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"Veteran" Ryoo Seung-wan, "It was an energetic time for me"

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Ryoo Seung-wan is a natural born story-teller. The story might seem simple but once it passes through Ryoo Seung-wan's hands it becomes different. "Veteran" is about a regional investigations unit tracking down an audacious plutocrat. It's exciting from the beginning to end. Thus, the movie is being called one of the four greatest entertainment movies this summer.

We met Ryoo Seung-wan at a café prior to the release of the movie and he was still full of excitement.

"I am nervous because people are investing their time and money to go watch the movie. However, the cast and I talked about the movie saying we don't want to make an embarrassing movie for each other and we can say that the movie wasn't just well made, but it's a fun and exciting one".

Ryoo Seung-wan reunited with Hwang Jung-min from "The Unjust". The humane part of Hwang Jung-min created the character of Seo Do-cheol. Seo Do-cheol is a detective who tracks down Jo Tae-oh till the end. He's the hero that fights against power.

""The Unjust" brought out the best in Hwang Jung-min. Impressions of someone are bound to linger after a movie and I felt that Hwang Jung-min was very much alike Seo Do-cheol. He can't stand others being uncomfortable and steps forward to speak for the unjust. That's the human Hwang Jung-min and the mind of citizenship he has appealed to me. The fun thing about this actor is that when we have dinner together, he always says he should be the one buying. I wanted to make a movie that revolved around him. The detectives we met when we filmed "The Unjust" and those who supported him came together once again and that's where we started".

Seo Do-cheol and Jo Tae-oh's confrontation mocked the corrupt authorities and plutocrats who try to overpower everything which the nation hates. News about plutocrats' bossiness can easily be heard on the news these days and a few can be thought of as example cases.

"There are few cases that can be reminded from the movie, but I didn't want to make it specific. It would interfere with the essence of the movie, so we created a monster of our own by using similar stories. I wanted to make a wider plate. The point of the movie is not a specific case but the fact that the nation stands against this kind of crime".

"Veteran" is less serious than "The Berlin File". There's action, slapstick and black comedy in a simple story. Ryoo Seung-wan has lived up to expectations and come out with one of the best movies this year. However, he says it was all thanks to the cast.

"I just lay it out and the actors and actresses fill it in. They don't do just that but more and amazing teamwork was seen throughout the making. Everyone gets busy when a new idea is born. In a tracking scene, there's a lot of work with moving the containers and such but no one complained and all went well. Everyone sweated out more than any other movie; it felt good, like we were playing soccer".

"Veteran" is competing with "The Assassination" and "Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation". Ryoo Seung-wan doesn't care about the numbers, he just cares if the movie leaves a good impression or not.

"I think we did well in the direction and target of the movie. There are many great movies that don't succeed in numbers yet still remain in history as time goes by and there are some movies that succeed but are forgotten. But that doesn't make them good or bad movies. Numbers are not that important".

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