"I gave it everything I had, so I wouldn't let down the fans of the original webtoon." — Ahn Hyo-seop

The highly anticipated film Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is adapted from a hit webtoon that has amassed over 200 million views on Naver Series. Set in a monster-ridden, quest-based version of Seoul, the story follows a group of individuals as they fight to save the world.

With only two hours to bring the complex fantasy universe to life, the film had to strike a delicate balance—remaining faithful to the original while appealing to new audiences.

"Kim Dok-ja starts from zero."

Ahn Hyo-seop plays the lead, Kim Dok-ja, a seemingly average man who is the sole reader of a web novel that suddenly becomes reality.

"I didn't want to portray him as overly heroic or brave," Ahn explained during a press conference in Seoul. "He reacts in a realistic way. That was important to me."

As Kim Dok-ja begins to complete quests, his combat skills evolve. Ahn delivers a compelling growth-oriented performance—from hand-to-hand combat to wielding weapons—highlighting his character's transformation.

"The action scenes were a blast," Ahn said with a smile. "I mean, when else would I get to fight inside a sea dragon's stomach or battle a fire beast? The CG came out great too."

Global Expectations, Webtoon Legacy

The press conference was held at Megabox COEX on July 15, attended by director Kim Byung-woo and cast members Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Min-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Shin Seung-ho, and Nana.

Ahn addressed fans of both the webtoon and the K-pop Demon Hunters animation, in which he recently participated as a voice actor.

"I've been living with 'My Soda Pop' stuck in my head," he laughed. "If that energy carries over to Omniscient Reader, I'd be really grateful."

Building Fantasy with Real Emotion

The film's appeal lies not just in spectacle, but in the relationships and emotional arcs.

• Lee Min-ho plays Yoo Jung-hyuk, the most powerful character in the world. "This was a rare chance to tap into emotions I don't normally explore," he said.
• Nana, who plays Jung Hee-won, delivers high-impact sword fights. "CG action wasn't as tough as I expected. I actually enjoyed adding moves using my imagination."
• Shin Seung-ho brings gravitas as Lee Hyun-sung, offering strong defensive action.
• Chae Soo-bin, whose character Yoo Sang-ah manipulates magical threads, had one of the more creatively demanding roles. "Everyone—from the director to the stunt team—helped me shape my character's unique style."

A Complete Story, Hints of More to Come

Director Kim acknowledged concerns about the complex world-building.

"We designed it so that even audiences unfamiliar with the original can follow the story," he said. While some character arcs may feel fast-paced, backstory inserts help anchor emotional depth.

One of the film's core messages is about human selfishness under pressure, reflected through collective behavior.

"We focused on the spirit of community and the depths of human nature," the director shared. "I think viewers will come away seeing how the story explores these values."

The film ends with a hint at a sequel.

"Whether or not we proceed depends on how this first film performs," Kim revealed. "But we're already preparing for the next installment."

Given the cast—which includes Lee Min-ho and BLACKPINK's Jisoo—the film's global potential is high.

"We intentionally cast with international markets in mind," Kim admitted.

"I hope more Korean IPs get to reach global audiences," Lee added.

Ahn Hyo-seop closed the session with a heartfelt wish:

"Whether you're a longtime fan of the webtoon or brand new to the story, I hope you enjoy the film as much as we did making it."

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint opens in theaters on July 23.