[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] "I hope you’ll be able to experience the energy of this film in the theater."

Actresses Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon portray a mother and her three daughters. The four, who have already become a close-knit family, along with Byun Yo-han, expressed their hope at the press conference for the film “Gyeongju Trip” held on the 13th at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, that “you will share in the lingering impact and energy of this film.”
“Gyeongju Trip” is a family revenge drama about four women—a mother and her three daughters—who embark on a “killer” trip after eight years of waiting for their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from a school field trip.
Lee Jung-eun plays “Ok-sil,” the mother who intensely portrays the grief and anger of losing her daughter. Gong Hyo-jin plays Jang-ju, the eldest daughter for whom family always comes first; Park So-dam plays Young-ju, the second daughter and the “brain” of the family who acts with meticulous calculation; and Lee Yeon plays Dong-ju, the third daughter who is an action-oriented go-getter who throws herself into situations without hesitation. Byun Yo-han plays the role of “that guy,” Baek Sang-hyun.

On that day, Lee Jung-eun said, “I started by wondering how this ordinary family—living harmoniously with their four daughters—could have fallen apart.” Regarding her role as Ok-sil, she explained, “I thought of her as someone for whom time had stopped. I approached the role as a mother who, believing that revenge is the only way to turn back the clock, expresses her intense love for her youngest daughter and husband through her actions, fueled by a burning passion.”
Lee Jung-eun also stated, “I’m not advocating for private retaliation,” adding, “I hope viewers will understand this as a genre in its own right.” She continued, “Rather than seeing it as flashy action, I interpreted it as the portrayal of a mother who pushes forward to the very end without even realizing that her convictions are being shattered.”
Her eldest daughter, Gong Hyo-jin, shared, “I never got to see the filming of the final sequence, so I was curious about it the whole time. They said the ending would exceed whatever I imagined, and I truly believe it did.”
She looked at Lee Yeon as if she were her youngest sister and drew attention by offering warm praise, saying, “You did great. I really wanted to tell you that.”
The second daughter, Park So-dam, paid close attention to her appearance—including a sharp hairstyle and glasses—to match her character. She skillfully brought out the nuances of the second child, who inevitably feels left out even amidst her family’s love. She shared, “The Young-ju I envisioned seemed strong on the surface, but in a way, I thought she had a more tender heart than Dong-ju.”
The third daughter, Lee Yeon, began by saying, “I think revenge is an act of stabbing both the other person’s heart and your own at the same time.” She continued, “To stab your own heart, you have to overcome that much courage and pain, and you also need enough anger to conquer that fear, don’t you? I felt that all those emotions were evident in my mother (Lee Jung-eun).”
She continued, “It was painful to watch the entire time. I hoped that viewers would share in the realization that the aftertaste of revenge is neither purely pleasant nor purely sad.”

Byun Yo-han appeared in this film on a “no-guarantee” basis. “There was no reason not to do it,” he said. “I’ve worked on four projects with senior actress Lee Jung-eun, and every time I saw her, I learned a lot and was greatly inspired. I’ve always been a huge fan of senior actress Gong Hyo-jin,” he added.
Regarding Park So-dam, he said, “We’re alumni of the same school, and she’s such a talented actress. I was curious to see how much she’s grown—and how much I’ve grown myself.” He continued, “I think Lee Yeon is a natural-born actress,” adding, “When I saw the casting, I sensed an energy that felt different yet similar. I participated with the intention of growing as an actor myself.”

Gong Hyo-jin expressed deep affection and confidence, saying, “I had imagined bringing the resonance and lingering impressions I felt from the script to life on screen,” and added, “Although this film, which I wrapped up two years ago, has now been completed, everything felt fresh. I feel like the film turned out even better than the script.”
Park So-dam remarked, “I never once felt confused during filming. That’s thanks to the director, my senior actors, all the cast members, and the crew I’d meet in the evenings,” adding, “I hope you can feel this energy in the theater.”
Finally, Lee Yeon showcased her candid charm, saying, “I took on this project because, as an actress, my personal growth is important to me.” She continued, “I learned so much, both as a person and as an actress,” adding, “As an only child, I was so happy to gain a family while filming. I’m so happy to have gained an older sister and an older brother, and I hope this energy is conveyed well to the audience.”
“Gyeongju Journey” opens on the 26th.