Director Lee Jae Han: ‘‘Into the Fire’ Is My Ambitious Work’

▲ A press preview of the movie “Into the Fire” was held at Lotte Cinema in KunKook University branch on June 3. Director Lee Jae Han and cast members (from left) Kim Seung Woo, Kwon Sang Woo, Cha Seung Hyun, and Cha Seung Won pose for pictures.

Director Lee Jae Han: "I have given special attention to making visuals. I seriously considered every scene to make beautiful scenes.”

After the press preview held on Lotte Cinema Kunkook University branch on June 3, director Lee Jae Han had participated in the press conference and said, “I devoted myself to film every scene of this movie. This movie is my ambitious work.”

The movie “Into the Fire” is a blockbuster movie with an investment amounting to 11.3 billion won for production. Vivid and vigorous battle scenes and splendid images in the film are outstanding. Lee mentioned, “I was seriously concerned about making images. The scene that I made my utmost effort to make perfect is the last scene on a rooftop where four main actors come together.” He also explained, “The scene where the cast members fall down one by one symbolizes the tragedy of fratricidal war.” The movie “Into the Fire” was produced based on the real story of 71 student soldiers who took part in a pivotal bloody battle in the Nakdong River region in August, 1950, which was the most important battle between North and South Korea to decide the victory of the war.

The army led by Kang Seok Dae (Kim Seung Woo) had been withdrawn from Pohang to defend the Nakdong River area and left only 71 student soldiers behind. Jang Bum (T.O.P) was appointed as a company commander, but his troops periodically caused friction with other soldiers led by Kap Cho.

▲ Actor Kwon Sang Woo and T.O.P, who participated in the press preview held at Lotte Cinema on June 3, give their thoughts on the film.

Park Moo Rang (Cha Seung Won), a commander of North Korean soldiers who devastated the Youngduk region with his 766 guerrilla troops, disobeyed the Communist Party’s order to advance to the Nakdong River, instead secretly changing course into Pohang and ending up fighting with the student soldiers who were left behind.

The movie was caught up in controversy from the beginning. It had been released for the first time in a preview held at the Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University. At that time, an old map shown in the beginning of the movie indicated the East Sea as the “Sea of Japan,” so it evoked much criticism.

Director Lee Jae Han urgently apologized by saying, “We were busy preparing for the final film, so I could not pay enough attention to the preview held at Stanford University. Everything is my fault. I am so sorry that we have caused a shameful thing and I really regret that.”

T.O.P debuted as a movie actor through this movie and he said, “I tried to be natural rather than act because I did not want to be seen as obviously acting. To be the 17 year-old Jang Bum, I did not care about my appearance and I just put all my energy into it.”

Source: KBS

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Kwon Sang Woo: ‘I Acted While Motivating Myself’

Actor Kwon Sang Woo: "I was worried about acting as a student soldier because I might have looked awkward due to my old age, but I fully agreed with the significance of this movie and I became immersed in the movie while acting."

Director Lee Jae Han: "I want people to watch this movie from a viewpoint of humanism instead of analyzing the movie with some specific criteria."

The movie "Into the Fire," which is based on the real-life battle of Nakdong River during the Korean War, held its first official preview on May 27 (local time) by the invitation of the Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University in California, USA, and attracted the attention of American movie critics and local viewers.

The main actor Kwon Sang Woo (34) and director Lee Jae Han held a press conference in Sheraton Hotel in Silicon Valley the day before the preview and said, "This year is the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, so I hope that people can have an opportunity to think about the meaning of the war and its subsequent historical pain through this movie."

The following are the questions and answers.

Interviewer: How do you feel about tomorrow’s preview?

▲ Lee Jae Han: From the beginning stages of planning this movie, the Asia-Pacific Research Center at Stanford University has given positive assistance to us. The reason that we are having a preview in the USA even before having one in Korea is because of a promise with Stanford University. People at Stanford also notified us of their intentions that they would give us full support for releasing the movie and for the commercial success of the movie. The movie is incomplete technically, but I am very much expecting that we can introduce the movie to the USA through tomorrow’s preview.

