Hollywood Actor Byron Mann Makes His Korean Film Debut in 'Soju Wars'

Hollywood actor Byron Mann, 57, has stepped into the Korean film industry with his role in 'Soju Wars'. Released on May 30, the film is set against the backdrop of the 1997 IMF financial crisis, telling the story of Jong-rok, a finance director at a soju company, and In-beom, an employee of a global investment firm, as they clash over the fate of Korea's beloved soju.

Mann arrived in Korea for promotional activities just a day before the film's release. In a recent interview, he shared, "In Hollywood, it’s rare to meet audiences in theaters. Movies are made for the viewers, and I enjoy forming connections by meeting them in person. I was surprised to see such a diverse audience, from teenagers to seniors, in the theater."

He also recounted how he got involved in a Korean film for the first time. "Around February 2023, my manager mentioned that a Korean production company had reached out to me. They probably knew I wasn't fluent in Korean, but they suggested I stay in Korea for about three months to shoot the film. Initially, I thought it was a mistake. However, after reading the script and realizing my character was a Chinese-American working in an investment bank, I became intrigued. I had many discussions with the production team about the film."

Regarding his criteria for choosing projects, Mann stated, "After being in the industry for so long, my standards for selecting roles have become more stringent. Since acting takes up more than half of my life, I don’t want to be part of a bad film. While filming 'Soju Wars', I truly understood why the Korean film industry is among the best in the world. So many people are interested in it. Before this project, I didn’t fully grasp the stature of actors Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon, which made the experience even better. I was able to approach them as fellow actors."

In 'Soju Wars', Mann plays Gordon, the Hong Kong branch manager of a global investment firm, who comes to Seoul to support In-beom's (Lee Je-hoon) project to sell a national treasure soju. He praised Lee Je-hoon, saying, "He is a very dedicated actor. He takes his work seriously and pays attention to every detail. We did multiple takes for our scenes, and he wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied. That was impressive."

Lee Je-hoon also had to deliver a significant amount of dialogue in English. Mann noted, "About 30-40% of the dialogue is in English, which must have been challenging for him, especially since he likely had little experience acting in English. It’s a considerable burden for any actor, but he showed a lot of focus and effort to deliver his lines accurately. You could tell he was committed to preparing intensely for this role."

When asked if he had seen any works featuring Yoo Hae-jin or Lee Je-hoon, Mann replied, "I watched some of their films during the shoot. I saw Yoo Hae-jin in 'A Taxi Driver', and I remember watching a drama series with Lee Je-hoon, though I can’t recall the title."

At a previous press screening, Mann expressed, "Working with such wonderful Korean actors is undoubtedly a highlight of my life." He added, "It’s surprising to be part of a Korean film despite my limited Korean skills. Filming in Korea was a fantastic experience, and I will never forget the opportunity to immerse myself in Korean culture and cinema."

Finally, he urged audiences to take an interest in 'Soju Wars', stating, "I’ve heard this is the first film in Korea to focus on soju. If I were a Korean viewer, I would want to see this film. It’s a work worth contemplating and enjoying. Plus, the characters played by Yoo Hae-jin and Lee Je-hoon are fantastic. There’s a compelling dynamic between an ordinary citizen and a new-generation youth that audiences will find engaging."