Celebrating 25 Years of JSA: A Look Back with Director Park Chan-wook and Cast

On February 4, a special talk event was held at CGV in Yongsan, Seoul, to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the film Joint Security Area (공동경비구역 JSA). Director Park Chan-wook and actors Song Kang-ho and Lee Byung-hun shared fond memories and insights about the film.

Song Kang-ho recalled receiving the script 26 years ago, describing it as dense and intricate, unlike anything he had seen before. Initially hesitant to join the project due to concerns about the director, whose previous two films had flopped, he changed his mind after meeting Park. "The elegance and dignity he exuded were overwhelming. In that moment, I felt a sense of trust," he said.

During the event, Song reflected on his career, stating, "Throughout my 30 years as an actor, there have been many ups and downs, but JSA remains an unforgettable first bloom of my career."

Park Chan-wook, who was under immense pressure to succeed with JSA, admitted, "If JSA had failed, I might not have been able to continue as a director. I approached it with a life-or-death mentality. It’s not an exaggeration to say that my subsequent films began with JSA."

The event also featured other cast members, including Lee Byung-hun, Lee Young-ae, and Kim Tae-woo. Released in September 2000, JSA dramatically portrayed the friendship between North and South Korean soldiers, drawing over 5.8 million viewers and becoming the highest-grossing film of that year. It has been praised for humanizing inter-Korean relations and changing societal perceptions, often mentioned in international discussions about Park and Lee Byung-hun.

For Lee Byung-hun, JSA marked a turning point in his career after a series of box office failures. He expressed his joy at finally becoming a successful actor, stating, "I watched JSA in theaters about 40 times, and it’s the first film I mention when introducing myself abroad."

Lee Young-ae, whose debut film Inshalla (인샬라) faced harsh criticism, also found JSA to be a crucial work. She expressed gratitude, saying, "Meeting JSA in my late twenties was like a miracle that allowed me to enjoy a bright thirties."

Reflecting on the film's controversial themes, Park noted that even the idea of soldiers interacting with the enemy was seen as risky at the time. He shared, "We filmed with the serious concern that we might be investigated for violating the National Security Law. Fortunately, three months before the release, the inter-Korean summit on June 15 eased those worries."

Looking ahead, Park expressed hope that during the 50th-anniversary talk, discussions about inter-Korean tensions could feel like tales of the past. He humorously promised to bring along actor Shin Ha-kyun, who could not attend the event. CJ ENM's head of film division, Ko Kyung-beom, assured support for the Korean film industry, aiming to foster the emergence of a second JSA during these challenging times.