Jung Ho-yeon, gets a Class 1 driver's license and even drifts... 'Hope'

Obtaining a Class 1 License and Even Drifting... Jung Ho-yeon's Challenge to Become an 'Action Queen'

Actress Jung Ho-yeon has newly obtained a Class 1 driver's license for her action performance in the film 'HOPE'. Having gained global attention through the Netflix series 'Squid Game', she showcases a new side of herself through director Na Hong-jin's new work, 'HOPE'.

The released character-making video, the 'Seong-ae' edition, captures Jung Ho-yeon's process of preparing to play 'Seong-ae', a police officer at Hopo Port. To fulfill the role of her character, Jung learned how to use firearms and shooting postures even before filming began. She added weight to her action scenes by handling actual weighted firearms.

Her preparation for car chase scenes was also thorough. To perform the chase scenes using a Hyundai Stella, Jung obtained a Class 1 driver's license immediately after being cast. After getting her license, she underwent repeated training to master high-difficulty driving techniques such as drifting and J-turns. Regarding the filming process, Jung said, "It was incredibly fun because it felt like I was reaching a point where I was pushing past my limits."

A Tiger Appears in Hopo Port, the World Painted by Director Na Hong-jin

The film 'HOPE' is set in Hopo Port near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It depicts the reality faced when 'Beom-seok', the head of the Hopo Port branch office, hears news from the village youths that a tiger has appeared, putting the entire village on alert.

Jung Ho-yeon's character, 'Seong-ae', is a passionate individual who dives into righteous causes without hesitation. Introducing the character, Jung explained, "She is a friend with a very strong instinct to charge straight ahead. She is a very passionate person who dives into what she considers to be righteous work without regard for danger." Seong-ae is portrayed as a character with clear standards of good and evil.

The film features Hwang Jung-min, Jo In-sung, and Jung Ho-yeon, along with Taylor Russell, Cameron Britton, Alicia Vikander, and Michael Fassbender. It is directed by Na Hong-jin, who directed 'The Chaser', 'The Yellow Sea', and 'The Wailing', and is produced by Fozid Films.

The Energy of the Film as Described by Foreign Media and Critics

The Playlist commented on Jung Ho-yeon's entrance scene, saying, "It is a scene that sends adrenaline rushing and is worthy of being immediately inscribed in the Hall of Fame of action movies." The Hollywood Reporter reported that Jung Ho-yeon breathed life into the film by handling everything from fiery action to comic timing.

Film critic Lee Dong-jin left a review for the film, stating, "A film that boldly races forward, the film itself is a massive crescendo."

Immediately after pre-sales began, the film 'HOPE' recorded the fastest rate to reach number one in total pre-sale percentage among this year's releases. The film will be released in theaters on the 15th. Following the Seong-ae edition, the production team plans to sequentially release character-making videos for Seong-gi and Beom-seok.