Genre-defying film “Project Wolf Hunting,” starring actor Seo In-guk, may be one of the bloodiest flicks that Korean cinema has ever seen.

A hybrid of action, horror and sci-fi, the new film is about the fatal obstacles that occur on a vessel during a mission to extradite Korean criminals from the Philippines.

Though the story is fiction, it is inspired by actual news reports about Korean criminals who were brought back to the country from the Philippines in 2017.

The entire 120 minutes is a bloodfest filled with gory, violent scenes. The film is rated R.

“I wanted to relay the cyclical nature of human violence” said the film's director and writer Kim Hong-sun during an interview with local press at a cafe in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Wednesday.

“The attacker and the victim constantly change throughout the film. The character that was a vicious killer in one scene becomes a victim in the next. I wanted to draw on the violence that men commit against each other and the loss of humanity.”

Seo portrays a ruthless killer and the ring leader of a group of criminals who is being extradited from the Philippines to Korea.

“I’ve always wanted to play a villain but haven't had a chance to play one until this movie," said Seo during a press interview Tuesday. “There are many types of villains but my character is someone who is just pure evil which drew me to the role even more.”

Seo debuted as an actor in 2012 through a supporting role in the KBS romance series “Love Rain,” which also starred actors Jang Keun-suk and Im Yoon-ah. His breakthrough role was as a lead in tvN’s coming-of-age romance drama series “Reply 1997” (2012). He has since starred as a protagonist in works such as “Shopaholic Louis” (2016) and mystery drama “Cafe Minamdang” (2022).

While filming "Project Wolf Hunting" Seo said that he was able to use his signature look to his advantage for the first time in his acting career.

“I’ve never liked how my eyes are shaped because they give off a very strong, mean look. I was made fun of as a school boy. Also, an an actor who has taken on all very kind and gentle characters in the past, the eyes didn’t help. So I was always very self-conscious about my eyes and would work on giving loving gazes and try to look nicer and warmer. But for my recent role in ‘Project Wolf Hunting’ I didn’t have to worry about my eyes as they actually became an advantage while playing the villain.

“After playing the villain in ‘Project Wolf Hunting’ my desire to play these types of antagonistic characters has only grown. I hope to try playing many types of villains in the future.”

Director Kim said that he cast Seo for the movie because of his “overwhelming sexiness" which stems from his eyes.

“His look really clicked for me and I told him to use those eyes without holding back.”

“Project Wolf Hunting” also features Seo’s first nude scene.

“Because I was covered in so many tattoos, it didn’t feel as weird as I expected,” Seo said describing the experience of filming nude on set.

“It took some five hours to get the tattoos on and off,” he said.

Though Seo is said to be the lead character of the film, his character is killed off half-way through, along with most of the characters that are introduced in the first half of the film. But Kim said that he plans to further explore these characters in a prequel film to "Project Wolf Hunting."

"The prequel will be about how Seo's character ended up on the cargo ship back to Korea," he said. "I've already written the prequel and have a sequel to 'Project Wolf Hunting' in mind as well. Hopefully the film does well and we can make the other two movies.”

The film hit local theaters on Wednesday and garnered 78,000 in ticket sales, replacing “Confidential Assignment 2: International” as No. 1 in the local box office rankings. It was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in North America on Oct. 7.

Seo In-guk

Date of Birth: Oct. 23, 1987
Zodiac sign: Libra
Birthplace: Ulsan
Debut: October 2009 as a solo singer through the EP “Calling”
Agency: Story J Company

Seo In-guk first appeared on screen in season one of Mnet’s K-pop audition program “Superstar K” in 2009. He won and officially debuted as a singer a few months later through the EP “Calling.” He has since released 15 singles and albums, including hits such as “Everlasting Love” (2014) and “Shake it Up” (2011). Seo debuted as an actor in 2012 through a supporting role in the KBS romance series “Love Rain,” which also starred actors Jang Keun-suk and Im Yoon-ah. His breakthrough work as an actor came in 2012 when he appeared as a lead in tvN’s coming-of-age teen romance series “Reply 1997” alongside actor-singer Jung Eun-ji. Seo is also known for his work in SBS’s “Shopaholic Louis” (2016) and mystery drama “Cafe Minamdang” (2022). Seo has also appeared in the jukebox musical “Gwanghwamun Sonata” in 2012.

This information was confirmed by Story J Company on Sept. 20, 2022.


BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]