[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yoon] Actress Lee Jung-eun transforms into a tenacious mother who raised four daughters. After losing her youngest daughter, she embarks on an alibi trip for revenge with her daughters.

Lee Jung-eun said, "I made an effort to maintain a fierce love throughout filming," and expressed confidence that it is "a film that can reach anyone if there is love."

The production presentation for the film "Gyeongju Excursion" was held on the 27th at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul. Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam, Lee Yeon, and director Kim Mi-jo were in attendance.

"Gyeongju Excursion" depicts a family revenge story of four women and their mother who embark on a trip after eight years of waiting for their youngest daughter Gyeongju, who never returned from a school trip.

It is director Kim Mi-jo's first commercial film. Director Kim received recognition for her solid directing skills at prestigious film festivals both domestically and internationally with her debut work "The Seagull."

"Gyeongju Excursion" intersects with director Kim Mi-jo's own family story. She said, "I am actually the youngest in a family with four daughters. It seems that mother-daughter relationships often involve recognizing each other as oneself. I wanted to capture in the film the idea that a mother has as many different faces as she has daughters."

The location Gyeongju also originated from an actual family trip. She explained, "While Gyeongju is well-known as a tourist destination, when night falls or it rains, it has a desolate atmosphere. I thought that feeling aligned with the irony of a family trip and a murder journey."

She also introduced the double meaning contained in the title. Director Kim explained, "Gyeongju is both a place name and a person's name. The youngest daughter's name in the film is also Gyeongju. 'Excursion' carries both the meaning of a travel record and the meaning of strange behavior."

Lee Jung-eun plays mother Oksil. A wealthy mother of four children who runs a neighborhood alteration shop called "Ok Fashion." She had no choice but to become strong herself to build a life and raise her four children tenaciously.

From the day her youngest Gyeongju never returned, her entire life was turned upside down. Lee Jung-eun said, "I loved the script so much. I waited for my daughters for a year."

Gong Hyo-jin plays the eldest Jangju. She helped with Ok Fashion work early on and took care of her younger siblings. Even after starting her own family, her first priority has always been her birth family. She willingly participates in revenge for her youngest sister. Gong Hyo-jin recalled, "In the early stages of casting, I almost couldn't participate due to timing conflicts with a project I was working on. Even after 6-7 months passed, I kept thinking about the script. As the filming schedule was delayed, the script came back to me."

She added, "This film really relies on the mother's role. I really wanted to meet sister Jung-eun again after 'When the Camellia Blooms.' If it's Jung-eun as the mother, I wanted to gladly be a supporting role," and revealed she participated with that mindset.

Park So-dam takes on the role of the second daughter Youngjoo. An elite with a law degree, but currently unemployed, watching cryptocurrency prices that fluctuate up and down. She serves as the only brain behind the family revenge plan.

Park So-dam said, "I'm also one of three siblings, and the relationship between them was so interesting to read. I wondered how it was written in such detail. Youngjoo's lines fit naturally in my mouth."

She reunited with Lee Jung-eun after the film "Parasite." Park So-dam revealed, "After becoming sick and during recovery, I received a lot of help from sister Jung-eun. She listened to my stories even at dawn."

"After going through those times and meeting her as mother and daughter, that in itself was good. Youngjoo clashes with her mother the most, but I think that's because there's so much love. I was very sad to part with this family after filming ended." (Park So-dam)

Lee Yeon plays the third Dongju. Dongju is a character whose body reacts before her mind. She gained recognition as a professional wrestler. She channels her overflowing energy toward revenge.

Lee Yeon said, "Since my seniors were already cast, there was no need to worry. I had confidence it would bring me great growth. I approached the role of Dongju with confidence that it was what I could do best."

Throughout filming in Gyeongju, the cast showed a closeness rivaling that of a real family. In particular, Lee Jung-eun was called "Eumni" (a blend of eomma, mother, and unni, older sister).

Gong Hyo-jin said, "Although I met her as a mother, the age difference wasn't that significant, so I call her 'Eumni.' While we traveled together on the Gyeongju trip, we went to many restaurants and it felt like we were on a trip every day."

Lee Yeon said, "I felt that senior Jung-eun is an actress with a precious history that fits this work so well," and added, "While spending time with my seniors, I unknowingly absorbed their know-how and applied it to other projects."

Gong Hyo-jin cited the line "What logic is needed in family matters?" as the most memorable dialogue in the film. She recalled, "I was thinking about what story people might be waiting for, but for me it was a scenario different from my expectations."

She continued, "When everyone was worried and didn't believe in this excursion, Jangju probably also felt like running away. Still, I think it was a line where she hypnotized herself, repeating 'This is what Mom dreamed of even if it made her sick' as she dragged her siblings along."

She concluded, "No matter what you expect, I hope you come to the theater thinking it will be different. No logic is needed, so please just come to watch."

"Gyeongju Excursion" comes to the world after two years. Director Kim said, "As a director, the most difficult moment is when I can't share the film I've made with people and only work on it. I'm happy to be able to present it to audiences after passing through that long time."

Finally, Lee Jung-eun said, "I think work turns out better when there is such waiting. We waited calmly," and wished, "We filmed to the point where we couldn't have done this without becoming a family. Please have high expectations."

Meanwhile, "Gyeongju Excursion" received an invitation to the Hawaii International Film Festival and won the audience award at the Florence Korean Film Festival before its release. It opens in theaters on the 26th of next month.

<Photos=Reporter Song Hyo-jin>