Jeon Do yeon and Jung Woo sung, perhaps one of Korea’s most celebrated stars, are co-starring in a film for the first time in their careers spanning almost 30 years.
Jeon Do yeon, who won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007, debuted in 1992. Even early in her career, she has earned a reputation for being a “chameleon” who can take on a wide variety of roles. More recently, she was given the Golden Mulberry lifetime achievement award in the 2019 Far East Film Festival held in Udine, Italy.
Jung Woo sung started his career as a fashion model, rising to stardom and teenage cult figure status with the gangster movie Beat (1997), for which he received the Best New Actor award at the 17th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards. He is widely popular with the audience and is also the first Korean UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
The two will appear in the crime thriller “Beasts Clawing at Straws”, which is set for release next month.
At a recent press event for the film, they talked about how they felt about their first appearance together.
“I felt awkward and shy at first. It took me some time to get used to [filming together] although we’ve known each other for a long time. By the time I did, shooting had finished and I wished there were more left to do”, Jeon said.
But Jung said he had decided to join the project because of Jeon. “I chose the film because I wanted to work with her. I really mean it. Many people think we had worked together previously, but we never had the opportunity. I hope we can get together again for another project”, Jung said.
Based on the Japanese novel of the same title by Keisuke Sone, the crime film revolves around eight lowlifes chasing after a bag full of cash.
The movie will hit local theaters on Feb. 12.
