“I'll go as far as I can with my character”

The action film series The Roundup starring Don Lee, has made new history with its four installments. Following The Roundup (12.69 million viewers) and The Roundup: No Way Out (10.68 million viewers), the series has produced its third film to reach ten million viewers. This "triple ten-million" achievement is the first of its kind for a Korean film series.

We had an in-depth conversation with actor Don Lee, who is now one of the Korea’s favorite actors, the creator of a powerful cultural product, and is carving out his own niche as an Asian creator in Hollywood.

-I heard that you opened a Big Punch Boxing Club near your office recently. It's limited to only 50 members.

= Others around here need to make a living too. We shouldn't have too many people flocking here. It's different from other boxing gyms because it's for personal training.

-I heard that many actors like Im Si-wan, Jung Kyung-ho, and Kim Mu-yeol are the members. It's like you're a boxing evangelist in the entertainment industry.

=I'm the only one who turned actor from a boxer. I wanted to share the appeal of boxing with others.

-I used to learn boxing for six months. I only learned jump-roping and basic moves, but I had to quit because I got too busy with work.

=Boxing is indeed a great exercise. I hope you can have the opportunity to learn it again someday. Jump-roping is for building calf muscles. Training to jump with the heels raised and maintain stamina can help you master boxing steps.

-I received compliments for learning movements faster than others...

=Coaches give a lot of compliments to attract members at first. (Laughs)

-Amidst the busy schedule of preparing for your upcoming wedding ceremony in May, to upcoming projects like Twelve and others, you even opened a boxing club. Additionally, the promotional campaign for The Roundup: Punishment has begun. What are your thoughts on this film? Many people are curious if The Roundup: Punishment will also surpass ten million viewers.

=When it comes to other movies, the discussion revolves around whether they cross the break-even point or not, or whether they surpass the one million viewers mark in a market situation that hasn't yet stabilized 100%. But suddenly, the expectations are raised for The Roundup series. (Laughs) It's quite surprising to suddenly discuss reaching ten million viewers. Our benchmark has always been crossing the break-even point. That way, we can proceed on the next movie with confidence.

-It's unusual for a series of films to consecutively surpass ten million viewers. Internally, what factors do you evaluate as contributing to their success?

=The Roundup series are action-comedy films. I think sticking to the context that audiences enjoy when they see action scenes has been a significant factor in scoring high ratings.

-Writer Oh Sang-ho, known for the Taxi Driver series, participated in the screenplay. It's known that you usually write the original draft yourself, so how was the scenario process with the two of you?

The original draft was more of a rough plan outlined lightly for each episode. Writer Oh Sang-ho is one of the top writers in Korea who can write fast with flexibly. He has a knack for understanding things that are in the producer's mind but not expressed well verbally. I heard stories about the digital crimes from a detective a few years ago, so I had writer meet with the detective. However, despite this, we continued to revise the screenplay The Roundup: Punishment series even before the actual shooting. When we made The Roundup: No Way Out, we gathered the next day of our first shooting and spent 14 hours together revising Joo Seong-cheol's (Lee Jun-hyuk) lines.

-I heard that you hold meetings with producers, directors, actors, assistant directors, writers, and scriptwriters to review the screenplay in detail.

=We exchange ideas one by one, discussing everything from character development to dialogue and action. When opinions differ, I even act out parts like Jang Chen (Yoon Kye-sang) or Kang Hae-sang (Son Suk-gu) for comparison. It turns into a bit of a one-man show. (Laughs) These meetings last about 12 to 13 hours a day for a week to ten days, and we do about 6 to 7 rounds. After revising the screenplay, the director or writer makes further revisions. We keep what works and discard what doesn’t, always aiming for consensus. This multi-stage process is why screenplay work starts early. While filming The Roundup, we were already working on the screenplays for The Roundup: No Way Out and The Roundup: Punishment. That’s how we can release a new movie every year.

-Why did you start production immediately on subsequent works without waiting to see the response to the sequel?

=We had already planned the stories. Unlike TV dramas, where scripts are revised based on viewer feedback, I wanted each episode to stand on its own. Franchise films should be interesting on their own, regardless of previous installments. The Roundup: No Way Out was made to be more lighthearted and technically entertaining, while The Roundup: Punishment had more serious tone. Although they were produced simultaneously, we wanted them to look completely different. We changed Ma Seok-do’s hairstyle and costume for each film. Since The Roundup: Punishment is set in winter, I wore thick clothes, so people thought I had gained muscle mass on purpose, but no, I DID NOT. (Laughs) We also predicted audience reactions in advance. While we can’t predict success, we can anticipate reaction to movies or characters. For example, we discussed changing the angle to avoid scenes feeling too brutal, or anticipated what people might say about the casting of the villain.

