Im YoonA Reunites with Director Lee Sang-geun for New Film 'The Devil Has Arrived'

Actress Im YoonA has teamed up once again with director Lee Sang-geun, with whom she previously collaborated on the hit film 'Exit'. Their new project, 'The Devil Has Arrived' (악마가 이사왔다), is set to continue the success they achieved six years ago.

The production press conference for 'The Devil Has Arrived' took place on July 9 at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Seoul, featuring Im YoonA, Ahn Bo-hyun, Sung Dong-il, Joo Hyun-young, and director Lee Sang-geun.

Scheduled for release on August 13, 'The Devil Has Arrived' is a unique comedy that follows the story of a young unemployed man, Gil-gu, who takes on a bizarre part-time job monitoring a devil that awakens every dawn. Director Lee, who previously attracted 9.42 million viewers with 'Exit' in 2019, expressed his gratitude for the audience's love and shared his vision for this new film. He stated, "After the large-scale production of 'Exit', I wanted to focus on character depth and human relationships, even if the scale is smaller this time. I had been preparing 'The Devil Has Arrived' as my debut film, but 'Exit' took that spot, so I wanted to fulfill that ambition."

Im YoonA shared her excitement about working with Lee again, saying, "I have many fond memories from 'Exit', so I was thrilled to collaborate with this team once more. Thankfully, the director offered me a charming character, and I gladly accepted the role." She also noted the positive atmosphere on set, emphasizing that she understood the director's vision even better this time around.

In her role as the captivating devil, Im YoonA aimed for a striking visual transformation. She explained, "I wanted to create a clear distinction between my daytime and nighttime appearances. During the day, I portray a pure and youthful image, while my devil character is styled dramatically, with curly hair and bold makeup. I paid attention to every detail, including my voice tone and expressions, to embody the character fully. It's fair to say that every character in this film reflects aspects of director Lee's personality, and I wanted to express that through my performance."

Im YoonA is set to showcase a unique father-daughter chemistry with Sung Dong-il, who humorously remarked on their connection, referencing the popular 'Reply' series. Im YoonA expressed her joy at being part of this legacy, feeling as if she had earned a certification by joining the ranks of Sung Dong-il's on-screen daughters.

Ahn Bo-hyun, who plays the innocent Gil-gu, shared his initial struggles with the character but found inspiration in director Lee's guidance, realizing that Gil-gu embodies aspects of the director himself. He also hinted at an exciting physical chemistry with Im YoonA, noting their size difference added to their dynamic.

Sung Dong-il plays a devilish father, while Joo Hyun-young portrays a quirky niece, both expected to steal scenes. Sung Dong-il praised the director's dedication, stating, "After the success of 'Exit', the pressure on the director was immense, and he worked tirelessly on set. I believe this film will resonate well with audiences."

Joo Hyun-young expressed her anticipation for Im YoonA's performance, noting the strong energy of her character.

Finally, Im YoonA will be competing at the box office this summer against her former co-star Jo Jung-seok, who stars in 'Zombie Daughter' (좀비딸), set to release on July 30. She remarked, "It’s meaningful to be greeting audiences with different films this summer, just like we did six years ago. I hope many people will come to see both 'Zombie Daughter' and 'The Devil Has Arrived'."