Jun Ji-hyun Shines as the Unrivaled Choice for 'Polaris' Lead Role

From the beginning, the role of Moon-ju was destined for Jun Ji-hyun.

On the afternoon of the 20th, a 'Polaris' Creators Talk was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by director Kim Hee-won, action director Heo Myeong-haeng, writer Jung Seo-kyung, art director Kim Byung-han, and VFX supervisor Hong Jung-ho.

'Polaris' follows Moon-ju (played by Jun Ji-hyun), a UN ambassador who has gained international fame, as she pursues the truth behind an assassination attempt on a presidential candidate. Alongside her is San-ho (played by Kang Dong-won), a stateless special agent, as they confront a massive truth threatening the Korean Peninsula.

During the event, writer Jung expressed, “Jun Ji-hyun was Moon-ju, and it was hard to imagine anyone else in the role. In the story, Moon-ju has lived in a lonely and cold place. Watching Jun Ji-hyun interpret and create the character, I felt fortunate that a warm person took on the role of a lonely character.” She added, “The director previously mentioned wanting a powerful female lead, and that was Jun Ji-hyun. The role was written specifically for her, leaving little opportunity to consider other actors. I thought it would be great for Jun Ji-hyun to take on such an important role.”

Jung continued, “What I find most impressive is Jun Ji-hyun's boldness and instinct. She makes decisions quickly and executes them swiftly, with warmth within. It seems she understands the character physically. Seeing the character I envisioned come to life before my eyes, and discovering the depth that comes from the actor's own life experiences, was admirable. There was a particular scene that I personally found very respectful.”

'Polaris' is set to be released sequentially starting on the 10th of next month.

Reported by Yeji Ryu, TenAsia ryuperstar@tenasia.co.kr