-Did you anticipate both positive and negative responses? Did they actually happen?

= Everything mentioned as disappointing or praised after the release of The Round Up: No Way Out was discussed during our meetings. However, sometimes you have to carry weaknesses with you even when you're aware of them. Series tend to replicate themselves. Even if there are thousands of boxing techniques, to the average viewer, they all look the same, so the key is how cleverly you present them. Many crime storylines can feel very cliché. Nowadays, you need to skillfully craft suspense and action to ensure that audiences can enjoy them.

-Overall, it seems like you prioritize communication with the audience. I heard that you carefully check audience feedback on the scenario and responses from test screenings.

=We gather reasonable opinions and stick to what we must kept. There has to be someone who accurately understands the direction the film should take. As the planner and initial designer, I have to set certain standards. If these are shaken, no matter how good the opinions are, they can’t be properly reflected. A film isn’t simply made by combining everyone’s opinions. It’s about adhering to the initial framework while considering the opinions of many.

-When you hold test screenings, the audience rates each scene. If there are commonly pointed out issues, do you take it into account?

=We mostly accept them, but we first need to determine if it’s something we can fix. Even if the criticism is valid, changing a particular scene might cause the entire film to collapse. For example, if an exciting scene is followed by a quiet, reflective moment and then another action scene, the middle scene might get low scores. But we can’t remove that scene because it’s crucial to the flow. The Roundup series is a genre I’ve been familiar with for a long time, so I can navigate it quickly, but other genres can be more challenging for me. Such projects involve gathering and incorporating various opinions, leading to a lot of trial and error. That’s how you learn and improve.  

-The casting of villain characters in the first three installments was quite unexpected. However, Kim Mu-yeol's casting as Baek Chang-gi in The Roundup: Punishment seems like a more predictable choice since he’s played tough villain roles before.

=Many people were surprised by the Yoon Kye-sang’s casting in The Outlaws. We believed that when an actor who had never played a villain before would create a unique synergy. Son Suk-ku in The Roundup was a newcomer back then, but we saw great potential in him. Lee Jun-hyuk and Aoki Munetaka in The Roundup: No Way Out were also unexpected choices, but they did an excellent job. For Baek Chang-gi in The Roundup: Punishment, we needed an actor who could not only act well but also handle intense action scenes. The role demanded high combat skills and techniques, with many scenes that couldn’t use a stunt double. Training at an action school for three or six months wouldn’t have been enough. There aren’t many actors in Korea who have that level of physical capability. Kim Mu-yeol was the only one who came to mind.

-I've seen videos of real boxers reviewing The Roundup series. They praised the detailed boxing moves that have improved with each installment. Even for a layman, the boxing style in The Roundup: Punishment stands out. What did you focus on when preparing the action scenes for this movie?

=That’s a long question, so I'll give a long answer. (Laughs) When I was young, I dreamed of becoming a boxer after watching Rocky. I would have wanted to make movies like that, but I didn’t really understand what movies were at the time. Thanks to starting boxing at 14, I’m able to make a living through films now. I trained intensely, running up mountains, sparring, competing, and even suffering an orbital fracture. Then, I had a motorcycle accident and was told I couldn’t box anymore due to a shoulder injury. After a break, I started boxing again while living in Texas. The passion for boxing reignited. After returning to Korea and starting my acting career, I always wanted to showcase boxing action. But as an actor, I had to deliver the action scenes the producer wanted, not the moves I knew and created. Through The Roundup series, which I personally planned, I was able to fulfill that long-held dream. Now, let me explain the boring details about boxing; will you include this in the interview?

-Of course. (Laughs)

=There are four boxing styles: Infighting, outboxing, boxer puncher, and slugger. Infighting involves getting in close and hitting hard, while outboxing means hitting and moving quickly from a distance where the opponent can’t reach you. Mike Tyson is a classic infighter whereas Muhammad Ali and Floyd Mayweather are out-boxers. The boxer puncher is an all-rounder who can do everything in boxing like Sugar Ray Leonard. Lastly, the slugger doesn’t have as many techniques as the styles. But wins with sheer punching power. Think of George Foreman and… Don Lee. (Laughs)

-What style does the action in The Roundup series belong to?

