[E-Daily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “I feel like I’ve been through interviews like this my whole life. I think I drew on those feelings of nervousness and used them as inspiration for the movie.”

Actress Jo Yi-hyun shared her thoughts on the film’s premise and preparation process at the production briefing for the movie “Final Interview,” held on the 29th at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Director Kim Jung-hoon and actors Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, and Bae Kang-hee attended the event. Kwak Dong-yeon enlisted in the military last August.
“The Final Interview” tells the story of six job applicants gathered at a final interview venue who discover mysterious envelopes containing revelations about each other, leading them to suspect one another and fall into confusion. Director Kim Jung-hoon, known for “Pirates: The Goblin Flag,” “Detective: The Beginning,” and “A Petty Romance,” is at the helm.
Additionally, actors Jo Yi-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Shin Seung-ho, Kang Yu-seok, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Bae Kang-hee star as the six candidates who made it to the final interview. “Moon Hye-in” (Jo Yi-hyun), an observer who calmly assesses situations; “Han Jin-woo” (Kim Jae-won), an idealist who approaches the world with an open mind; “Baek Seung-bin” (Shin Seung-ho), a proactive leader with grit honed through sports; “Lee Hee-chan” (Kang Yu-seok), a natural mediator with a calm demeanor; “Jeon Yo-han” (Kwak Dong-yeon), a strategist whose true intentions are hard to read; and “Cha Ju-won” (Bae Kang-hee), a perfectionist with an impeccable resume—viewers will encounter a diverse cast of characters.
Regarding her character’s role as a “job seeker” in the series, Jo Yi-hyun said, “I’ve never been to a company interview, but when I auditioned as an actress, the experience of waiting for a callback felt similar to the job-hunting process, so I could relate.”
Bae Kang-hee added, “I know very well how nerve-wracking and tense it is to wait for someone’s decision, so I wanted to root for all six applicants no matter what choice they made.”
Kang Yu-seok shared, “Hee-chan (my character) has a history of failing multiple job interviews, and I have that kind of past as well,” adding, “I had to retake the college entrance exam, and I went to a huge number of auditions before becoming an actor. I think that allowed me to really focus on portraying that sense of desperation.”

When asked what he focused on, Director Kim said, “I wanted all the actors to feel like applicants who had come to the final interview. I wanted to capture the tense emotions of the interview room.” He added, “I told them to pour their sincerity into even the smallest emotions or expressions, and that the camera would capture every moment without missing a thing. I wanted to convey that sincerity.”
Regarding Director Kim’s direction, Kim Jae-won replied, “He gave the actors a lot of freedom. I felt mentally very at ease because he trusted us and let us take the lead.”
He also expressed satisfaction with the casting. Director Kim said, “It was important that they all looked like friends, but the characters’ individuality and determination were also crucial,” adding confidently, “I think their images and charms aligned well with the characters. I believe watching how the actors’ expressions change is the highlight of *Final Interview*.”

When asked how they would feel if they were framed as the culprit, as in the film’s plot, Jo Yi-hyun said, “I’d probably cry because I’d feel so wronged.” Kim Jae-won followed up, “Given my personality, I’d try to resolve the situation. I’d do my best to persuade people and prove my innocence.”
Shin Seung-ho drew laughter by saying, “Since I’m the type who can’t stand by and watch things go wrong when I’m being wrongly accused, I’d do whatever it takes to set the record straight.” He then joked, “I wouldn’t apply to a company that hires based on charm. I’d try to appeal with my honest, down-to-earth personality.”
Kang Yu-seok said, “I’d probably observe the others,” adding, “I’d watch them while wondering, ‘Who’s trying to pin this on me?’” Bae Kang-hee also drew attention by adding, “I’d probably explain the situation logically while presenting a clear alibi.”
Director Kim also described the character played by Kwak Dong-yeon, who was absent from the event. Regarding Jeon Yo-han, portrayed by Kwak Dong-yeon, he said, “He’s the most level-headed character. He’s an outsider who lacks social skills to some extent, but he’s the most rational,” adding, “He’s the type of person who calmly assesses the situation and approaches it strategically when things get complicated.”
“The Final Interview” is set to be released on November 4.