[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] “It’s practically as if ‘Paradise Lost’ was created through the profits from ‘Face.’ Low-budget projects are my own fun platform.”

Director Yeon Sang-ho shared the inspiration behind the film “Paradise Lost” during an interview held on the 14th in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to commemorate the film’s release.

The driving force behind the production of “Paradise Lost” was the box office success of his previous film, “Face.” Produced on a budget of approximately 200 million won, “Face” garnered an unexpectedly positive audience response, giving him the resources to pursue a new low-budget project.

“Since ‘Face’ was surprisingly well-received by a large audience, I felt I could give it another shot,” he said. He added, “I tend to play with a toy until it breaks, and low-budget projects are my own fun platform.”

Director Yeon explained that he shared the profits from *Face* with the staff who worked on the film, and after reviewing the final accounts to identify additional payments, he also distributed bonuses.

He continued, “Since this is my second project, I felt I needed to be more systematic, so the budget increased slightly,” adding, “I’m not sure what the ideal budget is, but I want to continue this kind of work within the industry structure, as long as it doesn’t overburden the staff.”

The “Yeon Sang-ho Project,” which uses low budgets and short shooting schedules to give more actors and scripts a chance while expanding his unique cinematic universe, is not expected to be a one-off endeavor. He is already considering his next low-budget project.

Director Yeon drew attention when he said, “After completing *Lost Paradise*, I showed the film to my wife, and she sent me a long KakaoTalk message. She asked if I’d consider writing a film based on her own story.” He then hinted, “I’ve been agonizing over it for a year now. It doesn’t feel like it’s coming together smoothly, but my desire to give it a try is growing stronger,” sparking curiosity.

“Paradise Lost” is a psychological thriller that begins when Ryu Seon-woo (played by Kim Hyun-joo), a mother who lost her son in a camping school bus disappearance nine years ago, is reunited with her son—whom she believed to be dead—as he miraculously returns alive.

The starting point for *Lost Paradise* was a three-page piece written by the director’s mother. He purchased her manuscript and began writing a screenplay based on it. Initially, he wrote the script under the title *Punk*, and later developed it into a novel titled *Black Inferno*.

Director Yeon explained, “I was curious about that psychology, and I pondered how I could transform that peculiar state of mind into a question relevant to the modern era.” The story that began this way expanded into the theme of understanding between parents and children.

“Paradise Lost” also poses the question of whether AI can replace a loved one. Rather than viewing AI itself as a matter of good versus evil, Director Yeon focused on the human desire to fill the void left by loss.

“It seems everything has two sides,” he said. “Not only AI, but the act of trying to fill a void also has two sides.” He added, “It may be emotionally convincing or it may be incomprehensible, but I hoped that after watching the film, audiences would discuss the choices made in the story.”

He also expressed his absolute trust in Kim Hyun-joo, who played the mother, Ryu So-young, in “Paradise Lost.” Director Yeon remarked, “As we work together, I’ve come to truly trust her and leave things in her hands. She ponders her performances deeply—perhaps even more than I do myself,” adding, “Although she’s been a top star for a long time, I feel she’s now showcasing a new depth as an actress.”

Regarding Bae Hyun-sung, who showcased a new side of his acting, he recalled, “He appeared in ‘Hell 2’ as the son of actor Kim Shin-rok.” He continued, sharing a behind-the-scenes story: “I was wondering who would be good for the son’s role, but since it was a low-budget production, it was difficult to make a formal offer—yet he readily agreed.”

Bae Hyun-sung also remarked, “I’ve actually worked with relatively few young male actors,” and added with a laugh, “Park Jung-min couldn’t possibly play Kim Hyun-joo’s son, could he?”

Recently, he has also been personally appearing in short video content to promote the film. Director Yeon said, “If this film does well, it could result in additional incentives not only for me but also for the staff who participated,” adding, “I’m doing my best, however modestly.”

“Paradise Lost” opens on the 21st.