[Photos&] Lee Jung-eun and Gong Hyo-jin’s “Gyeongju Trip”… A blood-soaked revenge drama for the youngest daughter they lost 8 years ago — press briefing site

‘Gyeongju Trip’ — a blood-soaked twist by Lee Jung-eun and Gong Hyo-jin… A result earned after an 8-year wait

Winner of the Audience Award at the 24th Florence Korean Film Festival, a chilly revenge drama hidden behind a wholesome family trip

A bond beyond the pain of loss, opening the curtain

Four daughters, gathered under the name of family, broke a long silence of eight years and drew a cold blade. Held on the 13th at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul, the press briefing for the film 'Gyeongju Trip' went beyond a simple new title announcement—it offered a chance to see the fierce acting drive of the cast, which turned deep grief into blood-soaked revenge. On the day, 'Lee Jung-eun', who anchors the center of the story, was joined by 'Gong Hyo-jin', 'Park So-dam', 'Lee Yeon', and 'Byun Yo-han', as well as director 'Kim Mi-jo', who took the megaphone, spotlighting the weighty message embedded in the work.

'Gyeongju Trip' follows the journey of four mother-and-daughter figures who go to Gyeongju after matching in group T-shirts to honor the birthday of their youngest daughter 'Gyeongju', who has been unable to return from a school trip eight years earlier. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary, close-knit family trip—but in the trunk of their van, a mysterious man is bound. The strange companion adds a chilly tension to everyday scenes, and it proved its unique originality early on, including winning the Audience Award at the 24th 'Florence Korean Film Festival' in 2026.

Maternal devotion that blooms amid a collapsing daily life

Lee Jung-eun, who plays the mother 'Ok-sil' and the family’s core, portrayed with intimacy how tragedy can seep into and overwhelm a household. He said, “I focused on the process in which the protective fence of family collapses after an unfortunate accident.” He added, “By making the pain experienced by those left behind in the actual trial process the inspiration, I wanted to express a kind of motherhood that could only choose an extreme trip of revenge in order to survive.”

An ending beyond imagination—carrying the weight of the eldest daughter

Gong Hyo-jin, who plays the first daughter 'Jang-ju', showed strong pride in the film’s conclusion. “The final sequence kept me curious because I couldn’t see it directly on site all the time,” he said, kicking things off. “No matter what the audience imagines, there is a shockingly intense ending waiting for them,” he said, raising expectations. He also showered generous praise on 'Lee Yeon', who handled the role of the youngest daughter excellently, proving the warm sisterhood she couldn’t be seen in the film on set.

The inner face of the sidelined second daughter—crafted character details

Park So-dam, who plays the second daughter 'Young-ju', visualized the character’s sense of deficiency through outward changes such as sharp hairstyles and angular glasses. Even within the tight bond of a family, he pinpointed the second daughter’s unique psychology with precision—the odd sense of being set apart. “The 'Young-ju' I interpreted looks, on the surface, like steel that’s endlessly hard,” he said, “but in reality, she is a person who is more tender and more easily wounded than anyone else,” offering an in-depth character analysis.

Revenge as a double-edged sword—anger and sadness from the third daughter

Lee Yeon, who played the third daughter 'Dong-ju', offered a sharp insight into the essence of revenge. “Revenge is, in the end, a destructive act that stabs not only the other person, but also your own heart,” he defined. He recalled, “I watched from beside it the anger and pain of 'Ok-sil', suppressing extreme fear, and I deeply empathized.” He also left a weighty warning: “I hope the pain and lingering aftertaste that reach beyond the screen won’t evaporate into one-dimensional emotions such as simple catharsis or sadness.”

Another perspective facing tragedy

Byun Yo-han, who provides an important turning point in the film, will deepen the story’s depth with solid acting skills and offer viewers a three-dimensional sense of immersion.

A distinct mise-en-scène crafted with meticulous direction

Director 'Kim Mi-jo', who took the megaphone, proved her delicate directing skill by not simply following the conventions of the thriller genre, but instead digging sharply into the ills of Korean society and the underside of familyism.

A new horizon for Korea-style thrillers—born a well-made revenge drama

Ready to pose chilly questions to audiences, 'Gyeongju Trip'. All eyes are on whether the blood-soaked journey of these people will spark a major ripple across the theater scene as it opens a new horizon for a well-made revenge drama.