[Sportschosun Reporter Jo Ji-young] A true adult and a passionate young person have crossed paths. This well-made remake, led by Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee, whose chemistry surpasses that of the original, will meet theatergoers in September.
A press and distribution screening of the human drama 'The Intern' (directed by KIM Do-young and produced by Anthology Studio and Warner Bros. Korea) was held on the afternoon of September 4 at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The event was attended by Choi Min-sik, who plays Ki-ho, a silver intern with 37 years of professional experience embarking on his second career after retirement; Han So-hee, who plays Sun-woo, a workaholic CEO who turns Ututu into a dark horse in the fashion industry three years after its launch; Kim Jun Han, who plays Young-hwan, Ututu's pragmatic vice president; Ryu Hye-young, who plays Min-a, an AI-obsessed head of the management support team; and director KIM Do-young.
'The Intern' follows an office life that transcends generations and ranks, beginning when a silver intern with 37 years of professional experience joins a company that has rapidly emerged as a dark horse in the fashion industry just three years after its launch. It is a remake of the Hollywood film 'The Intern,' directed by Nancy Meyers, which was released in 2015 and became a box-office success, earning $194 million worldwide—five times its production budget.
The film drew attention from the production stage, particularly because Choi Min-sik was cast as Ki-ho, the role played by Robert De Niro, while Han So-hee took on Sun-woo, the role played by Anne Hathaway. Although the two characters are opposites in every way, they share perspectives and experiences that the other lacks, creating a remarkable chemistry as they build a genuine friendship and learn to communicate. Attention is focused on whether 'The Intern' can make its mark on the K-office genre with comedy and a warm story tailored to Korean sensibilities.
Choi Min-sik said, "It feels very embarrassing to praise a film I appear in with my own words. This was a project I began carrying a great deal of pressure. I felt that if it ended merely as a burden, the discomfort would linger for a long time. Don't people often reinterpret good songs and works of literature? Some time ago, I heard a song called 'Bonguri' by the late senior artist Kim Min-ki. Senior artist Han Young-ae sang it again, and I was deeply moved. I thought, 'Ah, this is it.' She surely did not sing it with the intention of outperforming Kim Min-ki. We felt the same way. Regardless of how audiences and the public evaluate it, once we decided to make this film, we joined forces with the determination to express it in our own way."
He joked, "From the moment I decided to take part in this project, I knew it would inevitably be compared with the original. I do not even want to compare myself with Robert De Niro, and I would never presume to do so. It almost feels irreverent for me to mention him at all. The original was truly excellent. I also found healing in watching it."
He continued, "I tried to play this character like water. No matter how excellent the original may be, I wondered whether it was right to use it as a reference. It felt like cheating by keeping an answer sheet beside me during an exam. As one of the creators, I could not do that. We held intense discussions, saying that we would briefly absorb the original's essence and then tell our own story." He added, "Even after the film was finished, I continued thinking about what it means to be a good adult. While playing Ki-ho, I realized, 'This era truly longs for good adults.' I wondered, 'What is a good adult?' I still do not really know. Perhaps, vaguely, it means simply living well as a human being. You have to live with an open heart and know how to acknowledge your mistakes. Perhaps when such a person grows older, people can call them a good adult. I think society is deeply thirsty for warm comfort. I felt that people are looking for an image of a good adult."
He lavished praise on Han So-hee, saying, "Anne Hathaway is a truly wonderful actor. But Han So-hee has her own unique appeal. Seeing Han So-hee on the screen, I felt she was a completely different Jules. Isn't Han So-hee's Sun-woo wonderful? I am so proud of her."
Han So-hee candidly shared her thoughts: "I also felt pressure because of the original. It is true that I started with a great deal of pressure. But those worries disappeared once we began filming. Although it is a remake, I felt there would clearly be points we could express through our own sensibilities. I paid more attention to the combination and harmony between the young person building a company and the senior intern. I did not compare the original with our film."
Speaking about Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee expressed her respect, saying, "Robert De Niro's performance from the original was not visible on set. Choi Min-sik has his own philosophy and style, and that came through clearly. I cannot even dare to compare them. Senior actor Choi Min-sik left me deeply moved."
Kim Jun Han said with an embarrassed smile, "It is my film, but I was deeply moved. I watched it while sobbing uncontrollably." He added, "I think watching this film made me miss adults. I was truly happy to feel that kind of warm emotion."
Ryu Hye-young said, "It is a film that gives you pleasant and warm feelings. I thought it might become a huge hit." She added, "When I first heard that this project was being remade, what remained in my memory was the impression that it was 'good' and 'warm.' So when I was offered the role, I was able to approach it with warmth. I jumped in positively based solely on that impression. Even though I deliberately could not remember the original very well, I did not look it up. I wanted to convey the impression of the original that I remembered in our own way."
Director KIM Do-young explained the intention behind the film, saying, "These days, it seems people give many names to generations, such as MZ, youngkk and oldkk. I chose this project because I thought our film could offer a meaningful message about those divisions." He continued, "While making this film, I also learned many MZ expressions through younger people, and I learned expressions that were popular in the past through senior actor Choi Min-sik. Isn't it wonderful to meet dignified, steadfast adults and young people who are running toward their dreams? I tried to express those aspects."
'The Intern' stars Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee, Kim Jun Han, Ryu Hye-young, Kim Geum-soon, Park Ye-ni, Kim Yo-han, Im Seong-gyun, Yoon Sang-jeong and Han Ji-eun. KIM Do-young, who directed 'Kim Ji-young, Born 1982' and 'Once We Were Us,' is at the helm. The film opens on September 16.
Reporter Jo Ji-young soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
