“Jjangu” follows the character in his 20s after high school, thrown into what the film portrays as a jungle-like adult world, fighting to survive while chasing a single goal: becoming an actor.
A press screening and news conference for “Jjangu,” co-directed by Oh Seong-ho and Jung Woo, was held Wednesday afternoon at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul. Oh, Jung and cast members Jung Soo-jung, Shin Seung-ho, Kwon So-hyun and Jo Beom-gyu attended.
Set in the 2000s, the film depicts Jjangu (played by Jung) as he starts living on his own in Seoul and confronts the realities of pursuing his dream. The project draws heavily from Jung’s own story; he wrote the screenplay and also co-directed.
Capturing the atmosphere and sensibility of Busan, where the story is rooted, was a key challenge, Oh said.
“Gyeongsang Province’s sensibility was very important,” Oh said, adding that locations needed to feel lived-in rather than like tourist spots. He said the team practiced to avoid “fake” dialect and deliver authentic Busan speech.
For Jung, filming in his hometown came with a warm reception. He said some locations — including a nightclub and a gukbap restaurant — were initially difficult to secure, but local contacts offered support after hearing he was making the film.
“They sponsored us and even lent us the places,” Jung said. “I thought, ‘I’m not done yet,’ and that people in Busan still care about me. I filmed with a grateful heart.”
Like “Wish,” which drew attention for its lively chemistry among friends, “Jjangu” leans on fast back-and-forth between characters. Jung said he wrote the script as if he were hanging out with his real friends, while also doing extensive rehearsals and read-throughs.
He said the cast was chosen not only for dialect but for acting ability and fit with the roles, adding that their personalities helped create the on-screen rhythm.
Co-stars credited Jung’s drive on set. Jo said he felt he would learn a lot by working alongside Jung, whose energy helped shape the chemistry between their characters.
Shin said the set was consistently enjoyable and that he hoped that feeling would carry to audiences. He said Jung’s leadership allowed the actors to perform in a “live” tone and situation, to the point he sometimes forgot they were filming.
Jung said returning to the role of Jjangu — and taking on directing — carried special meaning. He said “Jjangu” has been his nickname since he was 2 or 3 years old, and that the character again brought thoughts of his father.
“It was nice to revisit the acting I did 16 years ago as Jjangu,” he said. “I thought audiences might be happy to see him again, too. I hope they feel that way.”
Jung said that while co-directing and starring can bring practical burdens, he had fun during production. He also said he was grateful to have the chance to make the film at a time when the movie market is difficult.
Asked about how autobiographical the characters are, Jung said not all of them are based on real people. He described Min-hee as a “wannabe” figure for men, and said characters such as Beom-gyu and So-hyun reflect things he saw and experienced indirectly.
Jung Soo-jung plays Min-hee, Jjangu’s first love, described as skilled at pushing and pulling in relationships. She said she enjoyed “Wish” and had long been curious about a follow-up.
“When I got the offer, I enjoyed reading it, and I wanted to work with Jung Woo,” she said, adding that the cast filmed in a good mood together.
On Min-hee’s feelings, Jung said that while the character may seem hard to read, she played every moment as sincere. “Min-hee’s feelings for Jjangu are real,” she said, adding that what begins as a joke gradually becomes an honest confrontation with her true emotions.
“Jjangu,” which revisits 2000s nostalgia and the bittersweet growing pains of youth, is expected to offer fans of “Wish” a sense of return while introducing new audiences to Jung’s personal story. It opens in theaters on the 22nd.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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