'this', I couldn't follow. I asked, 'Director, how should I do it? You're an actor, show me,' and he did, making us laugh." On the positive side, she noted, "The director's acting background made his directing detailed and intuitive. He gave clear instructions like 'breathe more' and 'relax', making it easy to follow."

Throughout the film, makgeolli and the brewery are prominent. Did the actors actually drink makgeolli during filming? Kim Seung-yoon shared, "I drank makgeolli when I received the script. The director shared his homemade makgeolli. I acted thinking of that makgeolli, but during filming, I enjoyed 'Morning Sunlight' instead," she laughed.

Regarding his future as a director, Jang Dong-yoon said, "I don't have specific plans as a director. Like making short and feature films, if the opportunity arises, I might make another film." He added, "For those interested in warm, human stories, 'Nurook' is opening at Megabox. Please watch it and support me as a director. I'll do my best."

'Nurook' will be exclusively released at Megabox on the 15th.

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