Jo In-sung's sincerity behind his stage greeting remark, "Where is the lady?"

Actor Jo In-sung has personally revealed the behind-the-scenes story of his recent "ajumma (middle-aged woman) remark" that heated up the online community. The scene where he responded to a spectator's request during a stage greeting for the movie ‘Hope’ by asking, "Where are the ajummas?" became a major topic of conversation among fans. Jo In-sung appeared as a guest on MBC FM4U’s ‘Kim Shin-young's Noon Hope’ aired on the 22nd and explained the situation in detail.

Reconstructing the scene: “I only see sparkling eyes”

During the radio program, a story from a fan who saw Jo In-sung's remark was introduced. One listener shared, “The video of actor Jo In-sung saying, ‘Where are the ajummas here?’ during last weekend's stage greeting became a hot topic,” adding, “My mother saw that scene and is insisting that I book a ticket for the stage greeting.”

Recalling the atmosphere at the time, Jo In-sung revealed that his remark was more than just simple fan service. The stage greeting was an event where he communicated directly with the audience, taking photos and shaking hands. Jo In-sung explained the division of areas at the time, saying, “Hwang Jung-min hyung was in charge of the left, and I was in charge of the right.”

At that moment, a voice from the far opposite section could be heard asking, “Aren't you going to take a photo of the ajummas?” Due to the distance, it was difficult to move there immediately. Jo In-sung added, “I couldn't see any ajummas. I meant, how could I call them ajummas when I only see people with sparkling eyes?” It was a response that reflected his attitude of respecting fans as they are, rather than defining them by age or titles.

“Even just applying saliva would work”: The witty remarks of a shy actor

Jo In-sung did not forget his signature sense of humor. When DJ Kim Shin-young asked if he is good at handling fans' so-called "exaggerated compliments," he confessed, “Some actors are good at it, but I am quite shy.” He then made the studio erupt in laughter by joking, “I don't have thick skin. Even just applying saliva would work.” This moment revealed his human charm, as he has typically shown a more cautious side rather than being slick on stage.

Director Na Hong-jin's SF action thriller ‘Hope’

The movie ‘Hope,’ starring Jo In-sung, received global attention from the production stage after being invited to the competition section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Na Hong-jin, this work is an SF action thriller that depicts the story of Beom-seok (played by Hwang Jung-min), a branch manager of Hopo Port near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), as he faces unbelievable events occurring in the village. The core of the story follows Beom-seok after he hears news from the village youths about the appearance of an unidentified entity.

In ‘Hope,’ which was released domestically on the 15th, Jo In-sung expanded his spectrum as an actor by delivering an intense character. This stage greeting episode remains a scene that imprinted the warm side of the actor Jo In-sung on the public, distinct from the tense atmosphere of the film.