"Yes, HOPE features an alien creature. But I don't think that's what determines whether this film succeeds or fails."
"For me, the creature's appearance—whether people think it looks convincing or not—is only part of the conversation. The real question is whether the film rises above those concerns. Korean cinema has always faced limitations when it comes to creature features, and audiences will naturally have different tastes. You can't force people to like something. What matters is whether the film is compelling enough to overcome those doubts."
That is how Zo In-sung addressed the intense attention surrounding HOPE, one of this year's most anticipated Korean releases.
News Culture recently met the actor at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where he reflected on the making of HOPE, the physical demands of the production, and why he continues to seek projects that push him beyond his comfort zone.
Directed by Na Hong-jin, HOPE marks the filmmaker's first feature in a decade following The Wailing. The story begins after reports of a tiger appearing near a police outpost in the Korean Demilitarized Zone. As the seemingly impossible becomes reality, an isolated village is forced into a desperate fight for survival. The film stars Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung and Jung Ho-yeon.
Zo plays Seong-gi, a resourceful local who takes on any job that pays. When the mysterious threat descends on the village, he joins the search deep in the mountains, becoming one of the story's central figures.
"When I first read the screenplay, I knew immediately it wasn't going to be an easy shoot," he recalled. "Emotionally, I wanted to do it without hesitation. But physically, I wasn't sure whether my body could keep up. I kept asking myself whether I was truly capable of throwing myself into this project."
The concern was well founded.
Throughout HOPE, Zo performs demanding action sequences that take him on horseback through dense forests and across open highways, with relentless pursuit scenes requiring extraordinary stamina. Both Na Hong-jin and his fellow cast members have repeatedly said Zo endured the most physically punishing production on the film.
The actor, however, dismissed the idea that he deserved special recognition.
"I don't think it's fair to say I suffered more than everyone else," he said. "Whether all that effort translated onto the screen isn't for me to judge. What's important is whether audiences can feel the energy and commitment that everyone poured into making this film."
His hesitation before accepting the role stemmed from an injury that continues to affect him today.
Zo underwent knee surgery about three years ago, and he had previously spoken publicly about the lingering effects while promoting Humint earlier this year.
"After the operation, my doctor told me light jogging would be fine, but I shouldn't run or jump," he said. "Before filming began, I made sure Director Na knew about my condition. I didn't want the quality of the film to suffer because of me."
He laughed before adding, "But once you're standing on set, it's impossible not to give everything you have."
The injury remains an ongoing concern.
"I actually went back to the hospital not long ago," he revealed. "My doctor warned me again not to overdo it. There's very little cartilage left in my knee, and he said I need to manage it carefully or I'll regret it later."
Still, stepping away from physically demanding roles has never been an option.
"I'm an actor," he said with a smile. "I can't spend my career doing only desk jobs. I'll just have to take better care of myself while continuing to work."
For Zo, one of the film's most important moments comes long before the chaos fully unfolds.
"The scene where our group first appears—and where we discover the dead bull—was incredibly important to me," he said. "Even the moments where we're joking around in the car mattered. Those small details establish who these people are. Only then do the fear and desperation feel real once everything begins to fall apart."
He compared the emotional progression to soldiers losing a comrade in battle.
"When someone you're fighting alongside dies, people often say something changes in your eyes. I wanted to build toward that level of desperation. Director Na constantly reminded us to maintain the tension throughout filming. Even in scenes where we were simply walking, he never wanted the energy to drop."
That relentless attention to detail, he believes, defines Na Hong-jin's filmmaking.
"He was meticulous about everything—even the way we walked," Zo said. "I think that's where this film draws its strength. That level of persistence is what gives audiences a reason to come to the theater."
HOPE also brings together an accomplished ensemble cast, including veteran actor Lim Hyun-sik, whose brief appearance leaves a lasting impression.
"There's a scene near the end where he walks out of the health clinic and looks up at the spacecraft," Zo recalled. "The expression on his face was extraordinary. Watching him, I thought, 'That's what decades of experience look like.'"
He also spoke warmly about the actors who shared the demanding production with him.
"Everyone on set was a consummate professional, so there was never any concern about chemistry," he said. "Hwang Jung-min respected me every step of the way. He constantly encouraged me, and that gave me tremendous confidence."
He added, "Jung Ho-yeon's positive energy lifted everyone's spirits, and Eum Moon-suk kept us laughing throughout the shoot. He was the mascot of the set."
For Zo, HOPE represented more than another high-profile project.
"It challenged me in every possible way," he said. "There were physical obstacles because of my knee, and there were creative challenges that came with the genre itself. After thinking it through, I decided this was exactly the kind of challenge I needed."
The decision reflects a philosophy that has guided his career.
"I never want my work to become predictable or comfortable," he said. "Even if trying something new carries a greater chance of failure, I'd still rather take that risk. I've never wanted to stay in the same place."
He was reminded of similar skepticism before Disney+'s Moving premiered.
"When people first heard we were making Moving, many questioned whether audiences would accept superheroes flying through the air. There was plenty of concern back then as well. But the result turned out well."
"That experience gave me confidence. With HOPE, I told myself, 'Let's take the leap again.'"
As the film prepares for release, Zo hopes audiences will simply give it a chance.
"'I hope you enjoy it' almost feels too ambitious," he said with a smile. "Rather than asking people to love it immediately, I'd simply like them to give it a try."
He then shared an image that has stayed with him throughout the project.
"There's a flower called the trumpet creeper. It blooms through the rainy season and even survives strong storms. The film industry is going through difficult times, and HOPE has its own obstacles to overcome. I hope this film can bloom the same way—in the hearts of audiences."
Although productions such as Moving and HOPE have attracted worldwide attention, Zo said he has no immediate plans to pursue an acting career overseas.
"It took me 46 years just to become comfortable acting in Korean," he joked. "Imagine how many more years it would take me to perform naturally in English."
He smiled before adding, "I'd much rather continue making strong Korean films like HOPE and let audiences around the world discover them."
HOPE opens in theaters on July 15.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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