[Interview] An Actor Who Makes Sense No Matter What, Cho Jungseok from 'My Daughter is a Zombie' Says, "After Filming, I Realized My Fatherly Love"

Cho Jungseok is an actor who makes sense. Whether it’s the setting of a beast tamer who makes a tiger dance, pretending to be a zombie to escape when a zombie virus spreads in Seoul, or wanting to train his daughter who has become a zombie, it all makes sense because it’s Cho Jungseok. Even if it seems like a ridiculous cartoonish setting, through Cho Jungseok's cleverness, wit, and sense of rhythm, it somehow feels plausible.

Cho Jungseok is an actor who can cook any material ‘deliciously’, whether it’s comedy, human drama, or a protagonist in an unrealistic world. The movie 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, which will be released on the 30th, is a comic drama about a father who has become a fool for his daughter, entering secret training to protect the last remaining zombie daughter in the world. Cho Jungseok plays the role of ‘Jung-hwan’, a father who embarks on secret training for the last remaining zombie daughter in the world, showcasing not only his affectionate fatherly love but also the essence of Cho Jungseok's comic acting. Ahead of the movie's release, we met with Cho Jungseok on the afternoon of the 24th in Jongno-gu, Seoul to talk about the film.

After 〈Exit〉 (2019) and 〈Pilot〉 (2024), you are set to release the movie 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 at the end of July. How do you feel about being called ‘the man of summer’?

I can’t decide the release timing, but I think it’s personally meaningful that 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 is being released during a time when many tentpole films are coming out. Regardless of the outcome, I feel honored yet burdened that the movie is being released at a good time.

You mentioned that after reading the script for 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, you really wanted to do it. What made you feel that way?

After reading the script, I appealed to my agency and the people involved, saying, “I really want to do this.” Coincidentally, I became a father, and at a time when my fatherly love was growing, I encountered this work. In a way, I feel like it was a fateful encounter disguised as coincidence.

As a father raising a daughter, I imagine you could relate even more to the theme of fatherly love in 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉. Were there any difficulties while filming the movie?

In other works, there were times when emotional scenes were difficult, but in this work, the emotions came out so well during emotional scenes that it became a problem. In fact, it came out so explosively that the key for me was how to control it. I also had the realization, “Is my fatherly love inside me this strong?” For example, in 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, there’s a scene where Jung-hwan dances with Sua (Choi Yuri) in his imagination, and it was the same in the last scene.

The early part of the movie depicts the outbreak of the zombie crisis. Even amidst that, there are witty scenes unique to 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉. For instance, the scene where the lady from room 101 becomes a zombie and enters Jung-hwan's house, and the scene where he pretends to be a zombie with his daughter Sua while escaping the neighborhood. Especially the escape scene felt like choreography, with a satisfying rhythm.

I think that’s the kick of the movie. Even though the zombie crisis is scary, dizzying, and precarious, Jung-hwan’s way of dealing with it is the kick of our movie, right? Pretending to be a zombie while escaping is also part of that. I think that scene clearly shows the charm of our movie, and I recognized its importance while filming. Because I thought it was a scene that allows you to recall the poignant relationship between a father and daughter. (The somewhat unrealistic parts) are acceptable since the original work is a comic.

You mentioned earlier that you intentionally did not read the original webtoon before filming 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉. I’m curious about the reason for that. Also, now that you’ve seen the original, do you feel that the Jung-hwan in the original and the Jung-hwan in the movie are similar?

I wanted to unleash as much imagination as possible in my head. It was also to express that ‘this could be the case’ rather than ‘it has to be this way’. And in terms of emotional scenes, when I first read the script, I felt that it had a lot of power on its own, even without the original. So I thought that if I could express the longing Jung-hwan has for his daughter well, I could match the synchronization with the original, and that people who haven’t seen the original could also enjoy this movie. After filming, when I saw the original, I felt that the Jung-hwan in the original and the Jung-hwan I played felt very different. But I think that difference was a good thing. It wasn’t a disappointment of ‘why did I do it this way when it’s different’, but rather ‘this is a comic, this is a movie’. That’s the difference I felt.

Since the original is a comic, there are parts that express somewhat unrealistic situations in a cartoonish way. Therefore, it’s a work where the responsibility to convince the audience falls heavily on you as Cho Jungseok. Why do you think you were chosen for the role of Jung-hwan?

The production team, the director, and all the staff probably thought, ‘What would they expect from an actor like Cho Jungseok?’ There was a scene in the movie where my daughter Sua turns into a zombie in the car, and I acted in a somewhat peculiar way based on my interpretation and analysis. But I thought that might be the tone and manner of the movie. In a precarious and serious situation where my daughter turns into a zombie, they might have expected a witty response and expressions.

