[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yun] "Let's forget the original."

It was the biggest pledge the film 'The Intern' team made as it began the remake. The original, starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway, was beloved worldwide.

Since they were remaking an already completed story, simply translating it into Korean was not enough. So 'The Intern' took the basic framework of the original but added Korean sensibility to the characters, relationships, and conflicts.

From generational conflict to workplace culture. They revisited it through the lens of Korean society today. Rather than simply reproducing a familiar story, they focused on creating originality unique to the Korean version.

And the actors bringing this to life are the greatest weapon.

"If the popularity of the original had been a burden, I wouldn't have done it. Our biggest difference is director Kim Doyoung, Gi-ho's Choi Min-sik, and Sunoo's Han So-hee. That's our greatest differentiator." (Choi Min-sik)

The film 'The Intern' held a production presentation at Seoul CGV Yongsan i'Park Mall on the 24th. Actors Choi Min-sik, Han So-hee, and director Kim Doyoung attended.

'The Intern' tells the story of a 37-year veteran silver intern Gi-ho (played by Choi Min-sik) joining the company of Sunoo (played by Han So-hee), who rose as a dark horse in the fashion industry three years after launch.

It is a remake of the Hollywood film of the same name released in 2015. Director Kim Doyoung, who proved solid directing skills and commercial appeal with 'What If We', took the helm.

Choi Min-sik transforms into a 37-year veteran silver intern. Gi-ho is a master at social interactions, but struggles to adapt to the unfamiliar digital work environment and free-spirited culture.

Choi Min-sik said, "The original was so excellent, and the actors' performances were also excellent, so there was great pressure," but added, "Haven't plays and films increasingly reinterpreted original works? I came to think we shouldn't view it only negatively."

He continued, "I thought that if we added a Korean setting with Korean sentiments—the joys and sorrows of Koreans, Korean han, Korean generational conflict—it would have a different flavor, so I decided to do it."

Gi-ho comes to work in sharp formal wear alone amid the free-spirited 'O2O2'. Choi Min-sik recalled, "My home is in Panggyo, where many venture companies are headquartered. When I go out for exercise in the morning, I see many office workers commuting."

He continued, "It's very different from how my father looked when he worked at an office when I was young. Some people even come in shorts. O2O2 is the same. Gi-ho's strength is that he can view such things with ease," he explained.

Choi Min-sik was a mood maker on set like Gi-ho. Director Kim Doyoung said, "The senior was so pleasant and made many jokes. Because the senior made things pleasant, everyone could proceed comfortably."

Choi Min-sik said, "Aren't we all people who gathered to make good work? Rather than me leading the filming atmosphere of 'The Intern', everyone responded well. It was enjoyable thanks to the junior actors," he conveyed.

Han So-hee plays a rookie CEO who knows nothing but work. She achieved sales of over 10 billion won in just three years of founding, making the brand 'O2O2' a dark horse in the fashion industry. She has been running endlessly toward success.

Han So-hee said, "I was chosen. When I heard that senior Choi Min-sik was taking the role of Gi-ho, I really wanted to do it. Also, I became confident that with the director, I could express myself in diverse ways."

Above all, Choi Min-sik's presence was significant. Han So-hee said, "It was an opportunity I wondered if I would ever find again in my life. I thought I should jump in without hesitation," she emphasized.

Regarding Han So-hee, Choi Min-sik said, "It was my first time working with her. She exceeded expectations. Her approach to the work, her passion to express, and the results were very satisfying and admirable."

Han So-hee in turn said, "The senior was there at every moment, from the start to the end of filming. Even when tired, he looked after the set, and those moments gave us great motivation," she gave credit.

An unavoidable question is whether this can be a remake that surpasses the original.

Regarding such pressure, director Kim Doyoung said, "I focused on bringing out the actors' charm. I also captured the different perspectives between 10 years ago and now, and expressed the process of resolving conflicts in a Korean way."

He explained, "Gi-ho and Sunoo are much more realistic characters than in the original. They have inner anxiety and loneliness. It's a story with feet on the ground, not simple comedy."

Han So-hee said, "During filming, I tried to forget the original. I thought mainly about Sunoo as I see her," and added, "As aspects of Sunoo's personality and mine interlocked, I could make Sunoo more concrete."

Choi Min-sik also said, "Comparison is good. That's up to the audience. I've seen comments like, 'The Intern is being made in Korea, let's see what happens,' 'If you ruin my favorite movie, I won't let it slide,'" he revealed.

"I don't want to suggest to the audience 'watch it this way.' The only thing I want to say is that we did our best with sincerity. We didn't approach it with the pressure of differentiation for its own sake. We made it with the mind to show what is ours." (Choi Min-sik)

Finally, Han So-hee said, "Everyone laughed while filming, but underneath was a more combative desire to make this film better than anyone else. That will likely be well reflected," and hoped, "I hope you'll take the time to watch it."

Meanwhile, 'The Intern' opens in theaters next month on the 16th.

<Photos by Lee Ho-jun, reporter>