Actor Ko A-sung plays Gyena, an office worker at a financial company, who leaves for New Zealand to seek a new life there in the upcoming movie, “Because I Hate Korea.” Courtesy of Rosc By Baek Byung-yeul In the film Because I Hate Korea, the main character Gyena faces multiple challenges, including a two-hour commute from Incheon to Seoul, the pressure to meet unreasonable demands from her superiors at work, and feelings of inferiority due to her modest background compared to her wealthy boyfriend. To escape her seemingly hopeless life, the woman in her late 20s, played by Ko A-sung, who works at a financial company, decides to quit her job and move to New Zealand in the upcoming film.
Based on Chang Kang-myoung's 2015 novel of the same title , “Because I Hate Korea” depicts the struggles of young people in Korean society, where everyone is expected to follow the same path or risk being left behind. A poster for the upcoming movie “Because I Hate Korea” / Courtesy of Rosc From the start, the film candidly explores various issues within Korean society, particularly highlighting the frustrations and injustices experienced by young people. Gyena decides to leave Korea to escape the injustices and embark on a journey to discover her true self, seeking happiness beyond the relentless pressures of the rat race.
By alternating between Gyena’s life in Korea and her new experiences in New Zealand, the film shows her determination to adapt to a new culture and overcome prejudices while searching for her own path. Clearly, New Zealand isn't the paradise Gyena imagined. She finds herself juggling various part-time jobs while attending graduate school to manage her new life.
Director Jang Kun-jae said he was inspired to make the film after reading the novel in 2015. He aimed to portray the challenges of life in Korean society, which he has personally experienced, and to offer comfort to young people who are struggling. "Of course, I'm in a different position than Gyena.
I'm a married man in my 40s with a child. Even from my perspective, Korean society is a tough place to live," Jang said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. "While this film doesn't cover all social discourses, I believe the characters represent people we commonly see.
I hope the film sends an encouraging message to young people." Ko, known for her roles in director Bong Joon-ho's hits, "The Host" and "Snowpiercer," was drawn to the character’s quest for self-discovery and a better life, despite the hardships she faces. “In the movie, there's a children's book about a penguin who didn't like the cold.
The penguin goes through a really hard process to get to the warm southern country, and the message of the book is that you can have it all because you've gone through hardships yourself,” Ko said. She added that from the moment she first received the script, she knew she couldn't pass up the opportunity to portray an ordinary woman in her late 20s who is weary of life. "Gyena's life in another place wasn’t easy either, but that's why I played her with the mindset that she will make it.
” "Because I Hate Korea" premiered as the opening film at last year's Busan International Film Festival , where it received considerable acclaim. The film alternates between depicting life in Korea and New Zealand, without portraying either place as an absolute utopia. The film's balanced portrayal of both countries, coupled with Gyena's personal journey and decisions, allows viewers to understand the complexities behind her choices and the reasoning behind the provocative title "Because I Hate Korea.
" The film will hit local theaters on Aug. 28..
