Director Lee Sang-min's 'Salmokji' starring Kim Hye-yoon

Director Lee Sang-min revealed that he cast actress Kim Hye-yoon in the film 'Salmokji' with anticipation for her new side. Kim Hye-yoon is challenging the horror genre for the first time through 'Salmokji,' shedding her existing lovable image and receiving praise for her chilling atmosphere. Director Lee Sang-min noted Kim Hye-yoon's outstanding expressiveness and clear emotional delivery shown in the drama 'SKY Castle' and the film 'The Girl on a Bulldozer,' judging that her suppressed, weighty presence would be a good fit for the role of Soo-in, the protagonist of 'Salmokji.' The director recalled being surprised by how, contrary to Kim Hye-yoon's bright and energetic personality, she exuded a chilling atmosphere the moment she delivered her first line on set. He also added that Kim Hye-yoon has a great strength as a horror protagonist because she has a charm that makes her seem to have a story just by her presence, sparking curiosity. 'Salmokji' is a film about the horror experienced by a film crew who head to a reservoir to reshoot an unidentified shape captured on road view, and it is currently in theaters.

Actress Kim Hye-yoon is showcasing a new face through her first foray into the horror genre with the film 'Salmokji.' 'Salmokji' is director Lee Sang-min's directorial debut feature film, depicting the horror experienced by a film crew who go to Salmokji to investigate a shape captured on road view. Kim Hye-yoon plays Soo-in, a PD for a road view company, and meticulously and delicately portrayed the psychological changes of an rational character as she experiences bizarre events and struggles to escape. In particular, she captivated audiences with her appearance without a smile, exuding a chilling atmosphere not seen in her previous works. Instead of exaggerated emotional expressions, Kim Hye-yoon depicted the character's transformation through detailed physical expressions such as subtly trembling breaths, gazes, and trembling fingertips. Furthermore, she revealed subtle emotional lines within the context of her past relationship with Lee Jong-won, adding an unexpected romantic element without disrupting the film's tension. Kim Hye-yoon's presence made the ensemble of other actors stand out even more, and she heightened the film's immersion by delicately portraying extreme fear and inner turmoil within restrained expressions. 'Salmokji' debuted at the top of the box office, drawing approximately 90,000 viewers on its opening day, and is continuing its box office success by recording a high opening score for a horror genre film.

Director Lee Sang-min addressed the criticism of a lack of narrative that arose alongside the box office success of the film 'Salmokji.' The director expressed relief that the horror elements were well-conveyed, while also regretting the opinions that more explanation was needed. He explained that he judged that including all the detailed narratives, such as Soo-in's (Kim Hye-yoon) trauma or her relationship with Ki-tae (Lee Jong-won), could actually hinder immersion in the story, and therefore removed narrative elements, leaving only nuances, to focus on the events themselves. The director expressed his hope that audiences would enjoy the film with a feeling of going on a roller coaster or to a haunted house, relieve their stress, and scream to their hearts' content. He also mentioned that he has been drawn to horror since childhood and that the charm of horror films lies in the push and pull with the audience, expressing his desire to continue focusing on the horror genre. 'Salmokji' is director Lee Sang-min's first commercial feature film, depicting the horror that unfolds at a reservoir where an unidentified shape was captured, and it is currently in theaters.

Actress Kim Hye-yoon has signaled the birth of a new 'horror queen' through the film 'Salmokji,' reaffirming her determination as an actress who constantly challenges herself with diverse genres and characters. In 'Salmokji,' Kim Hye-yoon completely erased her existing lovable and cute image, captivating audiences with her chilling and suspenseful performance. Playing Soo-in, a road view PD, she delicately expressed the complex psychological changes stemming from her fear of water and guilt towards her senior. In particular, instead of exaggerated expressions, she effectively conveyed the character's anxiety and fear through restrained gazes, expressions, and subtle tremors. Kim Hye-yoon skillfully filmed the underwater scenes, drawing on her love for water and experience from previous works, and her chemistry with her fellow actors was also excellent. She also shared an episode where she overcame her extreme fear of insects to film. Kim Hye-yoon, who has hinted at future projects in various genres such as action, comedy, and drama, is expected to show a more diverse range of performances through her efforts to alter her speech and atmosphere and her attitude of challenging herself with characters she hasn't played before. For her, acting is like a diary that captures her age and the expressiveness of that time, and she expressed her aspiration to never lose her lifelong learning attitude as an actress.