As a father with a real daughter, you mentioned that 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 came to you as if it were meant to be. Given the overlap with real situations, I imagine it helped you immerse yourself in emotional acting. Were there any scenes where you struggled to control your emotions?

It was in the latter part of the film. When the suppression team barges in, Jung-hwan's final choice, ‘This is the only way to be with my daughter until the end’, was a choice that made my emotions peak. At that moment, I was overwhelmed with emotions, and I had many discussions with the director about whether this was right or if I should control my emotions more clearly and plainly. The director created various scenarios, and the result we have now is satisfying to me.

Jung-hwan trains his daughter at the cost of his own life. Jung-hwan's final choice is entirely for his daughter. In reality, would you, Cho Jungseok, be able to go that far for your daughter?

I would 100%, without a doubt. My daughter was born in 2020, right during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there were times when she had a fever of up to 39 degrees. Gummy and I wore masks at home, but that didn’t matter; we put everything aside and did everything we could to bring her fever down. After that, I encountered the work 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉. So when I think back to those situations, I realize, ‘I was originally this kind of person.’

What was the chemistry like with Choi Yuri, who played your zombie daughter, and I’d like to hear about the preparation process for zombie acting and dance practice.

She was the most mature on set. (laughs) Our chemistry was so good that it’s hard to put into words, and her attitude and approach to the work are excellent. She’s a well-raised friend, and I’m curious about her future. I wonder how great she will become. It’s genuine praise, and I’m saying this with all my heart. I’ve never told Yuri this directly, but I believe that a great actor is someone with a great character. I think that’s proportional. So I’m looking forward to it. We practiced BoA’s ‘No.1’ together. There was a dance teacher. Choi Yuri is mature, but when acting, she’s very clever and does it well. I felt that she has great concentration for her age, and while she seems very mature, she’s still a typical middle schooler when it comes to her love for games.

Acting skills and character don’t always go hand in hand. However, if you have a reason for thinking that a person with a great character is a great actor, what would it be?

What if there’s someone with outstanding acting skills but a poor character? I sometimes wonder about that. If a player who conveys various stories and themes to the public has a bad character, I think that would be disappointing.

In 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, besides Cho Jungseok, there are also great actors like Lee Jung-eun, Cho Yeojeong, and Yoon KyungHo. It must have been fun to act together. Also, you mentioned that you are the same age as Cho Yeojeong and Yoon KyungHo.

I was so excited. Even after filming, we had so much to talk about. Normally, after filming, you feel tired and take a break for the next day’s shoot. But we always talked about various things for hours. I don’t know what was so fun.

I heard that the actors of 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 have a group chat.

The group chat is named ‘Zombie High School Reunion’. When KyungHo and I get together, we chat and laugh a lot. (Are both of them your friends?) Just write it like this. I don’t want to admit it, but, um….

Yoon KyungHo, who gained great popularity as ‘Hangblee’ in 〈Emergency Center〉, also plays a significant role in bringing humor to this film. What was your impression of Yoon KyungHo on set?

He’s an idea bank. Yoon KyungHo prepares a lot. It’s not easy to do that. It’s a very difficult task. So he’s a very diligent actor. The scene with Thor in the movie was the funniest, and the scene where my daughter gets hit by a basketball and goes to Dongbae’s pharmacy was the hardest to hold back laughter. I don’t know why that was so funny.

Cho Yeojeong, who plays the zombie hunter Yeonhwa, is also quite charming.

I did a musical 〈Grease〉 with Cho Yeojeong in 2005. We’ve been friends for a long time, and as a fellow actor, I really respect her; she acts so well. In this movie 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, I was surprised to see a side of Cho Yeojeong that I hadn’t seen before. She’s cute and brings tension just by appearing. She has a quirky charm like ‘clear-eyed light’, so I think many people will feel her versatility.

The back-and-forth between Bang-soon (Lee Jung-eun) and Jung-hwan was also fun. At the press conference, you mentioned that lines like “Aren’t you going to the MBTI hospital for a test?” were improvised. It seems that the good chemistry with Lee Jung-eun led to such spontaneity on set.

Lee Jung-eun is a genius. If the director doesn’t say cut, the improvisation will probably keep coming. I’ve often thought, ‘How does she do that?’ Our chemistry was great, but I feel like she perfectly embodied the character of Bang-soon. (Imitating Bang-soon’s expression) Every expression made me think, ‘How does she do that?’ There were many amazing points. Her delicate expressions are very alive.

