Yeon Sang-ho and Jun Ji-hyun discuss Colony, George A. Romero, and the way zombies mirror our contemporary society.

      A decade ago, Train to Busan showcased passengers battling zombies on high-speed trains. With an astute script and dynamic editing, Yeon Sang-ho’s film achieved global success. In Yeon’s new work, Colony, an experimental serum unleashes swarms of zombies in a downtown Seoul office building. This time, however, the zombies possess the ability to communicate instantly, operating with a hive mentality.

      Featuring Jun Ji-hyun in her first role on-screen in over ten years, Colony was a commercial success upon its release this May in South Korea. Together with The King’s Warden, Yeon’s film helped revive the Korean film industry after a prolonged downturn. I had a conversation with Yeon and Jun during the New York Asian Film Festival, marking the North American debut of Colony, which opens in theaters this Friday courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment.

      The Film Stage: How did you and Gianna Jun develop Kwon Se-jeong, a professor who confronts zombies?

      Yeon Sang-ho: I wanted Kwon Se-jeong to be the complete antithesis of the zombies, which embody a form of collective intelligence. She can be seen as a lone wolf, but she’s a confident one who chooses that path. Ji-hyun has portrayed iconic and unforgettable female characters in the past, so I felt she would align perfectly with Kwon Se-jeong’s character. As you can see, she exhibits immense confidence.

      Ji-hyun, why did you choose this project to mark your return after an eleven-year hiatus?

      Jun Ji-hyun: The primary reason was director Yeon. For any actor in Korea, working with him is a dream. I felt the same way. Additionally, the Korean film industry faced challenges post-COVID-19, with limited great scripts available. When I read the Colony script, I immediately thought it was the kind of film I wanted to watch in theaters, which led to my decision to take the role.

      What did you contribute to this role?

      Jun Ji-hyun: People often reveal their true selves amidst chaos. Kwon Se-jeong remains steadfast, even in turmoil. She is a centered individual and a leader who hopefully guides the survivors to safety. I wanted the audience to experience Se-jeong’s decision-making journey through the chaos she faces. Therefore, my focus was to portray her as a grounded character while also reflecting the ordinary aspects of her persona. Finding that balance was somewhat challenging. Personally, I have a strong sense of justice, and I believe Se-jeong shares that quality.

      Why do the other characters in Colony doubt Se-jeong?

      Yeon Sang-ho: Se-jeong is very principled and quite stubborn about defending those principles. This can sometimes be viewed as rigidity, which makes people uncomfortable.

      Does Se-jeong reflect your own career?

      Jun Ji-hyun: I would say yes. Throughout my career, I've encountered a lot of noise about what I should do—people’s expectations of me. Ultimately, it comes down to my perception of a character and a project and whether I believe I can perform it to the best of my abilities. So yes, I suppose there is a parallel.

      Yeon Sang-ho: Personally, I recall that Ji-hyun’s early career, particularly in My Sassy Girl, showcased a character that was distinctive from typical Korean female portrayals. I believe her role initiated a shift in how women are represented in Korean cinema. She has consistently maintained that legacy by choosing strong and transformative roles since then.

      Have you revisited My Sassy Girl recently?

      Jun Ji-hyun: No, it’s been ages since it was released. Maybe around 20 years?

      23 years.

      Jun Ji-hyun: Let’s say it feels like a year ago.

      Did you anticipate that your stunts would be so intensive?

      Jun Ji-hyun: The stunts weren’t overly challenging. For the more dangerous scenes, stunt professionals handled those. I performed as best I could in the stunts I handled myself. We discussed how Se-jeong comes from an academic background, making it a bit of a leap to envision her as an action hero. We aimed to balance the degree of action she engaged in.

      There's a remarkable scene filmed in a plaza at night, where your character is encircled by zombies and burning vehicles.

      Jun Ji-hyun: Reaching that scene involved pretending to drive through the crowd. I had to match the movements of the stunt driver, who was in the passenger seat. There were no brakes on my side. In my fear, I instinctively kept hitting imaginary brakes.

      Yuen, can you discuss the concept of zombies in Colony?

      Yeon Sang-ho: Colony developed after [screenwriter] Choi Gyu-seok and I collaborated on the series Hellbound. We believed there were more stories regarding collectivism or herd mentality yet to be told. In today’s high-tech era, we naturally connected it to AI. Through research, I discovered that the