Director Park Chan-wook & Son Ye-jin Unveil "Foreign Affair" Casting Secrets, Clear Up Misunderstandings

Director Park Chan-wook and actress Son Ye-jin have revealed behind-the-scenes stories from the casting of their film "Foreign Affair" (tentative title), clearing up past misunderstandings.

In a video released on the 'W Korea' YouTube channel on the 24th, Director Park recalled the film's inception, stating he first read the original novel in 2004-2005 and even wrote a recommendation for its 2006 re-publication, indicating his strong desire to make it into a movie. He secured the rights from a French producer in 2010, but noted that director Lee Kyung-mi had already begun script work before the rights were officially contracted.

Initially planned as an American film, the project shifted to a Korean production after the completion of "Decision to Leave" in 2022. Director Park explained his decision to pivot to a Korean film stemmed from rejecting the lower production budget offered by American studios and a desire to showcase the charms of Korean actors.

Regarding casting, Director Park sought an actress who could embody a realistic middle-class housewife and mother. He found this portrayal in Son Ye-jin after watching her performance in the film "The Truth Beneath." While he was most concerned about whether Son Ye-jin would view the role favorably, she revealed that she was overwhelmed by the character's compelling nature, regardless of her initial screen time, and felt compelled to take on the role.

Son Ye-jin mentioned that the role of 'Miri' was initially much smaller, but its intensity captivated her, making her feel she had to do it. Director Park expressed his uncontainable joy upon hearing of her decision to join. Son Ye-jin humorously recalled a past misunderstanding where she thought Director Park wasn't happy because of his seemingly hesitant expression. Furthermore, Director Park revealed that Son Ye-jin had asked him to ensure she wouldn't face criticism from friends asking why she took the role, a request he took seriously and pondered throughout the editing process, ultimately fulfilling his promise.

Son Ye-jin debuted in the 2001 film 'Secret' and has since established herself as a leading actress in South Korea with her versatile performances across various genres. She is particularly known for her exceptional presence in melodrama and romantic comedy, recently proving her broad acting spectrum in the drama 'Thirty-Nine' and the film 'The Roundup'. She married actor Hyun Bin in 2022, receiving widespread congratulations.