'Hidden Face' Star Cho Yeo-jeong Reflects on Her Return to the Big Screen After Five Years

Actress Cho Yeo-jeong has shared her thoughts on returning to the big screen after a long hiatus. In an interview on November 19, 2024, at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, she expressed her excitement and nerves about the upcoming release of her film, 'Hidden Face'. "I feel the same jitters before any film's release," she said, adding, "Just the fact that 'Hidden Face' is being released is a wonderful feeling."

Set to premiere on November 20, 'Hidden Face' is inspired by the Colombian film of the same name. The story follows Seong-jin, who is searching for his missing fiancée, Su-yeon. He encounters Mi-joo, a junior of Su-yeon, and discovers that Su-yeon, thought to be lost, is trapped in a secret space close to them, leading to a unique thriller experience. The film is directed by Kim Dae-woo, known for works like 'The Servant' (방자전) and 'Innocent Thing' (인간중독).

Cho Yeo-jeong is making her return to feature films for the first time since her acclaimed role in 'Parasite' (기생충) in 2019. She remarked, "I don’t think the long absence makes me more nervous. I feel the same tension before any release. The joy of having a film come out is what stands out to me right now."

In 'Hidden Face', she portrays Su-yeon, an orchestra cellist who confronts unveiled truths. Reflecting on the positive reviews following the press screening, she admitted, "I feel a bit shy about how to express my happiness. I usually suppress my emotions, so I can’t fully celebrate. I’ve been filming in the Namhae area recently, so I haven’t read all the articles. I caught some reviews while traveling by train, and I was genuinely grateful for the kind words."

When asked about her decision to take on this project, Cho shared, "Honestly, I didn’t feel the pressure of the genre. The script was so engaging that I almost forgot it was an erotic thriller. I intended to focus on the character Su-yeon, but I found myself immersed in the script itself. From the moment Su-yeon with her bangs first appeared, I felt something was off, and I wanted to be part of this project. The more I read, the more I was surprised by the twists, and I wondered if I could pull this off. I had both a desire to play this character and concerns about it."