By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Yonhap) -- The upcoming Korean spy movie "Harbin" explores the lesser-known emotional dimensions of Ahn Jung-geun, one of Korea's most revered independence fighters against Japanese colonial rule, its director Woo Min-ho said Wednesday.
"Beyond the familiar image the public holds of him, I would like to shed new light on the fear and camaraderie he must have felt," Woo said during a press event detailing the film's production.
"Framed by the vast landscapes and the grandeur of nature, I tried to convey a sense of reverence and depth for the hero through a cinematic lens," he said.
Director Woo Min-ho speaks during a press event for the upcoming spy thriller "Harbin" in Seoul on Nov. 27, 2024. (Yonhap)
Set in 1909, the espionage thriller depicts the tense pursuit between those heading to Harbin in northern China for a mission. Among them is renowned Korean independence fighter Ahn (1879-1910) who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, at Harbin Station. Korea was under brutal Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.
Hyun Bin stars as Ahn, and other cast members include Park Jung-min, Jeon Yeo-been, Jo Woo-jin, Yoo Jae-myung, Park Hoon and Lee Dong-wook.
It marks the latest feature by the director, known for his sharp insight into historical and political themes in his previous work, such as "The Man Standing Next" (2020) and "Inside Man" (2015).
Actor Hyun Bin poses for photos at a press event for the upcoming spy thriller "Harbin" in Seoul on Nov. 27, 2024. (Yonhap)
To authentically portray the desperate and courageous battles of those who risked their lives, the director chose to film in remote locations across Korea, Mongolia and Latvia, often facing harsh weather conditions.
"I believed it would be wrong to shoot in a comfortable environment, given the hardship those fighters endured in real life," he said. "I intentionally sought out physically demanding conditions in the open wilderness to gain even a small glimpse of their suffering."
The director recounted that it took the crew three days to reach a remote filming site in Mongolia, where temperatures plummeted to minus 40 C.
"We were completely exhausted the moment we arrived," the director said. "But our journey needed to be difficult, if not as hard, to capture even a fraction of their struggle."
A poster of the Korean spy film "Harbin" is shown in this image provided by CJ ENM on June 19, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
Renowned cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo, best known for his work on Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" (2013) and "Parasite" (2019), teamed up with the director on the project, to craft visually immersive and realistic scenes for the film.
Actor Hyun Bin admitted feeling immense pressure when he was first offered the part, but he decided to join the project after witnessing the director's sincerity and passion for creating a meaningful film.
To better understand the historical figure and portray his lesser-known facets, the actor spent months studying historical records and reading various books about Ahn.
"The director wanted to show Ahn's aspects that have not been widely portrayed, so I focused on conveying his inner struggles and psychological depths through historical records," he said.
The film was screened at this year's Toronto International Film Festival in September as part of the Gala Presentations category, which highlights high-profile films and international stars. It was praised for its visually stunning depiction of a pivotal event in Korean history, according to the film's distributor CJ E&M.
"Harbin" is set for release on Dec. 25.
A poster of the spy movie "Harbin," starring Hyun Bin, is seen in the image provided by CJ ENM on Sept. 5, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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