[INTERVIEW] Jung Woo revisits personal history, growth in ‘Audition 109’

For actor Jung Woo, returning to the character of Jjanggu after 16 years was not just a career move, but a deeply personal journey. In his directorial debut, “Audition 109,” the actor explores the struggling years of an aspiring actor, a narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to his 2009 breakout film “Wish.”

Jung said the project began with a few episodes he had written years ago.

“I wrote the original draft for ‘Wish,’ and I often wondered what happened to Jjanggu after that story ended,” Jung told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul, Monday.

“I kept those notes in storage until the production finally got under way. We went through six or seven rounds of revisions to turn those memories into a screenplay.”

“Wish” gained a massive cult following, particularly among male audiences who found deep resonance in its raw and nostalgic depiction of high school brotherhood and growing pains.

Due to these high expectations, Jung initially turned down the offer to direct “Audition 109.” However, he eventually realized that he was already performing the duties of a director in his head, as the characters and their stories were so deeply rooted in his own experiences.

“I realized that I already knew the specific personalities of the characters, the locations and the exact atmosphere of each scene because I had written them,” he explained. “As an actor, I also knew how to express each role. Since these are all parts of directing, I decided to take on the challenge.”

The film is a collaborative effort, particularly with his wife and actor Kim Yoo-mi, who is credited as a creator on the project. He said her support was the starting point for the film.

“I would act out the scenes I wrote, and she found them so entertaining,” he recalled. “She is more than just a planner. Because she studied acting more systematically than I did, she wasn’t afraid to point out when I was heading in the wrong direction on set.”

Jung also credited co-director Oh Seong-ho for being the backbone of the production.

“Director Oh was responsible for more than 80 percent of this film. His presence alone gave me great strength,” Jung said.

He added that having a co-director allowed him to be more flexible as an actor.

“Even if I didn’t fully agree with a suggestion at first, I didn’t let my ego take over. Since I was the lead actor, it was easy to just try it their way and see how it looked on screen. Often, I found they were right,” Jung said.

Actor and director Jung Woo in a scene from “Audition 109” / Courtesy of BY4M Studio

The transition from actor to director gave Jung a broader perspective on the film industry. He admitted that managing people, from the head staff to the youngest crew members, was the most difficult task.

“It made me realize that I need to be better to directors and production staff in the future,” he said. “My view has widened. I now feel a deep sense of empathy for every staff member involved in the process.”

Despite the long wait for a sequel to “Wish,” Jung clarified that “Audition 109” is not a conventional follow-up.

“It’s a story about what happened after ‘Wish,’ but it doesn’t follow a typical franchise format like ‘The Roundup,’” Jung explained. “I think of it as Jjanggu and I growing up together over the years.”

A particularly emotional moment for Jung was casting director Jang Hang-jun in a cameo role, because his very first real-life audition at age 19 was for one of Jang’s films.

“I had to choose between using his humorous public image or my personal sincere feelings for the casting, and I chose sincerity,” Jung said. “I had to beg many of my colleagues and seniors to appear in small roles because I didn’t have much to offer. I’m incredibly grateful he agreed to do it for no guarantee.”

As the film prepares for its release, Jung seems at peace about how it will perform at the box office.

“I’ve spent more time thinking about the process than the commercial success. I am happy and grateful,” he said. “I didn’t make this film to give a lecture or a lesson. I just wanted to provide comfort and empathy to anyone who has gone through their own ‘youth,’ no matter how old they are.”

“Audition 109” will be released in theaters on Wednesday.