This interview with director Lee Hyun and actresses Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo was conducted via translator Elizabeth Kim and edited for clarity.
In director Lee Hwan’s Project Y, we follow Mi-sun (Han So-hee) and Do-kyung (Jeon Jong-seo), two young women who are doing their best to survive in an otherwise hostile environment. Mi-sun is on the verge of retiring from working as an escort. Her goal is to open up a flower shop, with Do-kyung by her side. Do-kyung, for the most part, works as Mi-sun’s personal driver, preferring jobs that keep her hands clean over working for dirty money.
Unfortunately, the two get caught up in different scams, losing Mi-sun’s hard-earned money in the process. With their dreams on the verge of slipping away, the two take matters into their own hands. This pushes them into a descent into crime and intrigue, before uncovering a dangerous secret. Once unveiled, a target is put on their backs. With nothing left to lose, however, rather than run, they ready themselves to take a stand against anyone who dares to try to take their dreams away.
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Project Y is undeniably entertaining, revealing the gritty underbelly of a city bent on eating its own. Pivotal to the film’s intrigue and mystery is its location, offering a whole realm of exploration for Lee Hwan, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Oh Yu-kyung and Kwak Jae-min. “Although the location where the story takes place is fictional, I did draw inspiration from the adult entertainment districts and the lives of the women who worked there,” he shared. From this inspiration, two characters started to form: Mi-sun and Do-kyung.
The complexity and challenges of their characters proved to be a natural draw for the actresses.
Played by Han So-hee, the role of Mi-sun is a bit of a departure for the actress, who many may know for her more action-heavy, fierce roles in My Name and Gyeongseong Creature. Part of the draw for Han So-hee taking the role was how different the character was. “For me, Mi-sun was very different from my previous roles, so I wanted to challenge myself,” she shared. The character possesses inner strength rather than physical strength, but also has a distinct vulnerability that she was able to play with.
Jeon Jong-seo, who plays Mi-sun’s partner-in-crime, Do-kyung, saw a different kind of challenge. After sending chills down the spines of many who watched The Call, and kicking some serious butt in Ballerina, the character Do-kyung seems like a natural choice for the actress. However, it wasn’t the plot that drew her to the role. “Rather than what was just in the scenario, I could see myself doing a lot more outside of what the script called for,” she explained.
Pivotal to the character development was that the audience believed that Mi-sun and Do-kyung had a lifelong bond and friendship. As it turned out, building the bond between Mi-sun and Do-kyung was incredibly easy for Han So-hee and Jeon Jong-seo, who are actually friends in real life. “I hope our friendship is represented well in the film,” Han So-hee said with a smile. “And that it shows.”
The cold climate proved to be one of the largest challenges on set.
A threat to the friendship Mi-sun and Do-kyung have built over the years is the differing relationships they have with Do-kyung’s mother, Ga-yeong (Kim Shin-rok). “For Mi-sun, she views Ga-yeong as a savior, whereas for Do-kyung, she feels abandoned,” shared Han So-hee. Lee Hyun further elaborated: “The relationship that Ga-yeong has with Do-kyung makes [Mi-sun] a bit envious, even though Do-kyung feels differently about it.” The tension that evolves once Ga-yeong appears onscreen adds a different layer to an already volatile situation.
For Lee Hyun, Han So-hee, and Jeon Jong-seo, shooting Project Y on location proved to be a little difficult at times. “It was really cold,” said Han So-hee, with Jong-seo and Lee Hyun agreeing. “It was filmed during winter, which made it really cold for the two actresses. In a lot of the scenes, they weren’t dressed for the weather,” shared Lee Hyun.
Most of the scenes were also set during nighttime, reflecting the nocturnal activities of the escort industry in which Mi-sun and Do-kyung operated. Adjusting to this nighttime schedule proved difficult for many on set. “Our schedule was completely off,” Lee Hyun said. “We had to stay awake during the night and sleep during the day [since] many of our scenes were at night.” However, given the setting and the characters’ onscreen schedules, this was a sacrifice everyone was willing to make.
As the film continues its journey on the film festival circuit, this slick action crime film never steers its focus away from the struggles of these two women who are trying their best to overcome each challenge thrown their way. Through Han So-hee’s and Jeon Jong-seo’s performances and Lee Hyun’s direction, audiences everywhere will root for Mi-sun and Do-kyung, even when they make bigger mistakes along the way. No journey is without its challenges, and much like the characters onscreen, the cast and crew overcame their own in making Project Y.
Project Y had its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.
