"Gyeongseong Creature" Is "Not an Anti-Japanese Drama", Says Director Jung

Director Jung Dong Yoon of Gyeongseong Creature shared his thoughts about his long journey with actors Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee, who, along with the entire team, worked tirelessly for the K-drama's success. 

On September 30, during an interview held at a café in Seoul, director Jung shared his thoughts on the K-drama's reception, and its message, and praised the lead actors.

Gyeongseong Creature Season 2 follows Ho Jae (Park Seo Joon), who bears a striking resemblance to Tae Sang, and Chae Ok (Han So Hee), who survived the spring of Gyeongseong, as they unravel the ties of fate, relationships, and malevolence connected to Gyeongseong. 

Director Jung Praises Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee for Their Efforts and Decision to Star in the K-Drama

About Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee, he said, "They are very professional, and I appreciate that they are the same people both in private and public settings. They're candid and seriously discuss issues that are appropriate for their age. I'm quite shy, so it's honestly difficult for me to interact with top stars, but they made me feel comfortable. The three of us aren't the type to talk a lot, so we would each think when it was time to think and play when it was time to play. If you look at their social media, they seem to post a lot about the 'blood, sweat, and tears,' [they pour into their work]. It must have been really tough for them [working on this project]. Both of them really lived up to their names, and I think the momentum came from the fact that they led the project forward."

He continued, "Han So Hee is delicate but strong. I think she put in a lot of effort to express that. She suffered a lot while performing the action scenes. ... The scene where she fights Kuroko in the abandoned factory took several days to film. There were a lot of bugs, and plenty of situations where, if you lost focus, you could get hurt. ... Park Seo Joon is good with using his body, but this time he worked a lot with wires and got covered in blood, which is no easy task. But he did a good job. He also had to do a lot of makeup [for the scenes] where his eyes were swollen. While doing the action scenes, he had to maintain his emotions throughout, which was really hard."

Is director Jung satisfied with the response the K-drama received? "I am satisfied with the response to Season 2. I've heard that it's ranking first in many countries, so I'm grateful that so many people are watching it. I heard it ranked fourth in Japan and ninth or tenth in the U.S. I also heard that the response has also been positive in Europe and India. One of the main goals of this project was to move beyond sharing history only among ourselves [Koreans] and to have it viewed by international audiences, so I think it's resonating in that sense."

Gyeongseong Creature is among the historical K-thrillers that do not shy away from highlighting Japan's past wrongdoings. Was the director concerned about the reaction in Japan? "I think the star power of the actors played a huge role. When you're filming together, you don't always realize how much star power actors like Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee have, but their fandom is enormous. Due to his previous works, Park Seo Joon has a large fan base, and Han So Hee has also gained many fans through various Netflix series, so I think casting them helped attract a lot of viewers. I believe Park Seo Joon's influence was particularly significant. Also, I was surprised that Japanese audiences didn't view the show with a critical eye but rather accepted it. That was a surprising reaction for me." 

He also admitted to feeling some pressure due to the high expectations for the show, considering he has delivered hits like It's Okay to Not Be Okay and Hot Stove League. "I didn't know much about it before, but Park Seo Joon expressed interest, and Han So Hee immediately agreed to join. The fact that a drama of this type hadn't been produced for a while was likely because of the popularity of the Korean Wave (Hallyu) in Japan, which made it a sensitive topic. Given Park Seo Joon's popularity in Japan, the fact that he decided to participate deserves applause. When I asked if he felt pressured, he said he did, but he had a clear story he wanted to tell. The writer did a great job, and he felt it was worth a try. In fact, international audiences don't usually take much interest in our country's history. However, what surprised me after Season 1 was seeing it make it into the U.S. Top 10, which made me feel like we had succeeded. I think it was only possible because of the involvement of those two actors." 

The Message of Gyeongseong Creature

"There are people who deny our national identity, and I think it's important to reflect on those things. We need to address those who deny historical facts. In episode 7, as the action scenes progress, I wanted to voice the message that forgiveness and forgetting are different, and I wanted to deliver that message through Ho Jae (Park Seo Joon) when he asks 'Why should we forgive those who do not apologize?.'" "It's about sending a message by focusing on the people who hurt us and caused the suffering. How well would the people in Japan today know about what happened back then? I wanted to convey the message that we must not forget those who started the war, committed wrongdoings, and conducted experiments during that time. The message that 'forgiveness and forgetting are different' is consistent [throughout the K-drama]. The message is directed at those who hurt us and those who pretend not to know, not at everyone [or a particular community] as a whole. I believe that, as long as people continue to suffer despite the changing times, we must keep raising our voices to bring about change in the world."

Regarding the symbolism and settings connecting the past and the present, he said, "I believe Seasons 1 and 2 each reflect their respective eras well in their own ways. While Season 1 dealt with a magnanimous enemy and the fight against it, Season 2 is about not forgetting those who caused suffering in Season 1. There's an ironic aspect of the times: I think we often compromise and bow our heads too easily. I tried to capture that symbolically. Gyeongseong Creature is not an anti-Japanese drama. There were some [pro-Japanese people who enjoyed power], but after Korea's liberation, they changed their names, blended back into Korean society, and lived with vested rights. It all started with this fact. We set the mountain behind Ongseong Hospital as Namsan. In that place, we built Jeonseung Pharmaceuticals as a successful pharmaceutical company, and I wanted people to reflect on the fact that the same kinds of things are still happening today. There are enemies you can see, and there are enemies you can't see. And I think these elements are symbolized in Season 2. I hope it is viewed that way."

He added, "I thought that viewers from other countries, each with their painful histories, could resonate with what we experienced and the voices we raise."

Regarding some interpretations that the modern setting in Season 2 is biased, he said, "It could be seen that way, but I think it's unreasonable to say it's biased since the message is not directed at everyone, but only at those who committed wrongdoings. I think it's a human right to say what's right. It's not biased or politically inclined, and it's not an anti-Japanese drama. It deals with a painful history and those who committed unforgivable acts, and I hope that's where the focus is placed. The message that 'forgiveness and forgetting are different' is what’s important."

Sources (1)(2)