Jeong Ji-woo, Kang Hae-rim, Kim Yong-ji, Kim Su-yeon and Kim Young-kwang
The upcoming Netflix drama "Somebody" recently held its official press conference in Seoul at the Konkuk University Lotte Cinema. Director Jeong Ji-woo, as well as principal actors Kim Young-kwang, Kang Hae-rim, Kim Yong-ji, and Kim Su-yeon were all in attendance. The story of "Somebody" concerns a matching app, and several friends who suspect the lead character, played by Kim Young-kwang, of using the app to engage in serial murders.
Kang Hae-rim, Kim Yong-ji and Kim Su-yeon
The thriller concept is quite a departure for Jeong Ji-woo, whose recent projects include the social competition minded drama film "4th Place" about a teenage swimmer and "Tune in for Love" which was a nostalgia themed romance. Jeong Ji-woo claimed that despite the thriller stylings, in execution he considers "Somebody" to have distinct melodrama elements. Jeong Ji-woo stated that much of the theming of "Somebody" deals with human connection and finding people.
Jeong Ji-woo stated that quite a bit of "Somebody" was removed or change in editing to help create this effect, and that he was happy with the results of this process. Jeong Ji-woo said that he took particular care to make sure the principal actors all received scenes with which to clearly express themselves. Jeong Ji-woo believes it is important to the viewer that they understand just what it is that all the characters in "Somebody" want.
Lead actor Kim Young-kwang said that he was happy to have received a challenge. Because of this happiness, he felt no hardships during production. Despite Jeong Ji-woo's promises, Kim Young-kwang claimed that he considered his character to be fundamentally unknowable. Kim Young-kwang stated that he was aiming for something beyond mere fear with his performance. Kim Young-kwang further claimed that it took him time to figure out how to make the original concept work.
Kang Hae-rim, who plays the app developer, won a competitive audition of six hundred people for her role. Jeong Ji-woo claimed to find her opinions quite useful on set, and said she was cast for being uniquely ordinary. Kang Hae-rim thanked him for this sentiment. Kim Yong-ji, who plays a shaman, discussed putting on ten kilograms for the role. Kim Su-yeon, who plays a police officer, described her original impression of the script as spirted. "Somebody" premieres on November 18th.
Written by William Schwartz
Staff writer. Has been writing articles for HanCinema since 2012, having lived in South Korea since 2011. Started out in Gyeongju, then to Daegu, then to Ansan, then to Yeongju, then to Seoul, lived on the road for HanCinema's travel diaries series in the summer of 2016, and is currently settled in Anyang. Has good tips for utilizing South Korea's public bus system. William Schwartz can be contacted via william@hancinema.net. He also has a substack at williamschwartz.substack.com where he discusses the South Korean film industry in broader terms and takes suggestions for future movies to review.
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