[Dispatch=Reporter Jung Tae-yun] South Korea's Grade 2 state secret, the National College Entrance Exam (Suneung) test development headquarters. Every year, they grapple with one question: What makes a good problem, and what makes a problem-free problem?

The film "The Secret of Suneung: Test Development" enters behind those closed doors. And ultimately asks: What is a true adult? The film unfolds a somewhat predictable story in an enjoyable way.

Yoo Jae-myung said, "I brought my child to daycare this morning as well. It seems every family is running toward one single Suneung. It felt like a question the audience would be curious about, so I chose the work."

The "The Secret of Suneung: Test Development" team held a press screening and press conference on the 19th at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Lee Seon-bin, Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Young-min, Jeon Seok-ho, and director Lee Yong-jae were in attendance.

"The Secret of Suneung: Test Development" is a comedy film. It depicts the story of a provincial small-town Korean language teacher Maeng Bo-ram (played by Lee Seon-bin) who unexpectedly joins the test development headquarters, which is sealed for 40 days to create the Suneung, fumbling her way to make a problem-free problem.

This is director Lee Yong-jae's directorial debut. The director is a screenwriter of "The Mathematician in the Strange Land" and the film "Do No Harm." Based on a subject that is most Korean yet universally relatable to all citizens—the Suneung—he presents a unique story.

The film raises an ambiguous question: "In the end, problems are made by people." It was completed by placing fresh subject matter and multidimensional characters. Why did he choose the Suneung as a subject?

The director said, "I wanted to tell a story about good adults," and "I presented it as a comedy film so people could accept social issues without burden."

The research was thorough. The director said, "Rather than following meticulously, we brought in the overall atmosphere," and "I wanted to convey a shared wish—'I hope it will be fair,' 'I hope good problems will come out.'"

Lee Seon-bin played current teacher Maeng Bo-ram. Bo-ram is a Korean language teacher who has been teaching children in a provincial small town for five years. She joins due to an administrative error caused by having the same name. Among distinguished professors, she is the only one who speaks for the students' perspective.

Lee Seon-bin said, "She's a character like the crystallization of innocence. I thought a lot about finding a tone that fits well by matching the tone of my seniors," and "There are many moments when Maeng Bo-ram's passion seems provincial and oblivious, but I practiced so it wouldn't look unlikeable."

To complete Maeng Bo-ram's innocent face, she also gave up on visuals. Lee Seon-bin explained, "I let go of all visuals. I wanted to look like an ordinary teacher. I darkened my face tone and tied my hair up tight. I tailored the costume to match the character's characteristics."

Yoo Jae-myung played "Moon Joo-yeol." Joo-yeol is a professor of Korean Language Education at a prestigious university and the chair of the Korean test development committee. He is driven by a single intention to include "Kant" in the Suneung Korean passages, a man who wants to leave his own name behind.

Moon Joo-yeol is a sample of an authoritative older generation figure. Yoo Jae-myung said, "I hesitated whether I should take on such an annoying character," but added, "Isn't the Suneung an important moment for every family? I thought the audience would be curious about that question."

Yoo Jae-myung brought out comic scenes clearly within his serious expression. He showed a face that contrasted with his previous image of serious drama. Yoo Jae-myung said, "People mainly remember me for my authoritative face, but I've done a lot of comedy."

He continued, "Comedy seems to be a difficult genre that makes us burst into unpredictable laughter and look at our society with an objective perspective. It was a place where we achieved something with an uncalculated weapon. I worked hard to break down."

Additionally, Kim Young-min played Suneung review committee chair "Park Gyeong-tae." A character who clashes with Yoo Jae-myung at every turn. Jeon Seok-ho played "Ki Jun-su," a Korean Education Assessment and Research Institute staff member. He struggles to keep the accommodation running smoothly.

They filmed at a training center built for actual taekwondo rank holders' training. Staying in an isolated place cut off from the outside, they completed their ensemble while sharing hardships and joys.

Lee Seon-bin said, "We filmed while staying there. Without preparation and travel time, we could go straight to the shooting location," and "The only memory I have from filming with my seniors is laughing. It was a cheerful set."

Kim Young-min also said, "Not a single day went by without laughing. I acted thinking that if we just captured ourselves chattering away together, wouldn't it be a hit? Each character comes alive. You'll be able to see a good ensemble."

It already met audiences at the 31st Busan International Film Festival. It was invited to the "Korean Cinema Today - Panorama" section and presented as a premiere. Director Lee said, "The audience gave a lot of response, which gave me courage. But so far it's been warming up, and from now on it feels like the main event," revealing his nervousness.

Meanwhile, he said, "I didn't try to force social messages in. Since it's a comedy, I hope you enjoy it," and "If I were to compare it to chocolate, it's close to dark chocolate. I hope you'll enjoy watching it without burden and then feel a slightly bitter taste at the end."

He also delivered words of encouragement to test-takers a month away from the Suneung. Lee Seon-bin said, "I know you've studied with blood, sweat, and tears and put in a lot of effort for this moment. Just hold on a little longer, do well on the test, and I hope you achieve your dreams."

Yoo Jae-myung said, "I hope you don't catch a cold and perform well on what you've prepared," and added, "I hope this film becomes one where everyone in their respective positions can talk with each other so children can fully unfold their own worlds."

"The Secret of Suneung: Test Development" opens in theaters on the 28th. Running time is 99 minutes.

<Photo=Seunghoon Lee, Reporter>