[Dispatch=Jung Tae-yun] There are many stories about North Korean defectors. But what about a story of a North Korean defector woman made by a Danish director? Director Fredrik Sjøberg drew out inner experiences from an outside perspective. He sought to view Korean society anew while not losing understanding of social context. Sharon Choi, known as the interpreter for the film 'Parasite' at the Oscars, participated as a screenwriter, adding depth. Actor Kim Min-ha anchors the film. She inscribed the anxiety and hope of Hye-sun, a North Korean defector woman standing alone in an unfamiliar world, with restrained emotion on screen. The film 'Hana Korea' held a press screening on the 26th at Seoul CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall. Director Fredrik Sjøberg, Kim Min-ha, Kim Ju-ryeong, An Seo-hyun, and screenwriter Choi Sung-jae attended. 'Hana Korea' is a film inspired by true events. It depicts the journey of North Korean defector woman Hye-sun, who strives to move forward even amid an unfamiliar life. Director Fredrik Sjøberg said, "I first came to Korea in 2014. I met two men who said 'our wish is unification,' and I found that point interesting so I began researching." One woman's courage became the starting point for the film's production. While conducting research, Sjøberg met a North Korean defector woman in 2019. He heard stories that were difficult to share easily. The director said, "I gained strength from her courage. What I wanted to say through Hye-sun was to provide an opportunity to think in various ways about the freedom we enjoy." Choi Sung-jae participated as co-screenwriter. She delicately captured the reality that North Korean defector women face. Choi said, "I joined after the framework and structure of the story were already established to some degree." She continued, "While considering which story among many disconnections to tell, I shaped the direction. I wrote in English and also in Korean. We bickered and worked through the story together." As a result, the film portrays Korean female sensibility so subtly that it's hard to believe it was made by a Danish director. Choi Sung-jae bridged the emotional aspect. She explained, "When people think of North Korean defectors, they may think of economic or incident-related difficulties. But actually, life becomes difficult from five years after settling down. Longing for home, guilt about people left behind… We delved deeper into the isolation and disconnection experienced in that process." "Stories like this tend to be consumed as spectacle. I thought we needed stories that many people can emotionally relate to in a world with much division." (Choi Sung-jae) Kim Min-ha breathed life into Hye-sun. She felt the weight from the moment she first read the script. "Because it was based on a real person, I thought I should handle it carefully. It was a story I could hardly imagine," she said. She divided the turning points of how Hye-sun transformed from the moment she arrived at Hanawon, leading the drama through detailed stages. Within sparse dialogue, she expressed change through silence alone. The ability to deeply permeate the character was strengthened by a week spent in Denmark before filming. Kim Min-ha went to a workshop with the director and writer Choi before filming. Kim Min-ha said, "We talked about the film all week and did rehearsals. The director invited me to his home. The walls between us gradually came down, so I could adapt quickly to the set." As a result, much explanation wasn't needed on set. She said, "Despite the language difference, we filmed with much empathy. I felt again that there are no language and cultural boundaries in making films." Kim Ju-ryeong (playing Suk-hee) and An Seo-hyun (playing Bo-mi) stand beside Hye-sun. Suk-hee becomes a reliable support for Hye-sun, whom she meets at Hanawon. A character symbolizing solidarity and warm affection. Kim Ju-ryeong said, "I met the director many times before filming. I had sufficient conversations with the writer before filming began. Thanks to that, I could concentrate on Suk-hee's pain while acting." She continued, "I don't think Suk-hee overcame that pain. I thought of her as someone who learned first that she can only endure it while carrying it. I focused on swallowing emotion rather than expressing it." An Seo-hyun adds bright energy to the quiet story. Bo-mi actively accepts a new life even in an unfamiliar environment, creating joyful moments in her own way day by day. An Seo-hyun said, "The film has a long, overall breath, but Bo-mi is the only character with tempo. I expressed Bo-mi's thoughts at each moment immediately." Director Fredrik Sjøberg is also a musician. For this film, the key point was how well music blended into the story. He emphasized, "I thought it was important to use music appropriately. Rather than pushing emotion, I tried to flow with emotion." He continued, "I wanted to use ambiguous music that is warm but also melancholic. I wanted to use music that feels hopeful at the end, so the music director and I worked together and inserted it." Director Fredrik Sjøberg sent music to the actors via Kakao Talk every morning of filming, depicting the mood of that day's scene. Kim Ju-ryeong said, "They were really difficult songs with no particular melody. But I kept listening to them. Through that, I kept reflecting on that scene. I think this experience is both first and last." The loneliness of Hye-sun is felt throughout the film. Silence speaks more than explanation, and a character's expression more than events. Director Fredrik Sjøberg wanted to leave room for the audience to look in and feel for themselves. Director Fredrik Sjøberg explained, "In the beginning, I fixed the camera to match Hye-sun's situation. As time passed, I moved the camera fluidly according to Hye-sun's degree of freedom." He added, "I deliberately spent time alone to empathize with Hye-sun's isolation. I tried to feel an outsider's perspective not belonging to Korean society." 'Hana Korea' is a Korean-Danish co-production project. With Kim Min-ha from 'Pachinko,' Kim Ju-ryeong from 'Squid Game,' and An Seo-hyun from 'Okja'—actors with high global recognition—it aimed directly at the international stage. Director Fredrik Sjøberg said, "All three have tremendous filmographies. There is much interest in this work from overseas as well. It opens in Denmark in August, and will be released in North America thereafter. I'm curious to see how they will react." Finally, Kim Min-ha encouraged viewing, saying, "Our film is not grand or flashy, but I expect it to have a small resonance, or perhaps a major tremor." 'Hana Korea' opens next month on the 8th. Running time is 105 minutes.