What was the chemistry like with the cat ‘Geumdong-i’, who played the role of Aeyong?

That friend’s appearance fee is going to go up. He’s a talented actor. He knows the camera. Except for three or four scenes that needed CGI, he was a remarkable friend. The line “Look at the spread legs” was my ad-lib, and it came out naturally when I saw Aeyong in that position. Aeyong is part of Jung-hwan’s family, and the idea of anthropomorphizing a cat and having conversations is very interesting. I think that’s another fun element of our movie.

After filming 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, when you returned to reality, did you notice any changes as a real father?

〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 made me realize, ‘Do I have this kind of fatherly love?’ However, when I go home and see my daughter, I think, ‘I was originally in this position.’ The reason is simply that I’m a father. You know the saying, “I just like you because you’re you.” It feels like it has become that way. I didn’t feel that my fatherly love grew while filming 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, but rather that I realized, ‘I was originally in that position, and I just didn’t know it.’

Although you have a real daughter, you played the role of a father to a middle school daughter. While interacting with a teenage daughter, I imagine you thought, ‘My daughter will grow up like this’.

I even thought, ‘I hope my daughter becomes a middle schooler soon’. It was a foolish thought, not realizing the gratitude I should have. Many father seniors around me said, ‘Wow, you really had a ridiculous thought. When that time comes, she won’t play with you. She won’t talk to you. This is such a beautiful time, so cherish it.’ I thought I wanted to bicker with her. I want to be a friend-like father. (A line from the movie) “Try asking for a present from Dad” or something like that. I wanted to experience those things. While filming, I thought, ‘I hope my daughter grows up quickly so we can do that together.’

So, what kind of father are you now?

I can define myself in two ways: one is ‘a father who tries to play well with his daughter’. The second is ‘a father who is so in love that he wants to tease her, but ends up being teased himself’. That’s my current position.

Like Yuri, Jung-hwan's daughter in the movie, your daughter might also show talent in dancing, following in her parents' footsteps. How would you feel if she decided to pursue a career in entertainment later on?

She knows that her mom is a singer and her dad is an actor. But she thinks all moms and dads appear on TV. So, since she’s still at an age where she doesn’t fully understand those things, I can’t say for sure.

It seems that the formula of ‘Cho Jungseok equals comedy’ has been established due to works like 〈Exit〉, 〈Pilot〉, and 〈Hospital Playlist〉. Are you not worried about being typecast in comedy?

I don’t worry about that. I don’t think it’s necessary. Recently, I surprised people by appearing as a villain in 〈Weak Hero Class 2〉. But that’s a natural choice for actor Cho Jungseok and for myself. I want to respect myself. I think it’s a necessary virtue for an actor to say, ‘I’m going to do something completely different to break away from comedy’, but I also think there are definitely dissonances that come with that. So as I get older, I keep thinking that what’s natural is the best.

Coincidentally, director Lee Sang-geun, who worked with you on 〈Exit〉, and actress Lim Yoon-a from 〈Devil’s Deal〉, as well as actor Shin Seung-ho from 〈Pilot〉, are all releasing their works around the same time. What are your thoughts on that?

I truly think of the 〈Exit〉 team as family. Director Lee Sang-geun and Yoon-a. It’s hard to explain in words. We even filmed promotional videos together and talked about working hard together. I have a big supportive heart for 〈Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint〉 since Seung-ho is in it. I think everyone shares the hope that theaters will become lively again like before.

When you made a special appearance in 〈Weak Hero Class 2〉, it was a brief moment but impactful, leaving us wanting more. Although you’ve played villain roles before, do you have any plans to take on a villain role again?

I will show you soon. (As everyone shows an expectant reaction) No, there’s nothing decided. It’s a resolution. I will continue to do various genres.

In a previous interview, you mentioned that you are ‘addicted to work’. How do you feel these days?

After finishing 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉 in early January this year, I’m currently taking a break. During this break, I thought I wouldn’t be able to rest if a script came into my hands, so I’m fully resting. Recently, I’ve been thinking, ‘I have the most fun and joy when I act.’

If there are any emotions you particularly want to share with the audience through 〈My Daughter is a Zombie〉, what would they be?

I hope you enjoy the movie. I think many people live forgetting the importance of friends, children, and parents around them. So I hope this movie serves as a reminder of that importance. Some people have written articles saying, ‘I caught both laughter and emotion’, which is a very typical expression, but I feel like there’s no better way to express it. I think the comedy in our movie is very funny, and the unexpected wit that arises in serious situations is the kick of our movie. So I hope you enjoy those exquisite kick moments deliciously.