The film "Hijacking" (하이재킹), starring actors Ha Jung-woo (하정우), Yeo Jin-goo, and Sung Dong-il, premiered on the 21st and has topped the Korean box office for six consecutive days, capturing the hearts of early summer moviegoers. 

Directed by Kim Sung-han, a former assistant director of "1987" and "Ashfall" (백두산), "Hijacking" marks his debut in commercial cinema. The film portrays an extreme situation where a passenger plane is hijacked in South Korean airspace in 1971. The intense battle unfolds as hijacker Yong-dae attempts to fly the plane to North Korea, while Co-pilot Tae-in (Ha Jung-woo), Captain Gyu-sik (Sung Dong-il), and Flight Attendant Ok-soon (Chae Soo-bin) fight to save the lives of over 50 passengers and prevent the plane from heading north, guiding the audience through a tightly woven tension.

Ha Jung-woo and Sung Dong-il deliver explosive performances filled with sincerity, aiming solely to save the passengers. Yeo Jin-goo, playing Yong-dae, a character driven to hijacking due to extreme oppression as a child of a North Korean officer during the Korean War, received praise from senior actors for his sharp performance, as if he had changed faces. Their performances, combined with the craftsmanship of Director Kim Sung-han and Writer Kim Kyung-chan, have created a well-made drama that transcends the suspense genre as entertainment. On the 14th, Sports Korea met with Ha Jung-woo, who played Co-pilot Tae-in, at a café in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

"Recently, a journalist pointed out that my filmography features characters who sacrifice themselves for others. Since 'The Handmaiden' (아가씨), I've portrayed characters with a sense of justice for a greater cause. Although these choices were unintentional, they likely reflected the overarching themes of the directors at the time. The poignancy in the latter part of 'Hijacking' appealed to me. Sung Dong-il often uses the term 'poignancy,' and the scene where Tae-in makes a noble act and tries to land the plane without letting go of the controls is very classic. Director Kim Sung-han's understated direction made the film even stronger."

In the film, Tae-in, once a promising Air Force fighter pilot, is forcibly discharged for refusing an order to shoot down a hijacked plane bound for North Korea. He becomes a co-pilot for a civilian airline, boarding a flight to Gimpo Airport, only to face a hijacking. "Hijacking" captures the 70 minutes of real-time events during the hijacking, making it crucial to convey the situation inside the plane vividly to the audience.

"We shot with the plane set mounted on a gimbal. It was a very confined space with 60 actors filming together, and at times, with the doors closed, it felt like we were running out of oxygen. However, the focus and teamwork improved as we commuted to the set in Daejeon for three months. The biggest challenge was portraying the real-time events inside the plane without any mistakes. The situations were not based on a logical narrative but rather on Yong-dae's impulsive decisions and actions, leading to improvised scenarios that required genuine emotional reactions. My experience with 'The Terror Live,' directed by Kim Byung-woo, helped in this regard. We meticulously monitored each scene, reviewing and confirming everything as a whole, ensuring every take was precise. Since there were no changes in location or time, even the slightest mistake could cause everything to collapse like dominoes. Under Director Kim Sung-han's leadership, everyone moved with a single mind."

Yeo Jin-goo, who played the conflicted villain Yong-dae, evolved into a perfect adult actor through "Hijacking." His impressive performance alongside veterans Ha Jung-woo and Sung Dong-il showcased an equal energy. Ha Jung-woo even played a casting director role, actively recommending Yeo Jin-goo during the filming of the variety show "Bros on Foot" (두발로 티켓팅).

"During 'Bros on Foot' filming, I instinctively felt that Jin-goo was right for Yong-dae. Despite having other candidates, I immediately contacted the production team. The most challenging aspect of the script was establishing the credibility of a young man in his early twenties hijacking a plane. Even though it was based on real events, the cinematic plausibility needed to be convincing, and Yeo Jin-goo's portrayal of Yong-dae resolved these concerns. His intense gaze and passionate energy filled many gaps. On set, Sung Dong-il played a significant role, bridging the generational gap and maintaining a comfortable filming atmosphere. Jin-goo's ability to blend in allowed for compelling scenes, proving his strong acting skills."

In his previous roles, Ha Jung-woo often portrayed characters who maintained humor and wit in isolated, adverse situations. However, in "Hijacking," Tae-in is a character who struggles for the safety of all passengers, leaning towards self-sacrifice during critical moments. This portrayal of Tae-in, who burns with a sense of duty, has been described as delivering "heart-wrenching poignancy through a sublime true story."

"While playing Tae-in, the main focus was on how to stop the hijacker wielding a bomb and demanding to go north. The key was how to react to Yong-dae's actions. From the initial threat to interactions with Captain Gyu-sik and calming the passengers, I built the reactions simply and effectively. In the latter part of the film, Tae-in suffers severe injuries, and I thought the scenes should be more desperate. The image of Tae-in, severely injured but still trying to land the plane, is the crux of the film. I even asked makeup artist Hye-rim Choi to make my complexion look more ashen as the film progressed. Despite Tae-in's escalating crisis, I aimed to keep the portrayal restrained and less expressive, believing that externally, he needed to remain calm even if internally, he was conflicted and anxious. This approach matched my favorite acting style and Tae-in's character direction perfectly."