"The standing of K-content has changed. We are living in a time when the most Korean stories are becoming the most global."
Actress Jun Ji-hyun, now in her 29th year since debut, shared those thoughts during a recent interview with News Culture. Meeting at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, she spoke about her long-awaited return to the big screen through The Great Flood, her admiration for director Yeon Sang-ho, and how her perspective as an actress has evolved over nearly three decades.
One of the first things she said was unexpected. "I regret not doing more films." Jun explained that she wished she had met movie audiences more often over the years and admitted that stepping away from cinema for such a long period left her with a sense of unfinished business.
The Great Flood tells the story of survivors trapped inside a quarantined building during a mysterious outbreak. As the infected evolve into increasingly unpredictable forms, the survivors must fight to stay alive. Jun plays Kwon Se-jung, a biotechnology scientist who becomes a key leader among the survivors, using her knowledge to analyze the infected and guide others through the crisis.
"When I first read the script, I found the zombie concept incredibly fresh," she said. "Unlike conventional zombies, these creatures evolve in real time and move as a collective organism. What impressed me even more was how the film used that idea to reflect modern society's growing dependence on artificial intelligence. It reminded me once again why Yeon Sang-ho is called the 'Father of Zombies.'"
She also praised Yeon's approach to storytelling. According to Jun, the director prioritizes efficiency and character focus, creating narratives that move quickly without unnecessary detours. "I finished the script very quickly, and many viewers have told me the same thing after watching the film. They say the running time feels much shorter because the story never slows down."
Her first day on set left a particularly strong impression. "The very first scene involved zombies," she recalled with a laugh. "I remember thinking, 'We're starting with this already?' Everything happened much faster than I expected."
Discussing Kwon Se-jung, Jun emphasized that restraint was central to her performance. Rather than trying to make the character appear extraordinary, she focused on making her decisions understandable and believable.
"I wanted audiences to follow her thought process," she said. "She's a biotechnology scientist, not an action hero. If she suddenly became exceptionally skilled in combat, it would have felt unnatural. I tried to stay true to who she was."
Among the film's many characters, Jun admitted she was particularly drawn to Seo Young-cheol, played by Koo Kyo-hwan.
"He stands out the most in the film," she said. "His character has one of the richest backstories, and I thought it would have been fascinating to play. At the same time, it couldn't have been an easy role."
She specifically praised Koo's performance in scenes where the character controls zombies while his eyes remain covered. "I kept wondering how he would pull that off, but he did it entirely in his own style. Watching him, I thought, 'That's exactly why he's Koo Kyo-hwan.'"
Jun also shared a humorous behind-the-scenes story. After watching actress Kim Shin-rok perform zombie scenes, she briefly attempted zombie acting herself. "I thought maybe I could do it too," she said, laughing. "Director Yeon even said he saw some potential. But as Kwon Se-jung, there was a line I simply couldn't cross."
Her decision to return to film after more than a decade was influenced in part by her admiration for director Yeon Sang-ho. She revealed that she had long wanted to work with him and had watched all of his projects.
Among his works, she singled out Hellbound as a personal favorite. "The concept was fresh and the directing was outstanding. There were also several characters from his previous projects that made me think, 'I wish I could have played that role.' Many of his female characters are proactive and central to the story, which makes them especially appealing."
What surprised her most, however, was the contrast between Yeon's work and his personality. "His stories can be unsettling, so I imagined he might be similar," she said. "But he's actually very humorous and easygoing. The atmosphere he creates on set is incredibly comfortable, and I quickly understood why so many actors choose to work with him again and again."
She believes Yeon's confidence as a storyteller gives actors unusual freedom. "His creative vision is very clear. Because of that, he only asks actors for what he truly needs. It allows us to focus our energy on the right things and gives us room to explore within those boundaries."
Jun revealed that the two have already discussed future projects together. "His imagination never stops," she said. "One day he's talking about one idea, and the next day it's something completely different. We even talked about action films. I'd love to continue being part of the Yeon Sang-ho team."
Jun's last theatrical release before The Great Flood was Assassination in 2015. She stressed that her absence from cinema was never intentional.
"After the pandemic, opportunities to review film scripts became much rarer than television or streaming projects," she explained. "Naturally, I found myself focusing more on dramas and series."
Still, she hopes to return to film more frequently moving forward. "I want to appear in as many films as possible whenever the opportunity comes. But at the same time, actors can't completely ignore the question of audience response. No matter how much I love a project, it means little if audiences don't embrace it. That's why choosing projects is never easy."
Jun also recalled how the atmosphere on set gradually changed as the story progressed. "At first, there were actors everywhere," she said. "But as characters started disappearing, the chairs started disappearing too. Eventually, only Koo Kyo-hwan and I were left."
She laughed while remembering the experience. "Watching everyone else finish work and go home wasn't exactly pleasant. But as a lead actor, I felt responsible for seeing the project through to the very end."
Promoting the film also exposed her to a different side of the industry. "Because of The Great Flood, I got to appear on various YouTube programs," she said. "I actually enjoy variety shows, so I was excited. I wanted to do well, but after everything was over, I felt there was still room for improvement."
Jun will soon share the spotlight with fellow actor Kang Dong-won, whose new film Wild Sing is arriving shortly after The Great Flood. Rather than viewing it as competition, she sees it as a positive sign for Korean cinema.
"The atmosphere surrounding Korean film is good right now," she said. "The fact that so many actors are presenting films across different genres benefits everyone. We should be supporting one another."
Next year marks her 30th anniversary as an actress, a milestone that prompted reflection.
"I never really experienced ordinary social life," she said. "I learned about society through my work and matured through the people and experiences I encountered on set. As I've grown older, I've thought more deeply about responsibility as a lead actor."
Looking back on her filmography, she noted that many of the characters she portrayed were far from ordinary. "I didn't spend much time playing people who were firmly grounded in everyday life," she said. "Most of them were unusual in some way, and those roles ultimately helped make me who I am as an actress."
As the conversation came to a close, Jun reflected on how her ambitions have changed over time. "There was a period when I wanted to challenge myself through overseas projects and broaden my range as an actress," she said. "But the position of K-content is completely different today. We've reached a point where the most Korean stories are also the most global."
She added, "As a Korean actress, I think this is the time to focus on our own stories."
Jun Ji-hyun is currently filming the JTBC drama Human X Gumiho alongside Ji Chang-wook. The series is scheduled to premiere next year.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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