Director Yeon Sang-ho Apologizes to Cast of 'The Bequeathed' for No-Budget Filming

Director Yeon Sang-ho has officially apologized to the actors of his film 'The Bequeathed', including Park Jung-min who participated without compensation.

A press preview for 'The Bequeathed' was held on the afternoon of the 10th at Megabox COEX in Seoul. The film was recently invited to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where director Yeon Sang-ho, alongside actors Park Jung-min, Kwon Hae-hyo, Shin Hyun-been, Im Sung-jae, and Han Ji-hyun, participated in a virtual press conference.

'The Bequeathed' tells the story of Im Dong-hwan (played by Park Jung-min), the son of the visually impaired master craftsman Im Young-gyu (played by Kwon Hae-hyo/Park Jung-min), who is called a living miracle. After the discovery of his mother's skeletal remains, missing for 40 years, he uncovers the truth behind her death. The film has already garnered significant attention with its official invitation to the 'Special Presentations' section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's top four film festivals.

Director Yeon Sang-ho, who received his third invitation to TIFF after 'The Fake' and 'Hellbound', highlighted that 'The Bequeathed' was produced with a unique approach: an ultra-low budget of approximately 200 million KRW, a crew of about 20 people (one-third of a typical commercial film), and a short shooting period of 13 sessions over 3 weeks.

Yeon Sang-ho reflected on his initial low-budget aspirations, stating, 'I initially thought of making it with 100 million KRW. I didn't know much about the world. I considered shooting it on a phone, but I was afraid it would turn out poorly. I worried, 'If it looks too bad, my reputation will be at stake' (laughter). But I think that thought was wrong. If you can't do something for fear of damaging your reputation, you end up being someone who only cares about appearances. I decided to just try it, even if it looked rough.'

He continued, 'However, with actor Park Jung-min joining from the start, we had already crossed the point of no return. The staff were also people who had worked with me on previous projects. The budget already far exceeded our initial estimates, and for that, I am sorry to the actors. I offer my official apology here,' conveying his sincere feelings to the cast.

The lead actors participated without any pay, empathizing with the film's genuine message. Responding to Director Yeon Sang-ho's apology, Park Jung-min laughed and said, 'I forgive you.'

Director Yeon Sang-ho confessed, 'I was inspired by legendary Asian films, and they were all low-budget. I felt they had a separate kind of energy. I wondered if this could be systematized. Not just as a one-time experiment, but how could it be systematized? I realized it would take about 2 billion KRW (laughter). A structure that could yield 2 billion KRW is needed, and I'm contemplating it. I deeply hope this type of work, created with different standards than the current filmmaking norms, can be systematized.'

Finally, Director Yeon Sang-ho expressed, 'I am so grateful to the actors and staff that I have never been as thirsty for box office success as I am with this project. The break-even point is very low due to the small budget, and since they helped so much, I truly hope they can earn a lot through its success. That's why I really want it to be a hit. I've never felt this desperate. I don't want it to end with just 'it was a good effort.' It opens tomorrow, and I hope it's a box office success,' he revealed his honest feelings. Park Jung-min added, 'The director hopes for box office success, and I feel the same way. If the movie does well, I expect to receive some compensation.'

'The Bequeathed' is scheduled to be released on the 11th.

Director Yeon Sang-ho is globally renowned for his Korean-style zombie blockbusters like 'Train to Busan' and 'Peninsula'. His filmography is known for its unique imagination and socio-critical messages. He has also gained recognition for his directing skills in OTT series such as 'Hellbound', leaving a deep impression on global fans.