The highly anticipated film Project Y, led by close friends Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo, is officially ready to meet audiences. On January 8, a press screening and media conference were held at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Seoul, attended by Han So Hee, Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Shin Rok, Jung Young Joo, Lee Jae Kyoon, YooA, Kim Sung Cheol, and director Lee Hwan.
Before the press conference began, the cast dressed in black stood together for a moment of silence in tribute to the late actor Ahn Sung Ki, setting a solemn and respectful tone for the event.
Project Y follows Mi Sun (Han So Hee) and Do Kyung (Jeon Jong Seo), two women barely holding on in a glamorous yet ruthless city. Standing at the edge of collapse, they make a dangerous decision to steal black-market cash and gold bars, triggering a chain of events fueled by raw desire and survival. The casting of Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo both the same age and known for their strong screen presence has been one of the film’s biggest talking points.
Director Lee Hwan explained that the film began with his curiosity about human desire. He shared that he wanted to depict characters who awaken to new desires, evolve under pressure, and grow through extreme circumstances. As the story expanded, it became an ensemble piece driven by powerful performances, something he described as a deeply fulfilling experience and hoped audiences would feel the same emotional satisfaction.
Known for critically acclaimed works like Park Hwa Young and Young Adult Matters, Lee Hwan described Project Y as a kind of “family film” beneath its crime-driven surface. He emphasized themes of sacrifice, especially through the character Ga Young, and explored complex mother-daughter relationships—elements he has consistently examined throughout his filmography. This time, however, he aimed to package those emotions within a more accessible commercial genre.
The natural chemistry between Han So Hee and Jeon Jong Seo who are known to be close friends in real life is one of the film’s main highlights. Han So Hee said she was drawn to her role by its duality: a character who appears strong on the outside but is deeply fragile within. She added that working alongside peers her age and respected senior actors made the project impossible to turn down. Jeon Jong Seo shared that the script contained layers beyond what was written, offering many opportunities to discover hidden emotional depths.
Director Lee Hwan stressed that both actresses were irreplaceable choices. He admitted that without them, the film might not have even been possible, noting that their emotional credibility was essential to convincing audiences of the story’s intensity and truth.
The supporting cast further elevates the film. Kim Shin Rok, Jung Young Joo, Kim Sung Cheol, Lee Jae Kyoon, and YooA each bring distinct personalities to characters entangled in the dangerous pursuit of money and power. Their interactions create sharp tension and unexpected chemistry throughout the story.
Jung Young Joo, who plays the formidable Hwang So, described the physical intensity of her role with humor, while Kim Shin Rok praised Jung’s overwhelming charisma on set, calling the experience electrifying and inspiring. Kim Sung Cheol, portraying the film’s central antagonist, intentionally avoided giving his character a detailed backstory, aiming instead to embody a symbolic, almost demonic force representing “evil itself.”
As Mi Sun and Do Kyung set their plan into motion, seven characters with seven different desires collide, leading to relentless chases, unpredictable twists, and escalating psychological tension. With a brisk 108-minute runtime, the film’s bold pacing, stylish direction, and stripped-down narrative keep viewers fully immersed from start to finish.
Director Lee Hwan concluded by describing Project Y as a story about people who live and work driven by desire whether for survival, escape, or transformation and how those desires push them to confront the collapse of the systems around them and ultimately grow.
Project Y is set to hit theaters on January 21.
Sources: Daum
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