[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Bong Joon-ho has stepped in to support the film "Gyeongju Journey."

Amid an enthusiastic response from audiences, the film “Gyeongju Trip” successfully concluded the second installment of its “Killing GV” event featuring Director Bong Joon-ho.
“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” journey in memory of their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from a school field trip. On the film’s release date, the 26th, Director Bong met with audiences at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul for the second installment of the “Killer GV” event.
This GV garnered significant attention as it sold out well in advance, thanks to world-renowned director Bong Joon-ho stepping in as moderator to lend his support. The reunion of Lee Jung-eun and Park So-dam—who previously worked with Director Bong on the film “Parasite”—also drew significant attention.
Director Bong, who took the stage to enthusiastic applause, lavished praise on *A Trip to Gyeongju*, saying, “It’s a work that serves as a textbook, demonstrating what happens when great actors meet a great script and direction.”

He also highlighted the film’s versatile tone and style, which moves freely across various genres, sharing his thoughts: “While the gravity of the events and the characters’ emotions run deep, I could sense the director’s boldness in confidently delivering moments of uproarious laughter at times.”
In response, Director Kim Mi-jo revealed the intense production process, saying, “Since it’s an inefficient revenge plot—one that seems utterly impossible to pull off, like someone who can’t even catch a fly—I thought the inconsistency in tone and style was inevitable. Even the slightest change in music or shot length could drastically alter the tone, so I gave a great deal of thought to maintaining consistency throughout the editing process.”
The actors also shared in-depth behind-the-scenes insights into their characters. Lee Jung-eun, who plays “Ok-sil”—a character Director Bong Joon-ho described as “someone unable to contain her pain or anger”—shared her thoughts on the role, into which she poured her all: “Throughout filming, I kept wondering if I could actually carry out the revenge successfully until the very end.”
Gong Hyo-jin, who plays the eldest daughter “Jang-ju”—a role Director Bong praised as “a subtle yet exquisite portrayal of the mother-daughter relationship, seen in the scene where she brushes the dirt off her mother’s hand after she touches a broken car window”—explained the detailed process of building her character, saying, “As the eldest daughter who has watched over her mother for eight years, I approached the role with the premise that she is overly protective of her mother’s well-being.”
Regarding Park So-dam, who played the second daughter “Young-ju,” he remarked, “Her performance, which starts off cold but erupts into a storm of tears in the latter half, is heart-wrenching yet deeply moving.” In response, Park So-dam highlighted the character’s inner world, stating, “She is the most sensitive and lonely character who puts on a ‘suit of armor’ to hide her emotions.”
Next, Lee Yeon, who plays “Dong-ju”—a role praised by director Bong Joon-ho for “highlighting the delicate moments of a rough, tough, yet deeply wounded character”—added, “I acted with the belief that acting before thinking in every moment might be a way to feel less pain,” offering a glimpse into the intense acting struggles of the four actors.
*Gyeongju Journey* is a family revenge drama about four mothers and daughters who, after eight years of waiting, embark on a “deadly” journey for their youngest daughter, “Gyeongju,” who never returned from her school trip. It marks the first commercial 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. Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, and Lee Yeon star as the four members of the family.