=The slugger style is characterized by fewer combinations but powerful, impactful punches. However, when shown in films, people often don't realize that these are boxing moves and just see it as punching. This was a common reaction during The Outlaws and The Roundup. So, in The Roundup: No Way Out, we mixed infighting, outboxing, and boxer-puncher to showcase more refined techniques. We combined quick moves and big punches and kept the feet constantly moving, even in waist shots where the feet aren’t visible. This resulted in a lot of interesting techniques, leading to many reviews from actual boxers and martial artists praising the film. It also matched the lively atmosphere of the movie. For The Roundup: Punishment, I combined my original slugger style with the boxer-puncher style, eliminating small techniques. This resulted in heavy, impactful punches that matched the film's serious tone. Since Ma Seok-do and my own foundation are in boxing, we'll continue to showcase different boxing techniques in future installments. The key is to design the action and drama to complement each other.

-Are there any difficulties in incorporating real boxing moves into the film?

=The punches come very close to the face or body. Sometimes, stopping just 1cm away from the face. This can be dangerous on set. For two or more people to perform boxing action scenes together, they need to know how to box for real and also be able to do it cinematically. The Roundup series aims for realism, so we fight at real speed without using fast motion. We put a lot of effort into capturing the details that flash by in an instant.

-In the movie, despite weighing 100kg, your action scenes are very fast and clear. How is that possible?

=There’s no secret or trick to it. You have to actually know how to do it and be good at it for it to look that way. People often think that if you weigh a lot, your movements will be slow. But those who have been boxing consistently from a young age can be agile even in the heavyweight class. You need a good balance of speed and strength to deliver powerful punches.

-In The Roundup: No Way Out , you had real MMA fighter Hong Jun-young, and in The Roundup: Punishment , Kim Ji-hoon, a former boxing trainer from Crying Fist appeared. What was the reason for casting real professionals? I've always thought that performing actual sports and acting them out are different realms.

=That's not the case. Real boxers or martial artists naturally perform action scenes much better. However, they also need to be good at acting. I know many technically skilled boxers, but not all of them can act well enough to be cast in a film. Hong Jun-young kept auditioning and, after several tries, managed to get the role, even though he had to act in Japanese. Kim Ji-hoon had acting experience and had gone through many auditions as well. The concept of The Roundup: Punishment was that Ma Seok-do would fight against Baek Chang-gi's subordinate, who has skills at the level of a national team athlete with boxing. If you cast an actor who only learned action scenes, they could get injured. That's why we cast Kim Ji-hoon, who had acting experience and a strong desire to be in the movie. I want to continue casting real athletes who can act. When doing action scenes with them, there are many more moves we can incorporate, and the synergy is much greater.

-How was the final action sequence on the plane in The Roundup: Punishment? With all the equipment in the set, movement must have been restricted.

=We had to make the action look real. The most important aspect of that scene was to explosively showcase the drama built up so far. Director Heo Myeong-haeng is a veteran at action design. He creates a narrative even within short action sequences. Baek Chang-gi is a much stronger mercenary compared to Ma Seok-do. If he could use a dagger from the beginning and fight 2 against 1, Ma Seok-do would have been killed and the movie would have ended. (Laughs) We had to consider a setting where carrying a knife was impossible. There is a dramatic shift when Baek Chang-gi, initially fighting without a knife, starts grabbing nearby weapons and the tide turns. We even wondered if Ma Seok-do would ultimately die if the fight continued longer. However, it wasn't Ma Seok-do's skills, but his determination and promise to the victim's mother that gave him superhuman strength. It begins as a duel and ends with punishment.

-I heard there was a time when all the investors and distributors rejected The Roundup, and you almost didn’t play Ma Seok-do.

