Actor Jo Jung-seok, known as the 'King of Summer Box Office', is once again targeting the summer theater market with the movie 'Zombie Daughter'.
On the morning of the 30th, a production report conference for the movie 'Zombie Daughter' was held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, attended by director Pil Gam-seong and actors Jo Jung-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Jo Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri.
The movie 'Zombie Daughter' depicts the struggles of a father, 'Jung-hwan', trying to protect his daughter 'Soo-a', who has turned into a zombie, amidst a societal atmosphere aimed at identifying zombies due to a sudden outbreak of an unidentified zombie virus.
The webtoon 'Zombie Daughter' combines a disaster setting of a rampant zombie virus with a family's everyday story, receiving great love from readers with its delightful humor and sincere story, surpassing 500 million cumulative views globally in countries such as Japan, Spain, North America, Thailand, and Taiwan, proving the strength of K-webtoon content. The webtoon, which has made countless readers laugh and cry over the years, is now meeting audiences as a live-action film.
In particular, it breaks the mold of existing zombie genre films, offering a unique blend of imaginative character settings and thrilling developments that provide differentiated entertainment. Director Pil Gam-seong expressed satisfaction, saying, “I always enjoyed the journey to the set. I felt grateful for what is often called a dream casting. When the actors were all together, I felt pleased and hoped their features would resemble each other. I meant not in terms of facial features but in terms of lines, and I was thankful for the combination. The actors had to move freely within a scene, and they did it so well that I felt proud and happy.”
In 'Zombie Daughter', Jo Jung-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Jo Yeo-jeong, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Choi Yu-ri portray unique characters, delivering various laughs. In particular, Jo Jung-seok, who has been responsible for the summer box office in South Korea with films like 'Exit' and 'Pilot', continues his box office success with 'Zombie Daughter'. In the film, he plays the role of 'Jung-hwan', a father who undergoes secret training for the last remaining zombie daughter in the world, showcasing both heartfelt paternal love and the essence of Jo Jung-seok's comedic acting.
Jo Jung-seok stated, “I am releasing another film in the summer. I feel like I might have some luck. It’s not easy, but personally, while 'Exit' and 'Pilot' are great works, I am greeting you with 'Zombie Daughter'. I hope this summer goes well too.”
Following the releases of 'Exit' and 'Pilot' on July 31, 'Zombie Daughter' is set to be released on July 30. He added, “I didn’t expect it to turn out this way. It seems like all the situations aligned perfectly.” He expressed his affection for the project, saying, “As soon as I read the script, I thought, ‘This is for me?’ I hadn’t seen the original work but received the script, and it was so fun that I had a hard time controlling my emotions. It was a work I couldn’t choose not to do.”
Lee Jung-eun, who has showcased an irreplaceable presence in every project, plays the role of 'Bamsun', the core influencer grandmother of Eunbong-ri. Jo Yeo-jeong, who received praise for her divine acting in 'Hidden Face', transforms into a state-certified zombie hunter 'Yeon-hwa' this time. Yoon Kyung-ho, who has emerged as a leading actor by perfectly embodying the character 'Han Yu-rim' in 'Severe Trauma Center', plays 'Dong-bae', Jung-hwan's long-time best friend in 'Zombie Daughter', adding vitality to the film with his realistic friend chemistry, often delivering sharp remarks but being the most reliable friend in crucial moments.
Lee Jung-eun expressed her satisfaction with the project, saying, “I thought director Pil Gam-seong had excellent comedic sensibility when we were filming 'Luck is Not on Our Side'. I was looking for a movie that families could gather in one theater, and this work was just that.” Jo Yeo-jeong also mentioned, “I was always waiting for a warm story,” adding, “When I heard the lineup of actors, I thought I had to trust and go with them. I was determined to participate even if I had only one line, but there were quite a few lines. I wanted to do it because I liked being together. It was a combination I wanted to be a part of.”
Most importantly, the role of 'Soo-a', Jung-hwan's daughter, is played by Choi Yu-ri, a 12-year veteran actress, who exudes a charming yet realistic zombie performance. She showcases her acting skills by oscillating between comedy and humanism with her life-and-death chemistry with Jo Jung-seok.
Director Pil Gam-seong stated, “Choi Yu-ri was the first actor to join. She had to perform zombie acting, zombie motions, and K-pop dance well, and she had been preparing while balancing her studies without complaints. It was great to see her always smiling and approaching first, even though special makeup is a tough job on set. I thought she was a truly amazing actress and an adult.”
Jo Jung-seok, who worked with Choi Yu-ri, said, “I was very surprised. First of all, Choi Yu-ri worked really hard. The two hours spent on makeup is truly remarkable. At first, she might doze off, but sometimes she can’t sleep, and overcoming that painful process is still touching and admirable. I want to say how proud I am of her. The quality of the makeup was truly astonishing.”
Choi Yu-ri shared, “To become the character Soo-a, I worked hard under the guidance of a choreographer, and while capturing the unique feeling of a zombie, I also wanted to melt in Soo-a's loveliness by referencing animal movements.”
Having completed a well-made thriller with a unique development style, director Pil Gam-seong is now challenging the comedy genre with 'Zombie Daughter'. With the unique concept of taming zombies, a feast of distinctive characters, and various comedic elements placed appropriately, the film aims to bring laughter to audiences this summer while providing warmth and empathy through family love.
Director Pil Gam-seong explained, “'Zombie Daughter' is not a horror thriller but a family comedy. Nevertheless, the details of the zombies were important. I wanted to show Soo-a's transformation as the zombie makeup gradually changes. I wanted to express a feeling that is scary yet lovable. I tried to incorporate the feeling of a pet, and another aspect was dance. Dance also connects Jung-hwan and Soo-a, so I wanted to include group choreography.”
[Yongsan (Seoul) = Son Jin-a, MK Sports Reporter]
