Film completes cartoon 'Inside Men'

Actors Baek Yoon-sik, from left, Lee Byung-hun and Cho Seung-woo, director Woo Min-ho and Yoon Tae-ho, original author of upcoming film “Inside Men” pose during a press conference at a theater in Apgujeong, Seoul, on Oct. 8. / Courtesy of Showbox

By Baek Byung-yeul

Star cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho’s incomplete comic strip “Inside Men” will be concluded in a film of the same title next month.

Yoon, best credited for his online comic strip “Misaeng” (An incomplete life), serialized “Inside Men” in a local newspaper for three years from 2010 to 2012, but abruptly stopped releasing the comic strip.

“Inside Men” is a political thriller revolving around three protagonists ― Lee Kang-hee, a chief editorial writer at an influential conservative newspaper who manipulates public opinion by pulling strings with political figures, Ahn Sang-goo, a political henchman who takes revenge against the political, business and media moguls, and Woo Jang-hoon, an ambitious prosecutor who joins hands with Ahn to investigate political and business tycoons.

During a movie premiere, actor Lee Byung-hun, who plays Ahn, explains his character as a dumb bear with a fox mask on.

Actors Cho Seung-woo, left, and Lee Byung-hun in a scene from upcoming crime thriller “Inside Men” / Courtesy of Showbox

“In the film, Ahn tries to be tricky, but he always falls into his own trap,” Lee said at a theater in Apgujeong, Seoul, on Oct. 8.

“When I chose this film, I didn’t have a chance to read Yoon’s original work... But director Woo Min-ho told me I don’t need to because my character has changed a lot from the original work. For reference, I read the incomplete cartoon, and saw that the gangster’s character is far from that in the original comic strip.”

Lee and actor Baek Yoon-sik, who features as editorial chief Lee, both agreed that they decided to act in the film because they became greatly interested in the script when they first read it.

“I got the picture while I was reading the screenplay,” Baek said. “Based on the script and the original cartoon work, I attempted to create my own version of the editorial chief before shooting.”

Actor Cho Seung-woo, who takes the role of prosecutor Woo Jang-hoon, said he refused to join the cast three times because his character was not originally in the cartoon version.

“Frankly, I am an avid fan of Yoon’s work. I have read all of his cartoon work. So, when I was cast for the film at first, I had to turn the offer down as there is no reference to my position because there was a photo journalist in the cartoon instead of the prosecutor,” Cho said, adding he decided to appear in the end due to director Woo’s persuasion.

“When I was young, actor Lee was one of my idols,” Cho said. “The idea that I could work with him made me change my mind. I don’t even remember how I could finish the first shoot because I had cold feet.”

Yoon said he stopped drawing the political thriller because he could not handle the story any longer. “I stopped making the series judging that I could not control the enormous story anymore,” he said.

“Actually, I received the script written by director Woo, but I didn’t try to read it. My work was incomplete and director Woo finished it. That’s why I stopped turning the pages of the script. I would like to enjoy the film version as a member of the audience as well.”

“Inside Men” will hit theaters in November.