"Action is dialogue with the body." So Ji-sub makes his explosive comeback with The Plaza, a brutal noir action drama that blends raw emotion and hard-hitting fights—just the way K-noir fans like it.
🔥 A Bloody Turf War Begins
Netflix held a press conference for The Plaza on June 5 at Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel, with cast members including So Ji-sub, Gong Myung, Choo Young-woo, Ahn Kil-kang, Jo Han-chul, Lee Jun-hyuk, and director Choi Sung-eun in attendance.
Based on a hit webtoon, The Plaza centers on a fierce power struggle between two crime syndicates—Joo-woon Group and Bongsan Group—within a secret underworld known as "The Plaza."
So Ji-sub stars as Nam Ki-joon, a former enforcer who once cut his own Achilles tendon and disappeared from the Plaza. When his brother Ki-seok (Lee Jun-hyuk), now the No. 2 in the group, is murdered, Ki-joon returns after 11 years to seek revenge.
🧨 So Ji-sub: Back in Action, Noir Style
This marks So Ji-sub's return to action after 13 years since A Company Man. "I've always wanted to return to action—especially gritty noir. It's a genre that lets you feel the energy through your body," he shared with a smile.
Fans of the original webtoon had long envisioned So Ji-sub as Nam Ki-joon. Gong Myung, who plays Goo Joon-mo, said, "Even before filming began, I thought Ki-joon had to be played by So Ji-sub."
Ki-joon is a man of few words, so So focused on acting through his eyes, movements, and even silences. He explained, "Filling the pauses and actions with emotion was key. Every punch had to carry meaning."
🎥 Pre-Production with Precision
From day one, So, director Choi, the stunt team, and cinematographers met in-depth to shape the action style. Choi noted, "If we don't see Ki-joon's emotions, his actions may seem purely violent. The audience needs to understand his motives to root for him."
So even brought handwritten notes to the press conference, saying, "I wanted to avoid meaningless action—no 'filler' fights just for the sake of pacing."
He added, "There's a big difference between subduing someone and punishing them. I wanted Ki-joon's fighting to feel like a physical form of dialogue—every move should reflect his inner pain."
He emphasized the importance of pacing the intensity: "If the action peaks too early, it loses power later. We discussed gradually ramping it up to hit the emotional climax—and I think we nailed it."
⚔️ Noir with a Korean Edge
Director Choi summed up Ki-joon's fight style: "He walks with a limp from his torn Achilles. He doesn't move fast—but he doesn't stop. We wanted a slower, relentless form of action that mirrored his inner wounds."
In closing, So Ji-sub said, "The Plaza is true K-noir. I hope this genre finds new fans all around the world."
The Plaza premieres June 6 at 4 PM (KST) on Netflix.
[Photo Credit: Dispatch, Netflix]
