[E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “I thought, ‘If I can do this while having this much fun, I’ll be really good at it.’”

Lee Yeon’s determined and confident demeanor resembled that of Dong-ju. In a pre-release interview for the film “Gyeongju Journey” held on the 19th at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Lee Yeon said, “I was confident in Dong-ju’s energy,” adding, “I was confident I could strike a good balance between emotional acting and action. I thought I could amplify the energy I naturally possess or blend it with Dong-ju’s energy in a more fun way.”
“Gyeongju Trip” is a family revenge drama about four women—a mother and her three daughters—who, after eight years of waiting, embark on a “killer” road trip for the sake of their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from a school field trip.
Lee Yeon took on the role of Dong-ju, the third daughter and a go-getter who throws herself into things without hesitation. She worked alongside Lee Jung-eun as her mother, Ok-sil, Gong Hyo-jin as the eldest daughter, Jang-ju, and Park So-dam as the second daughter, Young-ju.
Lee Yeon attended an action school for two full months to prepare for Dong-ju’s action scenes. She said, “It required basic preparation, much like preparing for a physical education college entrance exam. It took a long time to train in fundamentals like jumping, rolling, and breaking falls, and to learn the techniques.”

Lee Yeon, who is actually an only child, said of the Dong-ju character, “Honestly, there weren’t any similarities,” but added, “Doesn’t everyone have a desire to be loved? I think I made that desire the central focus of the character. I used that desire to be loved as my driving force.”
When asked about her preparation process, she said, “I asked a lot of questions to my friends who have older sisters,” adding, “They told me that when babies are young, they sometimes bite their younger siblings. Isn’t that behavior a way of seeking attention and love? I got a lot of inspiration from that.”
Lee Yeon said, “I think I misunderstood that the whole family was expressing their guilt over losing Gyeongju toward me,” and continued, “In front of my mom, who was suffering more than I was, I acted as if it wasn’t my fault, as if I was fine, and as if I were strong. I think I built up that character through those actions.”
Lee Yeon also incorporated Dong-ju’s personality into her posture. “She’s the third of four children, so I aimed to portray her as a daughter with a boyish vibe,” she explained. “I exercised a lot and paid close attention to my gait and slumped shoulders.” She continued, “I felt that Dong-ju’s posture conveyed a tendency to move forward. One leg is slightly shifted forward—it’s a posture that shows she’s always ready to take action.”
She also perfectly embodied the role of a “Purple Magma” professional wrestler. Lee Yeon had her so-called “shaved-back” hairstyle done in Japan. “Killing two birds with one stone,” she said with a mischievous smile. “I actually booked tickets to see a pro-wrestling match, so I took the opportunity to get my hair cut while I was there.” She added, “Pro wrestling is quite popular in Japan, isn’t it? Dong-ju is a character who wants to go to Japan because of her love for pro wrestling.”

Lee Yeon, who said that delivering the line “Mom” was the hardest part, remarked, “But now, it feels almost awkward to call Senior Jung-eun ‘senior.’ She really took great care of me.”
She’s also gained many “older sisters.” “I’ve grown up and now have older sisters, right? So it felt really great,” she said with a smile. “We talk on the phone often, and whenever something happens, I tell them first. They not only support me with my projects but also keep a close eye on news articles about me. When I wake up in the morning, I always have a KakaoTalk message waiting for me,” she said.
She continued, “In the morning, Senior Lee Jeong-eun would sometimes send me a message saying, ‘I’m off to work,’ and I also used to visit Senior Gong Hyo-jin’s house often. It really felt like I’d gained a mom and older sisters,” she said, bringing a smile to everyone’s faces.
Lee Yeon cited Dong-ju’s final scene as her favorite. “I put a lot of effort into it, and I think it came out well,” she said with a smile. Lee Yeon explained, “My goal when acting is to be as natural as possible. I do a lot of research on what feels natural and genuine,” adding that she also took advice from the martial arts director.
She said, “After the screening, my senior actors told me, ‘You did great. You can relax now.’ I really love it when people say I resembled my character, so I was thrilled when they told me I looked just like Dong-ju.”

Lee Yeon shared her thoughts, saying, “It took two years for the film to be released. Since it’s a new genre, I’m both curious to see how audiences will receive it and feel a great sense of excitement after waiting two years.”
Following the screening, the film received a flood of praise from both the media and critics. When asked if she could feel the anticipation, Lee Yeon mentioned her close colleagues IU and Choi Hyun-wook. Lee Yeon said, “IU told me, ‘I don’t lie. It’s so funny.’ She even gave me some chocolate as a gift.” She continued, “(Choi) Hyun-wook also said he really enjoyed it,” adding, “Everyone had nothing but praise for the director.”
When asked about her target audience numbers, Lee Yeon mentioned 1.2 million—the widely recognized break-even point—and said, “We absolutely have to surpass that.” She also shared a unique ambition. “If you look at the police car license plate in the film,” she said, her eyes sparkling, “it’s 0826—our release date—though that wasn’t intentional. The numbers before that were 998.”
While calling it a “dream number,” she unwittingly made a pledge. “If that happens, is there anything I wouldn’t do? I’d even go to Gwanghwamun dressed as Purple Magma,” Lee Yeon said, revealing her deep affection and confidence in the film.
Lee Yeon, who said she gained a new family through this project, expressed her gratitude, saying, “I believe *Gyeongju Journey* exists because of Senior Jeong Eun.” She added, “Working alongside her on set—her lifestyle, her past experiences, and the choices she makes today—have all been such a great source of inspiration for me.”
She continued, “Senior (Gong) Hyo-jin, Senior (Park) So-dam, and Senior (Byeon) Yo-han—they’ve all had such a positive influence on me,” adding, “I learned a lot about the mindset of a good actor and the mindset of a good person. It was really fun trying to learn and absorb everything. I think it was a time of personal growth for me as well.”
“Gyeongju Journey” has been generating anticipation even before its release, having been invited to prestigious film festivals such as the Hawaii International Film Festival and the Florence Korean Film Festival. In particular, “Gyeongju Journey” received critical acclaim at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival held last March and was honored with the Audience Award. It opens on the 26th.