Interview: Jung Ho-yeon on Her Film Debut in 'Hope'

Jung Ho-yeon, who captured global attention with "Squid Game," makes her film debut in Na Hong-jin's new work "Hope." In the film, she portrays a police officer named Seong-ae, who confronts an unknown threat. As she embarks on her first action role, Jung prepared extensively by learning firearm handling and shooting techniques, obtaining a driver's license for high-performance vehicles, and undergoing drift training for car chase scenes. Stepping beyond her global star status, Jung aims to deliver a powerful performance filled with dynamic energy in "Hope."

"I am grateful for the unexpected response to 'Squid Game,' but I also felt a lot of anxiety. I took my time before choosing my next project, avoiding hasty decisions. My senior colleagues advised me to work with more experienced professionals, so I aimed to select projects that aligned with that advice," she said.

Meeting director Na Hong-jin on her first film set, Jung found him to be the uncompromising perfectionist he was rumored to be. However, she viewed his perfectionism as a blessing rather than a burden.

"Director Na is indeed a perfectionist who does not compromise. But I see it as a blessing. He filled in the gaps I hadn’t considered. I felt there were no NGs (no good takes) on set. He often takes many shots, but there’s a reason for it, and he captures something good within those takes. This actually relieved some of my pressure. For my first scene, getting out of the car took over 20 takes, and I think he wanted to capture everything from my performance when I was fully energized to when I was instinctively expressing fatigue. I believe he used the cut that suited the scene best.

Seong-ae appears in the film only after the first hour. Jung believes this impactful timing was not her own planning but rather a deliberate choice by the director within the script.

"I think it was the director who designed it that way in the script. I knew I would appear at that point, but I didn’t imagine it would be so impactful while reading the script. I was more focused on how to effectively portray that moment," she explained.

That scene received a warm round of applause from the audience during its screening at the Cannes Film Festival. Jung admitted that she was too busy with her schedule at the time to fully grasp the moment, but as time passed, she recognized it as a significant encouragement for her as an actress.

"At that time, I think I was too overwhelmed to feel the thrill. I had many interviews and red carpet events, and my schedule was very hectic, so it’s hard to describe exactly how I felt. However, reflecting on it later, I realized that I had experienced moments in the past where I laughed and applauded at certain scenes in films. Just knowing that some audience members felt that way about my scene was a huge encouragement. It made me feel like I could continue working as an actress," she said.

While preparing for complex firearm action, safety was her top priority. As it was her first action role, she focused on executing her scenes accurately within a safe environment.

"I believe safety is number one in action acting. So rather than trying to enjoy the action too much, I aimed to perform safely. I wondered when I would have the chance to experience this. I had a six-month preparation period before filming. The firearm weighs about 5 kg, and since the director is known for taking many shots, I had to do weight training to handle that. I gained about 4 kg and worked hard on my cardio to improve my basic fitness," she said.

In addition to firearm action, she also prepared for vehicle action. Jung obtained a manual transmission driver's license specifically for the car chase scenes and underwent racing training.

"I practiced with firearms, but since there were many driving scenes, I obtained a manual transmission license. I originally only had a regular license, but after getting the license, I trained with a racing expert. I remember my first car action shoot. I think the director and the staff were more nervous than I was. The car I was driving had senior actor Hwang Jung-min in it, so everyone was tense about safety. The camera and art teams all came to give me extensive notes. But when too much information comes at once, it can feel overwhelming. At that moment, Jung-min said, 'Just do what you want.' That really helped me focus. Suddenly, I felt confident and energized, thinking, 'I can do this.'

Watching the action performances of Hwang Jung-min and Jo In-sung up close was also a learning experience for Jung. She was inspired by their physicality and approach to the set.

"Jung-min is incredibly agile. He moves so well, and I think he is not only great at action but also very flexible and precise overall. He captures the points perfectly, which is impressive. In-sung, as many know, had knee surgery and despite not being in top shape, he showed incredible dedication by hanging on wires to create this film. I think he endured the most physical challenges. Their unwavering passion inspired me, and they created an environment where I felt it was natural for me to follow suit," she said.

Recently, directors she has worked with have described her as a "wild horse." Jung mentioned her strengths while also expressing her desire to improve.

"Interestingly, both director Hwang Dong-hyuk and Na Hong-jin, as well as director Kim Ji-woon, have referred to me as a 'wild horse.' It’s fascinating that all three described me that way. While it feels good to be complimented, seeing my seniors makes me want to design my characters more intricately and develop them further. After watching Hwang Jung-min's performance as Beom-seok at Cannes, I felt envious, thinking, 'That’s what a lead actor's performance looks like.' Afterward, I asked the director and Jung-min, and they told me, 'Don’t try too hard.' Ultimately, I took that to mean that experience is something that time creates, and if I try to force something now, it will show. I concluded that the only way forward is to keep doing it consistently. Rather than calculating how to show a different side in my next project, I believe that if I work hard on my current role, I will naturally embody the elements of storytelling and design through experience," she said.

Looking ahead, Jung expressed a strong desire to work in theater. She believes that the experience of engaging closely with an audience will further expand her abilities as an actress.

"In the future, I definitely want to try theater. I think it will expand my skills and abilities. I want to experience being in close proximity to the audience," she said.