'Parasite' Stars Lee Jung-eun and Park So-dam Reunite as Mother and Daughter in 'The Journey to Gyeongju'

The stars of "The Journey to Gyeongju" displayed warm, family-like chemistry as they introduced a darkly comic story about a mother and her three daughters embarking on a journey driven by revenge.

A press conference for the Korean film was held July 27 at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul. Director Kim Mi-jo attended alongside cast members Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam and Lee Yeon.

"The Journey to Gyeongju" follows a mother and her three daughters who set out on a "killer journey" eight years after the youngest daughter, Gyeongju, dies during a school trip.

Kim said the story was partly inspired by her own experience as the youngest of four daughters.

"I once traveled to Gyeongju with my family," she said. "The city is generally associated with school trips and tourism, but it feels completely different at night. I thought that contrast would suit a story about a family embarking on a murderous journey."

She also explained that the Korean title carries multiple meanings, as Gyeongju is both the name of the city and the deceased daughter.

"I wanted to tell a story about people who take their love to the extreme," Kim said. "Anyone who has someone they love will be able to relate to it."

At the center of the film is Lee Jung-eun, who plays Ok-sil, a mother who has devoted her life to revenge since losing her youngest daughter.

Lee said she was drawn to the screenplay as well as her previous connection with the director. Kim had worked as a script supervisor on Lee's film "Hommage."

"The screenplay was compelling, but I also remembered the director working on the set of 'Hommage,'" Lee said. "She seemed eager to learn how a film set worked."

Lee's disheveled appearance in the film reflects a woman whose life has remained frozen since her daughter's death. After some viewers said the hairstyle reminded them of musician Lee Sang-soon, Lee responded with humor.

"I think I look like either Lee Sang-soon or Sung Ji-ru," she said. "I'd love to invite both of them to the premiere."

Lee is joined by Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam and Lee Yeon as Ok-sil's three daughters.

Gong plays Jang-ju, the eldest daughter who places her family above everything else. She revealed that she initially turned down the role because of a scheduling conflict, but continued thinking about the project for months.

"I kept wondering who had been cast," Gong said. "Then the filming schedule was delayed and the offer came back to me. It felt dramatic."

Gong and Lee previously played daughter and mother in the hit drama "When the Camellia Blooms." Gong said the chance to reunite with Lee was another reason she joined the film.

"I wanted to meet her again as my mother," she said. "The mother's role is the heart of this film. The daughters are there to support her."

Gong said she calls Lee "eom-ni," a combination of the Korean words for mother and older sister.

"She cared for us like a mother, checked on our health and always brought us food," Gong said. "She is also the most active person in our group chat."

Lee said she was happy to become the younger actresses' "eom-ni," both on and off screen.

Park plays Yeong-ju, the second daughter and the most calculating member of the family. She said the detailed portrayal of the sisters immediately appealed to her.

"The dialogue felt natural from the first read," Park said. "When I learned that the director was one of four sisters, I understood how she had written the relationships in such detail."

Park and Lee previously appeared together in Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning film "Parasite." Lee joked that their relationship in the new film could not be more different.

"In 'Parasite,' she was always looking at me as though she wanted to throw me out of the house," Lee said. "Meeting her again as a daughter who shares genuine affection with me made me feel incredibly fortunate."

Park also spoke about the bond they had maintained since working together on "Parasite." She revealed that Lee had provided emotional support while she was recovering from illness.

"It was difficult to tell my family how much I was struggling, but I could tell her everything," Park said. "She even came to my house late at night to listen to me."

Park added that while her character clashes with her mother more than the other daughters do, the conflict ultimately stems from love.

"She is a senior actor I am deeply grateful for," Park said. "I want to be there for her for the rest of my life."

Lee Yeon plays Dong-ju, the impulsive third daughter and a former professional wrestler. She said she was drawn to the screenplay's balance of tragedy and comedy and accepted the role immediately after learning who her co-stars were.

For the role, Lee underwent professional wrestling and action training. Lee Jung-eun praised her commitment, noting that she endured a demanding training program that causes many actors to become physically ill.

Despite its grim premise, the cast emphasized that the film combines dark humor with an emotional family story.

Gong encouraged viewers not to become overly concerned with the logic of the characters' journey.

"Just come and watch it with an open mind," she said. "The ending will continue to surprise you."

Director Kim concluded by sharing an ambitious prediction from her father.

"He writes me a letter every holiday," she said. "This time, he wrote, 'The Journey to Gyeongju — 70 million admissions.' Those are my father's words, not mine."

"The Journey to Gyeongju" opens August 26.