=We spent a very long time working on The Roundup script. When we felt it was ready, we showed it to all the investors and major production companies at that time. The most common feedback was, "This kind of action cop movie doesn't work these days." They also criticized the material for being too cliché. Even though I was confident that we could make it fresh and substantial, they said Don Lee was too weak for the lead role and suggested replacing him or hiring a more famous director to proceed with production. Director Kang Yoon-sung had been waiting 17 years to debut, and I had proposed The Outlaws and we were preparing for it together. We had made a promise, so I rejected the last proposal. When I proposed the role of Jang Chen to famous actors, I heard a lot of responses like, "Why should I play the supporting role for Don Lee?" Some actors said they would be willing to join if Don Lee played Jang Chen and they played Ma Seok-do. At that time, I struggled with whether it was better to make the movie anyhow or make The Outlaws as I wanted and ultimately franchise it. In the end, I rejected all the proposals from the investors, which led to an additional 3-4 years of hardship. We barely secured funding and began filming, but even after the release, there were many challenges.

-The competitors at the time were The Fortress and Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

=The Outlaws received very low scores at the distribution preview screenings. The expected number of viewers was low, so we had fewer theatres for the release. But then something unexpected happened during the opening weekend. The seat occupancy rate surged, and the box office rankings flipped. After that, The Outlaws received a lot more screens. If it had a better start, the total number of viewers (6.88 million) could have been even higher.

-The directors of The Roundup series were all newcomers. As a producer, what are your criteria for selecting directors?

=There isn’t a specific set of criteria. Director Kang Yoon-sung had a strong desire to make films and did a great job with his debut. I saw Director Lee Sang-yong, who was an assistant director for The Outlaws and Long Live the King was someone working harder than anyone else on set. I trust directors who don't just sit in front of the monitor but actively communicates with actors. His persistence to perfect the actors' performances and the editing until the end was impressive. He will also be involved in the upcoming sequels of The Roundup. Director Heo Myeong-haeng and I have worked on many projects together for a long time. We don't need to say much to understand what the other wants, so we work well together. If the opportunity arises, I would like to work with him again.

-It’s well known that stories from real detectives are the foundation of The Roundup series. Depicting crimes in a show like Unanswered Questions (One of the most famous investigative reporting TV series in Korea-Translator’s Note) and turning them into entertaining movie narratives are entirely different tasks. What is crucial when adapting real-life events into crime films?

=We need to consider the cinematic qualities. We've gathered a lot of material from interviewing detectives. Some stories are interesting as investigative stories, but they don't fit into The Roundup series. Some intriguing stories we wanted to show the audience are not suitable to turn into films. We focus on finding material that stays true to the essence of action films while maximizing realism. Combining multiple real cases into one film requires seamlessly connecting them. Determining whether a case fits the narcotics unit, local police unit, a regional investigation unit, or a special investigation unit is very complex. Every detail needs to be authenticated, and we had profiler Kwon Il-yong review the finer points. We show crime methods and investigation techniques that people might not know, but we make sure not to reveal anything that could be exploited by criminals. We also consider the appropriate depiction levels of victims and perpetrators. We study the type of drama needed to create satisfying action.

-How did you conduct your research? It must have been crucial to gain the trust of the detectives to get such detailed stories.  

=First of all, the police want many people to watch crime action movies. In reality, we want to punish criminals but often can’t. In movies, we receive the catharsis and vicarious satisfaction of seeing justice served. Detective Yoon Seok-ho, who helped with The Outlaws, and I have meetings with other detectives. Since being appointed an ‘Honorary Police Officer’, I got to know many active detectives. Based on the information I could have, I conducted research for the film.

-Is this connected to the fact that the backstories of the villains in The Roundup series are not depicted?

=Villains are just bad guys. The Roundup series intentionally avoids giving villains backstories like having lots of debt or a sick mother. The film starts with the action right away, without any lengthy explanations.

-Recently, singer Baek Ji-young mentioned on a variety show that you used to be a fitness trainer. She said that even then, you had dreams of going to Hollywood as a filmmaker.

=I was so broke back then that I had to work part-time teaching fitness and boxing. People didn't really know that I was also acting in small roles in movies. I would teach and then say, "I'm going to make movies someday," and people probably thought I was crazy. (Laughs)

-What kept you motivated to keep going and not give up when things seemed uncertain?

=As a child, I often got bored easily and never stuck with anything except boxing. Even when I felt like I was at the top, there was always someone better, and I felt like I had more to achieve. That’s why I stuck with boxing for so long. I struggled a lot to establish myself as a trainer in the U.S., but I wanted to become an actor so badly that I gave it all up and came back to Korea. Once I started acting, there was no turning back. Acting becomes more and more appealing the more I do it. Acting is like boxing. It feels within reach, but then it slips away again, which made me want to keep challenging myself. To stay in this field for a long time, I had to be good, and to be good, I spent a lot of time figuring out what I needed to do.

