[TF Interview] Jo Yi-hyun, "The Final Interview" Without Hesitation

Played the role of Moon Hye-in, an applicant who overcame a 5000:1 competition rate."It's such a precious opportunity for actors of the same age to come together in one project."Actress Jo Yi-hyun held an interview related to the release of the movie 'The Final Interview.' /NEW[THE FACT|Reporter Park Ji-yoon] Actress Jo Yi-hyun chose 'The Final Interview' without hesitation. Knowing better than anyone that moments where actors of the same age can work together in one project are rare, she seized the opportunity given to her, and spent a valuable time growing further as an actress by leading the story from the center of the work.Jo Yi-hyun held an interview related to the release of the movie 'The Final Interview' (Director Kim Jeong-hoon) on the 2nd at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Returning to the screen for the first time in four years since 'Ditto' (2022), she began by saying, "I'm excited to greet you with a movie after a long time," and talked about various stories related to the film.'The Final Interview,' released on the 4th, is a story about six applicants gathered for a final interview who discover mysterious envelopes containing their personal revelations, leading them to suspect each other and fall into confusion. It is based on the novel 'Six Liars' University Students' by Asakura Aki Nari.Jo Yi-hyun plays the role of Moon Hye-in, an applicant who overcame a 5000:1 competition rate, leading the drama. /NEWWhen Jo Yi-hyun received the offer to appear in 'The Final Interview,' she had no reason to refuse. It was true that she had fewer opportunities to appear in movies compared to dramas, and among those, the number of projects led by actors of the same age working together was even smaller."First of all, it's not easy for actors of similar ages to come together in one project, so this opportunity was incredibly precious. This is what attracted me the most, so I viewed the script positively. In our movie, almost all the actors lead the story together in one location. I felt grateful and approached the filming with the thought that it would be a good movie if the energy of actors of the same age was well-represented."The protagonist in the play, Moon Hye-in, is an applicant who overcame a 5000:1 competition rate. Although she appears reserved, she is an outwardly gentle but inwardly strong character who takes the lead at crucial moments. Even when competing with her colleagues for a single final acceptance spot after a month of team discussions, she calmly observes the reactions of her colleagues who have encountered the mysterious envelopes and continues to make her own judgments.Jo Yi-hyun, who plays this role, delicately portrays everything from her concern for those around her to the emotional changes at the moment of decision, solidifying her central role among five distinct characters. In particular, she portrays the resolute inner strength of a character who does not easily reveal her emotions with subtle temperature differences, while also creating suspense for the audience until the end by raising suspicion."I thought it was important to follow the overall flow as much as it was to define my character, and I established Moon Hye-in's direction during the reading by watching the actors express themselves differently from my expectations. I tried to maintain the center of the work by restraining my emotions even in scenes with strong emotions. In scenes where I intentionally wanted to appear as a suspect, I maintained an ambiguous expression, and I think I focused more on the camera angles and the director's directions during filming."Jo Yi-hyun expressed affection for Kim Jaewon, with whom she worked for the first time, saying, "She's younger than me, but so delicate and takes good care of everyone. She has a warm heart too." /NEWThe precious opportunity to work with actors of the same age, which Jo Yi-hyun mentioned earlier, became a learning ground throughout the filming. Starting with, "Kwak Dong-yeon analyzed his character incredibly. He paid attention to details like wearing a different mask or changing his gait, not missing even the smallest things," she mentioned the other five actors as well, expressing her special affection for her colleagues."It was much more comfortable working with Shin Seung-ho for the second time. Kang Yoo-seok, as the eldest, tried hard to ease the awkward atmosphere, which was a great help, and I relied a lot on Kang Hee, who has a similar introverted personality to me. Kim Jaewon is younger than me, but so delicate and takes good care of everyone. She has a warm heart too. Although the filming period was short, we became close because we were together all day. It reminded me of my school days."The movie alternates between the past, from the six applicants preparing for the interview together to the final interview where they constantly suspect each other after the mysterious envelopes appear, and the present, six years later, featuring interviews with those who were together at the time, posing the questions of who the culprit is and who the final interviewee is to the audience.Along with this, the romance between Moon Hye-in and Han Jin-woo (played by Kim Jaewon) also takes up a significant portion of the film, more than expected. However, as the relationship between the two, which is not a fleeting emotion but rather expands in earnest, could be perceived by some viewers as somewhat detached from the suspense of the mystery narrative, I was curious how Jo Yi-hyun, who played the role, perceived this change in their relationship."Since 'The Final Interview' is not a romance film, we had many discussions about how to handle this aspect. Still, I thought the kiss scene was necessary to show that Moon Hye-in and Han Jin-woo were sincere with each other, so I tried my best to portray it without being excessive."Jo Yi-hyun encouraged many to watch the film, saying, "'The Final Interview' is a movie that six people created together, not one person standing out, so I hope you can receive that energy well." /NEWAlthough she may not have prepared for interviews to get hired by a company like the characters in the film, Jo Yi-hyun has much in common with Moon Hye-in in that she has gone through numerous auditions with a desperate heart to land a role in a project. Therefore, while playing the role, we also asked about her past as she ran towards her dreams."I think I approached auditions with a relaxed mindset. Of course, it hurts and I feel sad when I fail, but I thought, 'It's not my project.' I believed that resilience, being able to shake it off and prepare, was important, so I approached it that way. Instead of thinking, 'I absolutely have to be cast here,' I focused on doing my best, thinking, 'If it's meant to be, I'll be cast.' That's why I was often told, 'You're not nervous,' and I think directors saw these things favorably."Then, like Moon Hye-in, who ran hard for final acceptance, does Jo Yi-hyun have any goals she absolutely wants to achieve as an actress? She said, "No. I think it's because I'm not usually a planner. I dreamed of being a musical actress, then became interested in acting and am now an actress, living life as it flows." She emphasized, "It's enough if I live today well and don't have regrets when I look back. I try to do my best today and minimize regrets."'The Final Interview' is now meeting the audience and receiving evaluations. Regarding this, Jo Yi-hyun said, "Our film was created by six people together, not by one person standing out, so I believe you can receive that energy well. I hope you will look positively on the strength created by actors of the same age," encouraging many to watch.jiyoon-1031@tf.co.kr[Entertainment Department | ssent@tf.co.kr]