Kwon Sang Woo: I could not sleep well last night. I will watch the movie for the first time. I am nervous because the preview is being held in unfamiliar place, but I want to watch the movie thoroughly as an actor. I think that the message of this movie is very significant and I hope the significance can be introduced widely. Actually, I did not expect that the movie would be produced this well. I just agonized about how I could play the character properly. I am just happy that I was able to finish filming the movie without any big mistake.

Interviewer: There is a rumor that you are expecting it to be the Best Foreign Language Film in the Academy Awards.

▲Lee Jae Han: I also heard the rumor. We do not know what will happen. The movie is not yet released. I hope that this movie can be loved by people. I heard that many high officials from Stanford University and many intellectuals will come to tomorrow’s preview.

Interviewer: Did you have any problems while filming the movie?

▲Kwon Sang Woo: While I filmed this movie, I became more attached to it. Personally, I was worried about acting as a student soldier because I might have looked awkward due to my old age, but I fully agreed with the significance of this movie and I became immersed in the movie while acting. I think that it will be successful. I acted while motivating myself. I tried my best not to cause any trouble for the movie by pushing myself too hard and being tensed up.

Interviewer: Do you think that you can draw more attention to the film due to the sinking of the combat corvette Cheonan?

▲Kwon Sang Woo: The sinking of the combat corvette Cheonan is a very sad and tragic incident. I think that the incident is like what happened during the Korean War 60 years ago. I guess that all of us might feel the same about it.

Interviewer: What do you expect for the viewers?

▲Lee Jae Han: I hope that viewers look at people in the movie. I want people watch this movie from a viewpoint of humanism instead of analyzing this movie with some specific criteria. I tried to free myself from any ideology in this movie because I just wanted to make a war movie.

Kwon Sang Woo: I think that this movie has educational value for student viewers. I hope that it can teach the meaning of sacrificing one’s life and shedding blood for one's country to teenagers.

Interviewer: How many viewers do you expect to watch the movie?

▲Kwon Sang Woo: I hope more than 10 million people might watch the movie (smile). Other actors and staff members seem to expect around 8.5 million viewers. Along with director Lee Jae Han, we made this movie confidently and I think that it is very good movie which can appeal to people. I am confident about it.

Interviewer: Do you have any direct ties to the Korean War?

▲Lee Jae Han: My maternal grandfather died during the war in the Korean army. My parents experienced the horrors of war when they were children and have told me about their experiences many times. I think that watching this movie can be an opportunity to share the sufferings of our nation.

Interviewer: The release date of the movie overlaps with the World Cup.

▲Kwon Sang Woo: I personally love soccer very much. I want both that our soccer team can advance to the first round and that our movie can have great success.

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Source: KBS
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New Ko Hyeon-jeong, Kwon Sang-woo series to air Oct 6

Korean actress Ko Hyeon-jeong [Asia Economic Daily]

A new TV series starring top Korean stars Ko Hyeon-jeong and Kwon Sang-woo is scheduled to begin its run on October 6, according to the drama's production company Lee Kim Productions on Wednesday.

An associate from Lee Kim explained, "The new drama with Ko and Kwon tentatively titled "Big Thing" will join the Wednesday and Thursday night primetime line-up during the latter half of the year," explained an associate from Lee Kim.

"Big," based on the comic book series of the same title by Park In-kwon, is about a first-class gigolo (played by Kwon) who helps a human rights lawyer (Ko) to achieve her dream of becoming Korea's first female president.

"Big" will premiere after a series tentatively titled "The Legendary Fox with Nine Tails is My Girlfriend" ends its run -- the show will start its run in August succeeding action drama "Bad Boy" which will air next week.

Ko made her debut into the entertainment industry as a former Miss Korea in 1989. She is known as one of the top actresses in the country after her role in the hit series "Queen Seon-deok."

Kwon has starred in several dramas and movies since his debut in 2001. He is well-known for his roles in the 2003 TV series "Stairway to Heaven" and Korean films "My Tutor Friend" and most recently "Into Fire."

Reporter : Ko Jae-wan star@

Editor : Lucia Hong luciahong@

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