Director Kwak Kyung-taek Discusses Fire Scenes in 'Firefighters'

On November 25, 2024, at the CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, the press screening for the film '소방관' (Firefighters), directed by Kwak Kyung-taek, took place. The event featured a discussion with director Kwak and cast members Joo Won, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Yoo-young, Kim Min-jae, Oh Dae-hwan, and Jang Young-nam.

'Firefighters' is inspired by the tragic 2001 Hongje-dong fire incident, depicting the harrowing experiences of firefighters who were deployed under dire conditions with the singular goal of extinguishing the flames and rescuing victims.

During the event, director Kwak shared insights into the film's production, stating, "Since this story is based on true events and honors those who sacrificed their lives, I aimed to focus on intensity and seriousness rather than just technical skills in my direction."

When asked about his motivation for the project, Kwak revealed, "I first received the script while working on post-production for my previous film. The weight of telling the story of the young soldiers and the firefighters who lost their lives was overwhelming, and I initially hesitated to take it on."

He continued, "When I asked the person who provided the script why this story needed to be told, they responded, 'Isn't it time we shared such a story?' Reflecting on my own feelings of indebtedness towards firefighters, I realized I had to bring this story to life through a meaningful film."

Kwak also recounted a particularly intense moment during the filming of fire scenes, saying, "During our first test shoot, I was handling fire for the first time. The special effects team and I conducted tests with furniture placed outside a container to see how different materials would burn. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, and the container was engulfed in flames. We had to use fire extinguishers and water to control the situation, which was a chilling experience."

He added, "I felt a heavy responsibility, thinking that if an accident occurred while filming, it would be my fault. Therefore, I had numerous discussions with the special effects team to ensure the safety of the cast and crew. Each time we filmed a fire scene, I was in a state of heightened tension while sitting in the director's chair."

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