-There used to be a creative writer group called 'Team Gorilla,' which was new to the traditional investment and distribution system in Korea. What was the reason for forming it?

=At that time, there were people I knew who weren’t able to work, and I wanted to help them. I personally paid them to write, and as we exchanged ideas and created good scripts, I thought we could come up with projects that could attract investment and recoup the initial costs. Some of them are now writing for Big Punch Pictures.

-Is Big Punch Pictures a film production company founded by you?

=Yes, it is. It’s a production company that holds the scripts I've been working on for 15 years. We also have a Hollywood production office in LA called Big Punch Global. To summarize, Big Punch Pictures is the film production company, Big Punch Global is the Hollywood office, Big Punch Entertainment is my management company, and Big Punch Boxing Club is where we do boxing.

-Ah, like Samsung Group has Samsung Electronics and Samsung Securities...

=You can't compare us to a company that big. Right now, we're just a small business.

-Like how SM Entertainment has a subsidiary, SM C&C...

=You can’t compare to SM either. (Points to a milk carton in front) It’s more like this. Think of it like Seoul Milk (**a famous milk brand in Korea-note by translator) having chocolate milk, strawberry milk, and coffee milk underneath it.

-I'm curious about how planning meetings at Big Punch Pictures.

=We have meetings every day. A lot of them. Sometimes the writers or planning producers have meetings about projects I’ve planned without me, but for the important and big meetings, I always attend.

-What does a typical day look like for Don Lee? How do you manage to handle so many tasks?

=I wake up in the morning and go to the boxing gym to work out for 2-3 hours. If I have a schedule, I attend to that and then come home to write. On days when I'm not filming, I go to the office for meetings. My day consists of eating, writing, meetings, phone meetings, writing again, going to the boxing gym, and then going to the set. This routine actually benefits my acting. Writing scripts and having meetings helps me understand the hidden secrets in the script and see the story from different perspectives. Looking at the entire script helps me figure out where the actor should emphasize or pull back.

-Actors have different preferences. Some prefer to focus solely on acting and leave planning, writing, and directing to experts, while others thrive by being involved in all areas.

=It's a personal preference. However, every actor I've worked with in the U.S. had their own production company. They plan, develop scripts, and prepare their films. Only in Korea is it seen as a problem when an actor looks beyond acting. I disagree with that perspective.

-You've been actively involved in production for quite some time. What can be considered your first project as a producer?

=I’m currently working on another project with the producer of The Neighbors, and he once said, "Wasn't The Neighbors your first produced work?" Although my name wasn't in the production credits, I was involved in almost every aspect of the production. I revised my character's lines in the scrip multiple times, and personally handled business related to the rights.

-Don Lee wasn't always known as 'Mavely'(**which translated to Ma Dong-seok, Korean stage name of Don Lee + Lovely-note by translator). For instance, watching you in Beastie Boys, it’s surprising to see such a scary image. You played a gangster who curses and beats up Ha Jung-woo’s character over a debt. (laughs) Personally, I think your image began to change positively with The Neighbors. Was that intentional?

=Not at all. I just acted according to the character, and people loved it. I didn’t predict the future. No actor in the world can do that. (laughs) Many people mention the TV series Bad Guys as the turning point for my image change. As I accumulated characters that people liked, my image gradually changed. It was all by chance.

THE ROUNDUP : PUNISHMENT 

-On the other hand, not all your projects have been successful, even after you became well-known. There have been a few failures.

=I'm not the type to get overly excited or depressed over success or failure. Once the movie is released and the stage greetings are over, I let it go and move on to the next project. I think it's because I've been boxing since I was young. In boxing, you experience a lot of failures. You develop a kind of resilience. Some people dwell on a victory for years, but I tend to forget quickly.

-Looking at your filmography, there are characters are distinctly associated with Don Lee and others that are not.

=If the former includes movies like Badland Hunters, The Outlaws, then Start-Up, Ashfall, and Familyhood feature characters of a different nature. In the past, I used to get offers for unique supporting roles, but now that I mainly play leads in action films, many people want the Don Lee character. For now, I’m continuing with the characters that people love.

-As both a producer and actor, don't you have a desire to change your image? While you're loved now, some might worry that people will feel, "Don Lee always plays the same type of character" and fall into a rut.

