Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Je-hoon wage war over soju company in ‘Big Deal’
Actors Lee Je-hoon, left, and Yoo Hae-jin pose during a press conference for their upcoming movie “Big Deal” at a theater in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
The tumultuous 1997 financial crisis serves as the backdrop for a fierce corporate battle in the upcoming film “Big Deal,” centering on the fate of a company producing Korea’s beloved distilled spirit: soju.
The movie, titled “Soju War” in Korean, pits Pyo Jong-rok (Yoo Hae-jin), a loyal employee who tries to keep the soju company alive despite facing a financial crisis, against Choi In-beom (Lee Je-hoon), a sharp-witted strategist from a global investment firm driven solely by profit and intent on acquisition.
Veteran actor Yoo shared his initial connection with the movie’s script, saying he was attracted to its plot.
“The story revolves around soju. Perhaps because of the subject matter, the script read very smoothly. I was drawn to the human side of the characters,” Yoo said Thursday during a press conference in Seoul.
“My character might appear ordinary on the surface; a typical office worker. However, he possesses an inner strength, a certain stubbornness and conviction. He’s not one to simply say ‘yes’ to everything. He’s someone who will speak his mind for the sake of the company, even if it means facing criticism.”
Actors Yoo Hae-jin, left, and Lee Je-hoon in a scene from “Big Deal” / Courtesy of Showbox
Lee Je-hoon, who plays the role of the ambitious investor, expressed his excitement about the project, particularly the opportunity to work with Yoo.
“When I heard that Yoo Hae-jin joined this project, I knew it was a rare opportunity, so I eagerly joined the film. The actors truly embodied their characters, and I anticipated a compelling and entertaining ensemble performance,” he said.
“Yoo’s filmography is like a history of Korean cinema for me. I grew up watching his work and dreaming of becoming an actor. To be able to work alongside him was incredibly exciting. Our characters have moments of both conflict and friendship and filming those scenes felt surreal and amazing,” the actor added.
Adding to the ensemble are veteran actor Son Hyun-joo, who plays Seok Jin-woo, a chairman of the financially burdened soju company, and Choi Young-joon, who portrays Goo Young-mo, a lawyer tasked with steering the company through its crisis.
From left, actors Choi Young-jun, Yoo Hae-jin, Lee Je-hoon and Son Hyun-joo pose during a press conference for their upcoming movie “Big Deal” at a theater in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Son humorously commented on his role, saying, “In the past, I often played kind roles, but lately I’ve been doing more villainous ones. This time, rather than being outright evil, it’s more that if Jong-rok (Yoo Hae-jin) had just listened to me, the company wouldn’t have gone bankrupt.”
He further described the film as "a very intense movie."
"(Audiences) will be able to feel the tension and the fun that the actors create in the film," he said.
Choi expressed his initial surprise at the significance of his role and his excitement about working with established actors.
“This is my first film project,” he said. “I initially thought my role was minor, but then I was asked to attend the production briefing, and upon rereading the script, I realized my character had more significance.”
“Big Deal” is scheduled to hit theaters on June 3.