- Title: Cast of The Battleship Island meet with Singaporean media ahead of premiere
- Date: 8th August 2017
- Summary: ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MEDIA SITTING AND LISTENING ACTORS AND DIRECTOR ON STAGE (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) SO, HWANG, RYOO, SONG (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) DIRECTOR, RYOO SEUNG-WAN, SAYING: "I first heard about the Battleship Island in spring 2013. I saw one photograph when there was a movement of the Battleship Island for possible consideration as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was so overwhelming and the image was so powerful, so I thought a lot as a filmmaker. Especially after finding out about the history and background of the island, I decided to make this story as a movie. So, definitely there were lots of challenges along the way, but when you think about the sufferings of the Korean people, the actual victims who were drafted by force, the challenge I felt was nothing compared to that." SO (LEFT) AND HWANG (RIGHT) LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ACTOR, HWANG JUNG-MIN, SAYING: "Yes of course, there are more difficulties compared with other movies. I had two concerns when I filmed this, as there was a sense of fear with the large set of the Battleship Island. The movie is about surviving and escaping from that island. Inside the movie, I have a daughter, and I should care about her and make her breathe and live in this weird place since I know well about her situation. Yes, that's all." ACTORS REACTING TO QUESTION MEDIA ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) ACTOR, SONG JOONG-KI, SAYING ABOUT UPCOMING WEDDING TO ACTRESS SONG HYE-KYO: "First, yes of course I will definitely invite them. I would be honoured if my co-stars and the director would congratulate me. To answer your question, it will not be easy. Actually, it might be difficult to do a project with her after we get married. Work is work, so it will be challenging and might be tough." ACTORS AND DIRECTOR SEATED ON STAGE JOURNALIST LISTENING HWANG, SONG AND SO (LEFT TO RIGHT) POSING FOR CAMERAS VARIOUS OF ACTORS AND DIRECTOR WALKING DOWN THE STEPS FOR RED CARPET SONG AND HWANG ON STAGE CAST AND DIRECTOR ON STAGE
- Embargoed: 22nd August 2017 16:16
- Keywords: Song Joong-ki Hwang Jung-min So Ji-sub The Battleship Island
- Location: SINGAPORE / UNKNOWN LOCATION
- City: SINGAPORE / UNKNOWN LOCATION
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA0026TARXHP
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The cast and director of South Korean summer blockbuster 'The Battleship Island' made an appearance at the film's Singapore premiere on Tuesday (August 8), the movie's first overseas premiere outside of South Korea.
Lead characters Hwang Jung-min, So Ji-sub, Song Joong-ki and director Ryoo Seung-wan met with the media ahead of the premiere and spoke about their roles.
Director Ryoo said he was inspired to make this movie after finding out about the island's dark history.
The Japanese island of Hashima was nicknamed "Battleship Island" for its resemblance to a Japanese war ship. During World War II, Koreans were brought to the island as forced labourers and made to work in underground coal mines.
The island was named a World Heritage site in 2015 and is now riddled with abandoned coal mines and buildings, which largely shut down in the 1960s and 70s.
Hwang acknowledged that it was a very challenging movie to make as the action scenes were physically demanding and it was also emotionally charged acting as a father to protect his daughter.
Song was asked about his upcoming wedding with actress Song Hye-Kyo, and if they would act together after that. He replied that it would be tough to do.
The movie will be in the Singapore cinemas from August 17. The cast will head to Malaysia to meet with their fans on Wednesday (August 9). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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