=People often ask if I want to take on different roles, but I don't really feel that way yet. I've wanted to be an action star since I was young and want to continue making action films featuring the Don Lee character. I'll go as far as I can with my character. For those who get tired of the Don Lee character, they can watch other movies and come back when they're curious again. The Roundup series can show Ma Seok-do aging and becoming more seasoned, but the core character won’t change. If people watch The Roundup series to see Ma Seok-do, then Ma Seok-do must remain. Maybe after finishing 8^th installment of The Roundup series, and I’m no longer able to do action roles, I will show different characters.

-Back in the video rental shop days. There were many movies with titles like Jackie Chan's XX or Bruce Lee's XX.

=I was really envious. And also of Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, Benicio Del Toro...

-I'd like to see actor Don Lee as a distinctive action star, similar to those actors.

=Action stars create films with their own brand. Many are more skilled in martial arts than I am, but my strength lies in practical combat like boxing and mixed martial arts. Dwayne Johnson, for instance, was more of a performance wrestler. There aren't many who transitioned from real sports to action films. Take Tyson Fury, a great heavyweight boxing champion, but he can't act. Action films made by those with real combat experience and acting skills can be special for some audiences.

-But there haven't been many critic attempts. The previous generation was the same.

=There was Jeon Yeong-rok in director Lee Doo-yong's Imbecile series.

-Is it because of the prejudice against the genre?

=In Korea, the cinematic value of the action entertainment genre isn’t highly regarded. Even if Tom Cruise delivers a great performance in Top Gun: Maverick, he’s rarely mentioned as a candidate for acting awards. I agree that films dealing with human dilemmas and the meaning of life are more valued. However, I wish people would recognize that making entertainment movies and acting in them isn’t easy either.

- Don't you have the desire to make films that are highly praised by critics, like those that receive high ratings from Cine21 (**the most famous cinema magazine in Korea – note by translator) experts? In interviews, I sometimes meet actors or producers who clearly seek recognition.

=That can be true. However, audience reaction is more important to me. I believe a good film stays true to its original purpose. For example, the virtue of The Roundup series is its dedication to entertainment, while a human drama should have the kind of emotional impact that even children can appreciate.

-You are a well-loved actor, appreciated by audiences regardless of nationality or language. A video of you taking a selfie with a Hello Kitty phone case on Instagram received 1.3 billion views and 9.6 million likes. I've only seen such numbers on accounts of BTS or BLACKPINK members.

=It was just a simple video, and I didn't expect it to become such a big deal. Once, I posted a fun video on Instagram, and someone sent me a message saying, "I hadn't laughed in months and was feeling really down, but your photo made me smile for the first time. Thank you." That comment really touched me, so I try to post content that can make people happy, aside from movie promotions. It's also one of the fundamental reasons I make films. As an actor, producer, and entertainer, I want to bring joy to people.

-I’ve heard that many of the films produced by Big Punch Pictures and Big Punch Global don’t feature you as an actor.

=That’s right. Apart from The Roundup series and the projects I’ve already committed to, most of the films I’m involved in don’t include me as an actor. For Hollywood projects, I appear in about 90% of them and only produce the remaining 10%, like the remake of The Roundup. Some films start with a character concept, but when a project begins with a story, there are often characters that I can't play. In those cases, I only participate in the production. We have action thrillers, but also genres that children can watch and even horror films.

-You once made a short film set in the PUBG Universe with the game company Krafton. It seems like you’re interested in all media connected by ‘story’.

=I’m fascinated by characters, worlds, and stories. So, even though I'm not good at games, I’ve tried playing them to explore their worlds. I enjoy the “Like Dragon” and Kojima Hideo’s works. I also read manga and watch anime. “Berserk” which is still ongoing, and “Hajime no Ippo” (**Japanese title of “The Fighting!“-note by interviewer) come to mind. Boxers have all watched “Hajime no Ippo”. It's like a textbook for them.

-You could have just sold the remake rights, but you’ve managed to get your name on major Hollywood projects as a producer or co-producer.  How did you negotiate this?

=When Korean films are remade in Hollywood, there's a risk that the fun might be prioritized while the core of the film is lost. Important scenes can be omitted during translation and adaptation. So, a producer who understands both sides, is essential. I've experienced both Korean and Hollywood films. That's why I was able to mediate the script for The Roundup Hollywood remake and participate in its production.