Film director Park Chan-wook and actress Lee Jung-hyun showcased their unique friendship.
On the 23rd, KBS2's ‘New Menu Launch Pyeon Restaurant’ depicted Lee Jung-hyun's daily life.
On this day, Lee Jung-hyun said, "I am very shy, but I am making my debut as a film director, a dream I have had since I was in my 20s. My directorial debut is ‘Going to the Flower Festival’. It has been invited to the Korean Cinema section of the Jeonju International Film Festival," receiving applause from everyone.
Lee Jung-hyun not only walked the red carpet as a director but was also selected as this year's programmer, engaging in conversations with the audience. Among them, director Park Chan-wook's presence drew attention.
Director Park Chan-wook recalled that he met Lee Jung-hyun through the film ‘The Handmaiden’, saying, "I never expected to work with Lee Jung-hyun. At first, I didn't even know her phone number, so I asked Choi Min-sik for her contact." He continued, "To me, Lee Jung-hyun is an actor chosen by heaven. I felt that this was fate."
Director Park Chan-wook not only directed a music video for Lee Jung-hyun for the first time but also gave a congratulatory speech at her wedding. Additionally, Lee Jung-hyun became close enough to director Park Chan-wook to accept the Best Picture award on behalf of the film ‘Decision to Leave’.
Director Park Chan-wook mentioned that he first met Lee Jung-hyun in a gathering of many people, saying, "Lee Jung-hyun sang her own song at our first meeting," which brought laughter. He added, "I don't know how accurately I saw it, but Lee Jung-hyun, as a person I met, is a wonderfully ordinary person in a good way. She is not difficult, but when she acts, she can transform so naturally that it can shock people. That seems to be a big difference."
In particular, director Park Chan-wook mentioned that Lee Jung-hyun gifted him a CD of the film ‘Petal’, in which she appeared at the age of 16. He explained, "‘Petal’ is a work that will remain in the history of Korean cinema, and Lee Jung-hyun's performance in ‘Petal’ was a remarkable performance that will also go down in history. It was a performance that shocked everyone in Chungmuro, but it was unfortunate that she was too young to see it. I thought it was absurd to have lived without knowing it, so I asked the video archive for help."
Furthermore, director Park Chan-wook expressed his support for Lee Jung-hyun's directorial debut, saying, "Am I not one of the first people in the world to see her debut work? Just as she did so well with the short film, I hope she directs and acts in a feature film as well. Give it a try." To this, Lee Jung-hyun jokingly replied, "Please help me with the investment."
[Lee Se-bin, Star Today Guest Reporter]
