The "Hopo Town Hall Meeting" showcase, held on June 16 at Megabox COEX, was attended by the film's main stars—Hwang Jung-min, Zo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon—who shared a rich and engaging time with the audience through talk sessions and various events.
Regarding his experience attending the Cannes Film Festival in May with "HOPE," Hwang Jung-min recalled the excitement of the premiere, saying, "It was deeply impressive 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 sequences and production to their chemistry—Zo In-sung shared his experience working with international actors who participated via motion capture and facial capture. "It was not an easy shoot because we had to act assuming something was there in an empty space," Zo said. "We worked hard to coordinate with each other to adapt, but we also filmed without losing our sense of humor."
Regarding her preparation for the role of "Sung-ae," which marked her first attempt at action acting, Jung Ho-yeon replied, "I went through training processes ranging from firearms training to car action stunts, and personally focused on strength training. I remember enjoying every single moment of the process."
Next, during the "Hopo's Best Resident" segment, where the actors interacted with prospective viewers, the cast heated up the venue by providing personalized fan service to audience members selected through various events.
Concluding the event, Hwang Jung-min expressed his gratitude, saying, "I am happy to greet you like this before the movie's release. If you can wait just a little longer, we will prepare well and serve you a great movie." Zo In-sung shared, "I remember doing my absolute best during filming with the hope that the audience would enjoy it as much as the movie's title suggests. Please look forward to it and show lots of interest until the release day." Jung Ho-yeon added, "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." With these remarks, the showcase concluded in great success.
"HOPE" tells the story of Bum-seok, the chief of the Hopo Port branch office located near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), who hears from local youths about a tiger sighting. As the entire village goes on high alert, he is confronted with an unbelievable reality.
The film is scheduled to be released on July 15.
Reported by Kim Ji-hye
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.