Actor aims to overcome past school violence controversy with mystery occult film set for November 5 release

[OSEN=Yongsan, Yeon Hwi-seon reporter] Actor Kim Hee-ra is expected to miraculously regain the afterglow of The Glory, which she lost, through her first commercial film The Savior.

On the afternoon of the 22nd of last month, at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, a press screening and press conference for the film The Savior (directed by Shin Joon, provided by Studio Plum, distributed by Mindmark, produced by Mayday Studio, Studio Plum, co-produced by iFilm Corporation, Grida Studio) was held. The event was attended by lead actors Kim Byung-chul, Song Ji-hyo, and Kim Hee-ra, as well as director Shin Joon, who shared insights about the film.

The Savior is a mystery occult film about a miraculous event that occurs when Young-beom (played by Kim Byung-chul) and Sun-hee (played by Song Ji-hyo) move to the blessed land of O Bok-ri, and the crises that unfold as they discover that all of this is the price of someone else's misfortune. Within this, Kim Hee-ra takes on the role of Chun-seo, who lived in O Bok-ri, heightening the mystery and tension.

Chun-seo is a character at the opposite end of Young-beom and Sun-hee. However, she cannot be called a villain. This is because The Savior deals with the equivalence between miracle and curse. Consequently, Chun-seo takes up arms to reclaim what she had taken away from the couple. The reason for the confrontation is clearly depicted, gaining persuasiveness, and in this process, Kim Hee-ra does not shout maliciously but desperately cries out.

This process resembles the controversy surrounding Kim Hee-ra's actual personal history. Kim Hee-ra, who gained hot attention as Lee Sara in the Netflix series The Glory in 2023, lost all her afterglow instantly due to a school violence controversy that emerged the same year. However, suspicions followed that the perpetrators and victims were unclear surrounding the accusers, and as a result, Kim Hee-ra's side met the accusers and resolved past misunderstandings.

Afterward, Kim Hee-ra first returned to the stage of a creative musical like Frida, but it took about two years to return in front of the camera. Her first work being her first commercial film, The Savior. Regarding this, Kim Hee-ra stated at the press conference following the screening, "There were parts that caused concern, but at that time, by meeting directly with the parties involved and having in-depth conversations, we resolved the parts that were misunderstandings. After that, we have been cheering for each other's lives and are still in contact."

Above all, she revealed, "I have never absolutely avoided or felt wronged about the time I could not be active. I thought it was something I would experience, so during that time, I studied acting deeply without a single day passing where acting wasn't on my mind. I became more solid, reflected deeply, and while waiting, I miraculously met this good work, which made my portrayal of Chun-seo much more desperate and earnest."

She particularly added, "While hoping for a miracle, I realized that the ordinary aspects I had been enjoying, which I thought were ordinary, were miracles as I received curses. Because of this, I will engage in more activities with deeper introspection and strive to grow further in the future."

Regarding why she chose The Savior as her first commercial film, she explained, "I originally liked the occult genre itself, and moreover, it's a mystery occult. As you can see, if you look at each individual, there are no villains. Each person seeks salvation for things they desperately need to obtain, such as health, eyesight, or the ability to walk, leading to incidents and crises. The eerie and fearful aspects felt fresh. And I thought the role of Chun-seo would be a great challenge. There were so many things I wanted to explore, so I really wanted to try it."

Director Shin Joon expressed strong trust, saying, "From the time I finished writing and finalizing the screenplay, I thought working with this person would be good. While it could be seen as the typical monotony or a stereotypical tool that one might expect, if actor Hee-ra portrays Chun-seo, it could lead to different results and build empathy. I am honored."

Support from senior actors was also strong. Song Ji-hyo emphasized, "When Hee-ra came, we had gone through a really cold time, and it was frustrating that we couldn't share that cold time together. I thought, 'you should experience it too,' and it was reassuring to be together. It felt like we gained another comrade. Hee-ra must have felt awkward and struggled a lot. We had time to synchronize our acting, and I understood that Hee-ra might have found it difficult joining in the middle. We created many memories while filming. I actually didn't know if it was because Chun-seo was so charming, but when Hee-ra appeared, I just saw Chun-seo. She fit the role perfectly. Her concentration matched our rhythm in every atmosphere, making me think, 'this friend has tremendous energy.' I personally like this friend."

Kim Byung-chul also added, "I strongly felt that Chun-seo's figure was alive and moving right before my eyes. Acting was so... I remember acting accordingly. I think it's a character that had a significant impact."

Regarding this trust, Kim Hee-ra stressed, "You believed in me so comfortably and supported me no matter what I did. When you already saw me as Chun-seo with your eyes, as actors, I could act more even if I did nothing. Aren't the two of you very cheerful? Including the director, our staff were very cheerful, so we kept laughing during filming, different from the genre." Will she be able to regain the glory of The Glory through The Savior? We expect the reward for the time endured, like an equivalent exchange of miracle and curse, to return.

The Savior will be released on November 5th.

/ monamie@osen.co.kr

[Photo] OSEN Park Joon-hyung reporter.

Kim Hee-ra Seeks Redemption in Debut Commercial Film *The Savior*

Kim Hee-ra Seeks Redemption in Debut Commercial Film The Savior