Actors Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon personally greeted audiences ahead of the release of their upcoming film HOPE.
The "Hopo Residents' Meeting" showcase, held on June 16 at Megabox COEX, brought together the film's leading stars—Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon—for a memorable event packed with talk segments and special activities.
Sharing his thoughts on attending the Cannes Film Festival last May with HOPE, Hwang Jung-min recalled the excitement of the premiere, saying, "It was deeply moving to see the audience reacting and applauding together during the screening. It was my first time having such an experience while watching a film screened at a festival."
During the "Hopo Tour" segment, where the cast discussed key highlights of the film—ranging from action and production to their on-screen chemistry—Zo In-sung shared his experience working alongside international actors who participated via motion and facial capture. "It wasn't an easy shoot because we had to act assuming something was there in an empty space," he explained. "We worked hard to coordinate our cues and adapt, but we never lost our sense of humor throughout the filming."
Regarding her preparation for her role as "Sung-ae" and taking on action acting for the first time, Jung Ho-yeon shared, "I went through extensive training, from firearms handling to drills for car action sequences. Personally, I also focused on strength training. I remember enjoying every single moment of it."
Next, during the "Hopo's Best Resident" segment, which allowed the actors to interact closely with prospective audiences, the stars personally delivered fan service to attendees selected through various events, heating up the atmosphere in the venue.
The showcase wrapped up on a high note with the actors sharing their final thoughts. Hwang Jung-min expressed, "I'm so happy to greet you like this before the film's release. If you can wait just a little longer, we will prepare well and serve you a great movie." Zo In-sung added, "Just like the title of the film, I filmed this with my absolute best effort, hoping that the audience will thoroughly enjoy it. Please look forward to it and show lots of interest until the release day." Jung Ho-yeon concluded, "Thank you to everyone who took the time to travel from afar. I look forward to seeing you again in theaters on the release date, July 15."
HOPE follows the story of Bum-seok, the chief of a police substation in Hopo Port, a village located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). After local youths report a tiger sighting, Bum-seok and the entire village are thrown into a state of emergency as they find themselves facing an unbelievable reality.
The film is scheduled to hit theaters on July 15.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)