Netflix 'Good News' Seol Kyung-gu "It's my first time with an abstract character, I shot while doubting 'Is this right?'"

Actor Seol Kyung-gu shared the difficulties of playing an unidentified character in the Netflix movie 〈Good News〉.

In the film released on the 17th, Seol Kyung-gu plays the role of 'Someone', a fixer who resolves the country's major and minor issues without his name or origin being known. In an interview held at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th, Seol Kyung-gu stated, "This is my first time receiving such an abstract character, so I had no one to lean on and it was awkward."

He expressed his feelings of confusion during the early stages of filming, saying, "I couldn't show it on the outside, but I was shooting while doubting 'Is this right?'" However, he recalled, "I felt that director Byun Sung-hyun had a design for the overall picture of the movie in his head, so I believed and went along with it."

〈Good News〉 is a black comedy based on the true story of the Japanese Red Army hijacking the passenger plane 'Yodo' in 1970 and attempting to defect to North Korea. It depicts the struggles of those who try to persuade the hijackers to land and rescue the hostages.

The character played by Seol Kyung-gu, Someone, is set as a person who lives off the national power without an official title. He caters to the whims of the powerful through underhanded tactics without regard for means or methods. His shabby attire and light tone give an alien feeling that does not match the serious meeting atmosphere, but Seol Kyung-gu's performance adds a sense of realism that 'there might have been someone like this'.

This is the fourth collaboration between Seol Kyung-gu and director Byun Sung-hyun. Following the films 〈The Merciless〉 (2017), 〈Kingmaker〉 (2022), and 〈Kill Boksoon〉 (2023), they continue their partnership. Seol Kyung-gu evaluated director Byun, saying, "He is a director I definitely trust. He showed me that what seems absurd can be portrayed realistically, and he has greatly broadened my narrow and rigid perspective."

He expressed special affection for actor Ryu Seung-beom, who plays the role of Park Sang-hyun, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency. Seol Kyung-gu said, "He is an actor I really like," and added, "Ryu Seung-beom hasn't changed his behavior from the past, but somehow he has become a person with a breadth like the Pacific Ocean, which surprised me." He continued, "It was an amazing experience to see Ryu Seung-beom smiling all the time and being different from before. I felt like I saw a freedom that accepts and absorbs everything around him."

〈Good News〉 was invited to the Special Presentation section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where it first met international audiences. In Korea, it premiered at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Seol Kyung-gu mentioned, "The audience reaction in Toronto was so good that I wanted to see the Korean reaction," and added, "I watched the movie in the audience with general viewers in Busan."

Regarding the audience reaction during the Busan screening, he said, "(The audience reaction) was a bit stiff at first, but gradually loosened up. I was relieved and glad to see that they seemed to enjoy it a lot."

Seol Kyung-gu told the audience, "I hope you enjoy it without thinking too hard about it. Although it is a movie based on a true story, I think it would be more fun to enjoy it without information and then look up the actual events afterward."