[Edaily Starin, Reporter Choi Hee-jae ] Actress Lee Yeon, star of “Gyeongju Journey,” plays the third of four sisters and sets out to avenge her younger sister.

Set to open on the 26th, “Gyeongju Trip” is a family revenge drama about four mothers and daughters who, after an eight-year wait, embark on a “deadly” journey for the sake of their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from a school field trip. Lee Yeon plays the third daughter, “Dong-ju,” a former professional wrestler.
“Dong-ju” is a character who has spent her entire life fighting tooth and nail to be loved—sandwiched between the eldest daughter, the family’s pillar; the sharp-witted second daughter; and the cute youngest daughter.
A hot-headed, action-oriented character who acts on impulse rather than reason—and is like a ticking time bomb that constantly causes trouble—she takes charge of the physical aspects of the family’s revenge plan with her overflowing energy, even after retiring from professional wrestling due to an injury. Lee Yeon, playing “Dong-ju,” who dives headfirst into situations without thinking twice, injects vitality into the drama and helps bring the sisters’ complex relationships to life.

To physically embody the unique and vibrant charm of “Dong-ju,” Lee Yeon even personally deliberated over her hairstyle. She went to Japan to have her hair styled into a bold shag cut that suited the character, and she went to extraordinary lengths—such as undergoing high-intensity action training at the Paju Action School to master professional wrestling techniques.
Director Kim Mi-jo, who had been keeping an eye on Lee Yeon since the film *Ivy*, expressed her deep trust, saying, “She showed such perfect synchronization that it’s hard to imagine ‘Dong-ju’ being played by anyone other than Lee Yeon.” She also expressed her gratitude, adding, “Even though the numerous action scenes were physically grueling, she tackled them enthusiastically without a single complaint.”
Regarding her character “Dong-ju,” Lee Yeon highlighted the character’s tender inner world, describing her as “the roughest and most outspoken member of the family, but in reality, a young daughter who throws herself into the fray hoping to ease her mother’s pent-up pain.” Expectations are high that Lee Yeon’s passionate performance—which will deeply convey everything from “Dong-ju’s” rough exterior to her delicate inner self—will further elevate the film’s quality.
“Journey to Gyeongju” is the first commercial feature film by director Kim Mi-jo, whose directing skills were recognized with her debut film, “The Seagull.” Notably, the film received critical acclaim at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival held last March and was honored with the Audience Award.