What is the premise of Final Interview?

Six applicants who have reached the final round of a corporate recruitment process are confined together for two hours. After finding envelopes revealing secrets and past revelations about one another, they must vote to choose a single successful candidate.

What themes does director Kim Jung-hoon explore in Final Interview?

Kim said the film stays true to the novel’s core themes, including prejudice, and questions whether people judge others too quickly based on contextless pieces of truth. Actor Kim Jae-won also said he hoped audiences would reflect on the danger of stigmas and prejudice.

How does Final Interview use its actors’ performances to create its psychological tension?

Kim said he prioritized the applicants’ emotional lines and the actors’ changing facial expressions over simply depicting the tense interview-room atmosphere. The ensemble includes Cho Yi-hyun as a composed observer, Kang You-seok as a peacemaker, and Kwak Dong-yeon as a strategist whose intentions remain hidden.

'Final Interview' delivers psychological thriller about prejudice, human nature

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Summary

Director Kim Jung-hoon’s psychological thriller Final Interview centers on six job applicants locked in a room in Seoul as they compete for one position and confront one another’s secrets. Based on Akinari Asakura’s mystery novel Six Lying University Students, the film explores prejudice and the danger of judging people from partial truths. Kim said he focused on the actors’ changing emotions and facial expressions. The film opens in local theaters on Nov. 4.

Key Facts

The applicants face a 5,000-to-1 acceptance ratio and must vote among themselves to select one successful candidate.
The applicants discover mysterious envelopes containing each other’s hidden secrets and past revelations during their two hours in the room.
Final Interview premiered in the Panorama section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
Cho Yi-hyun plays Moon Hye-in, Kim Jae-won makes his big-screen debut as Han Jin-woo, and Bae Gang-hee makes her feature-film debut as Cha Ju-won.

By Baek Byung-yeul

Published Oct 28, 2026 10:39 pm KST

Actor Cho Yi-hyun, right, in a scene from “Final Interview” / Courtesy of NEW

Director Kim Jung-hoon emphasized that his upcoming mystery thriller film "Final Interview" focuses on capturing the changing emotions and facial expressions of its six main actors as their characters engage in a high-stakes psychological battle.

"Rather than just depicting the tense atmosphere inside the interview room, I wanted to focus on the emotional lines of the applicants striving to pass," Kim said after the premiere of the movie at a theater in Seoul, Wednesday.

"Even if the overall background looks simple, I tried not to miss a single facial expression of the actors because their faces are the real visual center of this movie."

Based on the mystery novel "Six Lying University Students" by Japanese author Akinari Asakura, "Final Interview" follows six job applicants who reach the final round of a corporate recruitment process with a 5,000 to 1 acceptance ratio.

Trapped in a room for two hours, the applicants are forced to vote among themselves to choose a single successful candidate after discovering mysterious envelopes containing each other's hidden secrets and past revelations.

The film premiered in the Panorama section of the 31st Busan International Film Festival, garnering praise for its suspense and sharp social commentary.

The director, known for commercially successful movies including "Petty Romance” (2010), "The Accidental Detective” (2015) and "The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure" (2022), explained that he aimed to stay true to the core themes of the original novel, including prejudice.

"People often make quick judgments about others based on contextless pieces of truth," Kim said. "I believed the novel was questioning whether we judge people too easily by looking at only one side of them."

The film features an ensemble cast of rising young actors whose characters clash in a high-stakes psychological battle. Cho Yi-hyun plays Moon Hye-in, a calm observer who analyzes the situation with a composed mind.

"I wanted to show that trusting and loving oneself deeply leads to making wiser decisions," Cho said.

A poster for the movie 'Final Interview' / Courtesy of NEW — A poster for the movie "Final Interview" / Courtesy of NEW

Kim Jae-won, making his big screen debut, portrays Han Jin-woo, an idealist who approaches the world with an open mind.

"While reading the script, I realized that what we believe to be the ultimate truth might have another side," the actor said. "I hope the audience reflects on the danger of stigmas and prejudices."

Bae Gang-hee, who also makes her feature film debut as perfectionist Cha Ju-won, shared her excitement about meeting cinema audiences for the first time.

"Seeing my face on the big screen felt unfamiliar and surreal," Bae said. "I hope this film serves as a memorable starting point for me to connect with the public."

Kang You-seok plays Lee Hee-chan, an easygoing character who keeps peace among the group, while Shin Seung-ho portrays Baek Seung-bin, a strong leader who moves quickly. Kwak Dong-yeon plays Jeon Yo-han, a smart strategist whose real intentions stay hidden.

"Final Interview" is scheduled to hit local theaters on Nov. 4.

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