Seoul: Actor Zo In-sung, known for his role as Sung-ki in the Korean sci-fi blockbuster "Hope," revealed that he embraced the challenge of the role after considering whether to take a risk or play it safe. "Hope," directed by Na Hong-jin, tells the story of local cops and villagers battling mysterious creatures in a remote seaside town near the Demilitarized Zone.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Zo leads a group of young villagers in a deadly fight for survival, delivering action-packed performances that dominate the latter half of the film. Zo admitted that the genre posed significant challenges, as Korean sci-fi films have faced ups and downs. He stated that despite the hurdles, he chose the path of challenge over safety due to his senior position in the industry, aiming to keep his career dynamic and innovative.
The actor also discussed the physical demands of the role, particularly challenging after undergoing knee surgery. He reflected on the difficulty of aligning his desire to perform with his physical readiness. Zo emphasized the importance of the film's details, focusing on Sung-ki's relationships and reactions to the extraterrestrial beings to heighten the fear factor.
This year marks a prolific period for Zo In-sung, who also starred in the action-romance "Humint" and is set for local release of "Hope" following its competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Additionally, Zo will appear in the Netflix film "Possible Love" later this year. Despite the busy schedule, Zo humorously remarked on the unexpected timing of the releases and expressed curiosity about audience reception.
When questioned about the possibility of working overseas after the Cannes competition, Zo noted his preference for contributing to quality projects within Korea. Acknowledging the language barrier, he expressed a focus on producing strong work locally that could resonate with international audiences, as "Hope" has done. His primary goal remains to create impactful Korean cinema that garners international attention organically.