The long-awaited film Project Yled by close friends Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo, is officially ready to meet the public. A press screening and press conference were held at the Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul on January 8, attended by Han So Hee, Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Shin Rok, Jung Young Joo, Lee Jae Kyoon, YooA, Kim Sung Cheol and director Lee Hwan.
Before the press conference began, the cast dressed in black gathered for a moment of silence in tribute to the late actor Ahn Sung Ki, setting a solemn and respectful tone for the event.
Project Y follows Mi Sun (Han So Hee) and Do Kyung (Jeon Jong Seo), two women barely managing to survive in a charming yet unforgiving city. On the brink of collapse, they make the dangerous decision to steal cash and gold bars on the black market, setting off a chain of events fueled by pure desire and survival. The casting of Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo, both of the same age and known for their strong screen presence, was one of the film’s biggest talking points.
Director Lee Hwan explained that the film began with his curiosity about human desire. He shared that he wanted to depict characters who awaken to new desires, evolve under pressure, and grow through extreme circumstances. As the story expanded, it became an ensemble piece driven by powerful performances, something as he described it a deeply satisfying experience AND he hoped audiences would feel the same emotional satisfaction.
Known for critically acclaimed works such as Hwa Young Park AND Young adult issuesdescribed Lee Hwan Project Y like a sort of “family films” beneath its crime-driven surface. It emphasized themes of sacrifice, especially through the character Ga Young, and explored complex mother-daughter relationships, elements she has consistently examined throughout her filmography. This time, however, she aimed to encapsulate those emotions in a more accessible commercial genre.
The natural chemistry between Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo, who are known to be close friends in real life, is one of the highlights of the film. Han So Hee said she was attracted to her role by its duality: a character who appears strong on the outside but is profoundly fragile on the inside. She added it working alongside peers his age and esteemed senior actors made the project impossible to turn down. Jeon Jong Seo shared this the script contained layers beyond what had been written, offering many opportunities to uncover hidden emotional depths.
Director Lee Hwan stressed that both actresses were irreplaceable choices. He admitted it Without them the film might not even have been possibleemphasizing that their emotional credibility was essential to convincing the audience of the intensity and truth of the story.
The supporting cast elevates the film further. Kim Shin Rok, Jung Young Joo, Kim Sung Cheol, Lee Jae Kyoon, and YooA each bring distinct personalities to the characters involved in the dangerous pursuit of money and power. Their interactions create strong tension and unexpected chemistry throughout the story.
Jung Young Joo, who plays the formidable Hwang So, described the physical intensity of her role with humor, while Kim Shin Rok praised Jung’s overwhelming charisma on set, calling the experience electrifying and inspiring. Kim Sung Cheol, playing the film’s central antagonist, intentionally avoided giving his character a detailed backstory, instead aiming to embody a symbolic, almost demonic force that represents “evil itself.”
As Mi Sun and Do Kyung put their plan into action, seven characters with seven different desires collide, resulting in relentless chases, unpredictable twists and escalating psychological tension. At a brisk 108 minutes, the film’s bold pace, elegant direction, and essential narrative keep viewers fully immersed from start to finish.
Director Lee Hwan concluded by describing Project Y AS a story about people who live and work driven by a desire for survival, escape, or transformation, and how those desires drive them to face the collapse of the systems around them and, ultimately, to grow.
Project Y will be released in theaters on January 21st.
Sources: Daum
