Director Bong Joon Ho couldn’t hold back his emotions while remembering the late Lee Sun Kyun.
On February 18, Bong Joon Ho appeared as a guest on MBC’s Son Suk Hee’s Questions and shared his thoughts on filmmaking, his reputation for being meticulous, and his deep regret over Lee Sun Kyun’s passing.
During the interview, Bong Joon Ho explained, "I never start a film thinking about social or political issues. If the storyboard isn’t finished by the morning of the shoot, I get really anxious."
He also talked about his admiration for actors, saying, "A director’s greatest luck is working with talented actors. I always stay alert while watching films, dramas, or plays, wondering if there are amazing actors quietly doing great work without getting noticed."
When asked about his ‘Bong-tail’ nickname—given to him for his extreme attention to detail—he responded, "Sometimes, I feel like it’s a label I want to escape from. Audiences analyze every little thing, looking for mistakes. While precision is important, I don’t think it alone determines a film’s value."
However, the most emotional moment came when the late Lee Sun Kyun was mentioned. Letting out a deep sigh, Bong Joon Ho said, "He was someone I worked with, and so many memories come flooding back. No matter what anyone says, he was a good person. He was a great actor." His heartfelt words left a strong impression.
Bong Joon Ho also addressed the statement he had released following Lee Sun Kyun’s passing. "As someone who worked with him, it was only right to speak up," he admitted.
However, he also expressed deep regret, saying, "I feel ashamed and sorry that I didn’t do it sooner. I kept asking myself why I didn’t act more quickly before such a tragic situation happened."
As he spoke, he became visibly emotional, shedding tears and leaving a heavy atmosphere in the studio.
Meanwhile, Bong Joon Ho’s highly anticipated film Mickey 17 is set to premiere first in South Korea on February 28.
The sci-fi thriller follows the story of an expendable worker, ‘Mickey,’ who is sent on dangerous missions and replaced with a new version when he dies. However, chaos unfolds when ‘Mickey 18’ is printed while ‘Mickey 17’ is still alive.
Source: [1]
