Jun Ji-hyun Returns to Big Screen After 11 Years

The movie "The Bequeathed" has topped the box office for 13 consecutive days, continuing its box office success. According to the Korean Film Council's Integrated Network of Screen Admission, "The Bequeathed" mobilized 135,394 viewers on the 2nd, recording a cumulative audience of 3,712,270.

"The Bequeathed" is a film about survivors isolated in a building sealed off due to an unidentified outbreak, fighting against infected individuals who evolve into unpredictable forms. Jun Ji-hyun made her return to the big screen after 11 years with this project, starring alongside Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Kim Shin-rok, and Shin Hyun-been.

Following "The Bequeathed" in the box office rankings, "The Backrooms" took second place, attracting 39,065 viewers and reaching a cumulative audience of 458,668. Third place went to "Michael," a film about the life of Michael Jackson, which garnered 21,071 viewers, bringing its cumulative total to 1,430,795.

Regarding her return to the big screen after 11 years, Jun Ji-hyun stated, "As the film industry slowed down after the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities to review scripts decreased." She added, "While I was doing series, I felt bored with the extended pacing, and then I read Director Yeon Sang-ho's script, which made me want to make a movie again after a long time." She also shared her excitement about her first official invitation to the Cannes Film Festival, saying, "Before, I couldn't fully enjoy the red carpet, but this time, I could take fun pictures with Koo Kyo-hwan, and I felt I gained more strength as an actress."

Jun Ji-hyun has showcased her talent in numerous genre films such as "The Thieves," "The Berlin File," and "Assassination." In this regard, she expressed her ambition, "I want to be an actress who is not confined to one genre." She continued, "I believe that having a broad market allows me to become an actress who can work not just in Korea but in a wider world." Regarding action acting, she added, "I thought there were enough elements to connect with the audience through action, even without conveying empathy through dialogue."