Director Kwak Kyung-taek Discusses Actor Kwak Do-won's Role in 'Firefighters' Amid Controversy

On November 25, 2024, at a press screening for the film 'Firefighters' (소방관) held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, director Kwak Kyung-taek addressed the controversy surrounding actor Kwak Do-won, who faced backlash due to a drunk driving incident. The event featured the director alongside cast members Joo Won, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Yoo-young, Kim Min-jae, Oh Dae-hwan, and Jang Young-nam, who participated in a press conference following the screening.

'Firefighters' depicts the harrowing experiences of firefighters during the tragic Hongje-dong fire disaster in 2001, focusing on their singular mission to extinguish the flames and rescue victims despite challenging conditions.

In discussing his directorial approach, Kwak Kyung-taek emphasized the importance of presenting unique visuals that have not been explored in previous firefighter-themed films. He noted, "Every director has the duty to tell a new story through visuals that others haven't. I watched all existing films featuring firefighters. The most terrifying aspect, as shared by the firefighters, was the smoke. It was difficult to see anything due to the smoke, which is why I understand why it hasn't been depicted in other works."

He elaborated, "When the smoke is thick, nothing is visible, including the actors' faces. Therefore, I aimed to convey the fear of smoke while ensuring that the actors' faces and objects were still somewhat visible in each shot. Balancing this was a dilemma, but I believe I managed to express the reality of the situation better than in other films."

Kwak also addressed the amount of screen time allocated to Kwak Do-won, who was involved in a drunk driving incident in 2022, which had previously delayed the film's release. During the film's production briefing, Kwak Kyung-taek candidly expressed his feelings, stating, "Honestly, I felt very disappointed and resentful when I heard about the incident."

However, given that Kwak Do-won plays a lead role, the director faced practical challenges regarding editing. He clarified, "To be honest, I did not edit out Kwak Do-won's scenes. Since the film took a long time to release, it feels somewhat slower compared to current trends. I focused on editing the beginning to ensure that younger audiences could enjoy it more."

'Firefighters' is set to hit theaters on December 4, 2024.