The film starring actress Kim Gyu-ri, ‘Shinmyeong’, will open in theaters in June amidst various controversies.
On the morning of the 29th, at the production presentation of the film ‘Shinmyeong’ held at Yongsan CGV, Kim Gyu-ri started by saying, “I feel like I’m a professional actress for the First Lady. This is already my second time.”
She continued, “When I decided to take on this project, I thought, ‘I need to let everything go.’ I wanted to empty my mind and embody the character Yoon Ji-hee in ‘Shinmyeong’. I was thrilled throughout the filming.”
She added, “The script was so interesting that I had a nightmare after reading it. I don’t usually have nightmares, but the one I had was bizarre. The dream was so strange, and the fear I felt was indescribable. Since I love horror movies and stories, I thought the audience might enjoy it if I was scared to this extent,” explaining her reason for participating.
Ahn Nae-sang said, “Honestly, at first, the script was so absurd that I wondered if I could shoot it.”
He continued, “I had been living with my walls up against the world. I had no interest in how politics worked, but when I saw the script, I thought it was absurd and nonsensical, something that couldn’t possibly happen. So I was going to decline, but then I heard Kim Gyu-ri was participating. I thought, ‘Is she crazy?’”
He then shared, “As I confirmed that this content was true, I was very surprised. I thought, ‘I want to do this.’ With the martial law and the world in chaos, I was just watching my daughter and son scream and cry outside. I wanted to raise my voice, even if just a little, through this opportunity.”
Meanwhile, producer Jeong Cheon-soo, who interviewed the actors, mentioned during the discussion about the film, “This movie was particularly challenging in terms of casting. They said it was only leftist actors. Kim Gyu-ri was an actor on the blacklist.”
In response, Kim Gyu-ri bowed her head and said, “Please let me go. How long will you keep holding me on a leash? This question is really uncomfortable,” adding, “Is that all you have to ask me? It’s been several years since that happened.”
Additionally, producer Jeong claimed, “Our movie was originally aimed to be released on May 28. It’s a bit difficult to disclose here, but there was pressure from a certain political party. We held a countermeasure meeting.”
He continued, “The teaser video was rated for adults, and ultimately it was confirmed for ages 15 and up. We wanted families to come together and watch it. We decided to postpone the release date to focus on the post-production work,” explaining, “Our movie has a lesson to convey. I hope that lesson reaches many places, which is why it was postponed to the day before the presidential election.”
‘Shinmyeong’ is an occult thriller that depicts the process of Yoon Ji-hee (Kim Gyu-ri), who falls into the world of shamanism, undergoing plastic surgery and identity laundering to approach the highest power in South Korea. It combines sensitive political issues such as shamanism, the power of the prosecution, close ties with Japan's far-right forces, the crisis of martial law, and the media's pursuit of truth with occult imagination.
It will be released on June 2.
