Jung Yu Mi And Gong Yoo Explain Why They Chose To Star In Upcoming Film Despite Backlash

On September 30, Jung Yu Mi and Gong Yoo attended a press conference for the upcoming film “Kim Ji Young, Born 1982,” which is set to premiere sometime in October.

During the press conference, the two explained why they chose to star in the film, which created much debate among Korean netizens for its take on feminism.

Gong Yoo shared, “I accepted the offer [to star in the film] without having to think about it much.” The actor continued, “After I finished reading the script, I thought a lot about my family. It is very rare that I cry while reading a script, but I cried while reading this script.”

“It’s not often that I feel like I’m in the situation only by reading the text. I knew I had to take it because I instantly immersed myself into Dae Hyun (Gong Yoo’s character in the film) and got emotional,” Gong Yoo added. “My family came to my mind, so I called my mom. I called her because I wanted to thank her. I thanked her for raising me, and although she seemed a bit confused, she also seemed happy because she laughed.”

Gong Yoo concluded, “There was no reason for me to hesitate. I think it’s a good film for people in my parents’ generation, people in my generation, and the next generation to watch together.”

Jung Yu Mi explained, “I’m not married nor have I ever raised a child. Instead of relating to [the character], I was reminded of other people around me. I felt sorry because I thought that I might have looked away [from their problems] with an excuse of being busy, and I also wanted to understand their feelings.”

The actress continued, “All I knew about [the story] is that the novel had been a hot topic. I became aware of the story through the script first. After I decided to take on the role following a meeting with the director, it raised a lot of issues, but I thought that it is our job to make the story that we want to tell and show people.”

Following the news that confirmed Jung Yu Mi’s participation in the film, many netizens left malicious comments on her social media and rated the film with zero stars on major portal sites such as Naver. Regarding the negative feedback, the actress shared, “It didn’t put pressure on me in any way. I was thinking more about participating in making the story that I’ve chosen, turning it into a great production, and sharing it.”

Gong Yoo added, “As I said earlier, I didn’t hesitate about starring in the film. [The negative feedback] did not cause a problem in my decision [to join the production]. I believe that there will always be differences in how people view things. I don’t think it’s a problem of what is right and wrong.”

“Kim Ji Young, Born 1982” is based on the best-selling novel of the same name that tells the story of a woman named Kim Ji Young who was born in 1982. Recounting the experiences and ordinary life of Kim Ji Young as someone’s daughter, wife, mother, and co-worker, the novel has resonated with many and sold over a million copies in Korea. However, because the book addresses feminism, which is a highly divisive topic in Korea, it has been at the center of controversy for some time. As a result, celebrities including Seo Ji Hye and Red Velvet’s Irene have become the center of attention by mentioning the novel.

Check out a trailer for the film here!

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