Director Kwak Kyung-taek on Actor's Private Life: 'I Will Learn from Ma Dong-seok'

In a recent interview, director Kwak Kyung-taek discussed his new film 'Firefighters' and emphasized the importance of monitoring actors' private lives, citing his admiration for actor Ma Dong-seok's thoroughness in this regard. The interview took place on the morning of November 28 at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

'Firefighters' (소방관), directed by Kwak Kyung-taek and produced by ㈜바이포엠스튜디오 and ㈜에스크로드 픽쳐스, is inspired by the tragic 2001 Hongje-dong fire incident. The film portrays the heroic efforts of firefighters who faced dire conditions while striving to extinguish the flames and rescue residents. The narrative is based on the real-life arson case that occurred on March 4, 2001, in a multi-family residence in Hongje-dong, Seoul, and adds a layer of cinematic imagination to the events.

Kwak Kyung-taek, known for his previous works such as 'Friend' (친구, 2001), 'Typhoon' (태풍, 2005), 'Confidential Investigation' (극비수사, 2015), 'Dark Figure of Crime' (암수살인, 2018), and 'Jangsari: Forgotten Heroes' (장사리: 잊혀진 영웅들, 2019), returns to the director's chair after a five-year hiatus.

However, the film's release faced significant delays due to the controversy surrounding lead actor Kwak Do-won, who was involved in a drunk driving incident in October 2022. This scandal, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the indefinite postponement of the film's premiere, which was further complicated by a change in distribution companies before it finally reached audiences.

Kwak Kyung-taek explained the reasons for the delay, stating, "The COVID-19 pandemic was the primary reason, followed by Kwak Do-won's unfortunate actions and the change in our investment and distribution partners. All these factors combined resulted in a four-year wait. It wasn't solely due to Kwak Do-won. I wanted to clarify the current situation."

The release of 'Firefighters' holds significant meaning for Kwak Kyung-taek, who reflected on the challenges he faced during the production. He remarked, "This experience has humbled me. It made me wait for four years. Even now, I find this project emotionally challenging. After 'Friend,' I often wondered if I was only making good films, which led to a lot of self-reflection. I think it has made me more humble, and I feel like I've aged during this time," he said with a smile.

Kwak also shared his past experience with Ma Dong-seok, stating, "I almost worked with him in the past, and I learned a lot from that experience. He conducts thorough screenings and checks not only the manners on set but also the personal lives of the actors he casts. I intend to adopt a similar approach moving forward, as I believe it is an important virtue."

Having debuted in 1997 with 'Eoksutang,' Kwak Kyung-taek has spent 27 years as a film director. He expressed his passion for filmmaking, saying, "Writing scripts and screenplays is the most challenging part, but being on set is the most enjoyable. I endure the hardships with the thought that if I can withstand this pain, I will be able to go to the set. The moment when a director's hard work comes together and they call 'Action' is exhilarating."

'Firefighters' is set to be released on December 4, 2024.