[Suhan: On-Site] Ha Jung-woo

[Sports Korea Reporter Jo Eun-ae] ‘1947 Boston’ is a story based on a true story and is expected to bring great emotion to theaters this Chuseok.

On the afternoon of the 11th, a press screening and press conference for the movie ‘1947 Boston’ (directed by Kang Je-gyu) were held at the Lotte Cinema Konkuk University entrance. Actors Ha Jung-woo, Im Si-wan, Kim Sang-ho, and director Kang Je-gyu attended the event.

‘1947 Boston’ contains the challenges and thrilling journey of marathon runners to participate in international competitions wearing the Taegeuk symbol for the first time since liberation in 1947. This new film by director Kang Je-gyu, who left a mark on the Korean film industry with films such as ‘Shiri’ and ‘Taegukgi’, depicts the true story of director Son Ki-jeong, Seo Yun-bok, and Nam Seung-ryong, who struggled to make their name known through the Boston Marathon.

First, director Kang Je-gyu said, “‘1947 Boston’ is a story that highlights the challenge of human victory, in which a person achieves his precious dream in the face of difficulties,”and added, “From the scenario stage, I thought a lot about how to show the marathon in a dramatic way. In particular, while filming with Ha Jung-woo, who plays Son Ki-jeong, we talked a lot about the scenario and his role and function. In the original scenario, there were parts where we ran together, but not to this extent. But the week before filming the marathon section, Ha Jung-woo had a great idea. “By reflecting a lot, more satisfying scenes emerged. I was happy and enjoyed the process of being able to create something new while talking about the details,” he said.

He continued, “Among the movies I’ve made, there are many that deal with the past. I also prepared a science fiction film after making ‘Taegukgi’, but that movie ended up being canceled. I guess the future is filmed too much in Hollywood. If you think about what it means to express the future, in the end, we I thought that taking a good look at the past we lived in was like predicting the future. I thought that dealing with the past was sci-fi. As a result, I became interested in our footsteps in the past. There are many sports, but the charm of the marathon is “I think the spirit of a marathoner, who runs through a long tunnel barefoot and without any equipment, matches the human challenge and passion. There is a unique aesthetic that a marathon gives,” he said about the background of the plan.

Ha Jung-woo, who played the role of Son Ki-jeong, a gold medalist at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the leader of Boston’s miracle in 1947, said, “In fact, Mr. Son Ki-jeong went on the Boston journey, so I guess he must have felt some sense of responsibility. As a senior, I took responsibility for not being able to wear the Taegeukgi during the Berlin Olympics. “As an actor, I filmed with only that thought in mind,” he said.

Im Si-wan, who played Seo Yun-bok, the national representative for the 1947 Boston Marathon, said, “Because there is a real person, I thought it was a task that I could never do to anyone. I took on it with a sense of responsibility. Wasn’t Seo Yun-bok the first athlete to compete in an international competition wearing the Taegeuk symbol? “Of course, I am a character in the work, but at least while I was working on the work, I was determined to represent the country,” he said.

Also, “The work that took the most time in terms of appearance was, of course, diet and exercise. Diet was important from the time I prepared for filming until the end. I always ate chicken breast and salad and exercised every day. My muscles had to look strong, so I had to cut and exercise. I continued to exercise between cuts and tried to maintain muscle bulge. It wasn’t my goal, but while I was working out and trying to resemble Seo Yun-bok’s appearance, my body fat percentage came out to be 6%. It was amazing to see the number 6% for the first time in my life. “I did it,” he said.

In particular, Ha Jung-woo and Im Si-wan, who worked together for the first time in ‘1947 Boston’, also showed their affection for each other. Ha Jung-woo praised Lim Si-wan, saying, “I felt like he was just an athlete because I had seen the efforts Lim Si-wan had made.”Im Si-wan also said, “I feel like I met a very dependable older brother. I relied on him a lot while filming. He knows a lot more about filmmaking and the world than I do. It’s also really fun to hear him talk. At the moment, there are unexpected moments. “I filmed it with the expectation that there would be a point of laughter,” he responded.

Lastly, Director Kang Je-gyu said, “Stories from the past may seem boring and old-fashioned, but there are so many precious stories and great people in our history. Through the lives of those people, we will be able to check for ourselves whether we are living well now.” requested.

Meanwhile, ‘1947 Boston’ will be released on September 27th.

Sports Korea Reporter Jo Eun-ae eun@sportshankook.co.kr