Troubled production heads to cinemas after co-star's fall from grace
The press conference for "The Match" at Seoul's CGV Yongsan Friday convened with a conspicuous absence.
The film's co-lead, Yoo Ah-in, was nowhere to be found — not in the posters decorating the venue, not in the carefully edited trailer shown to reporters, not on the stage alongside director Kim Hyung-ju and the cast.
The erasure wasn't unexpected. Yoo, who was sentenced to one year in prison last September for drug use, was given a suspended sentence by an appeals court last month and let loose. Given the country's harsh attitude toward celebrity wrongdoings, it was all but guaranteed that the actor would be scrubbed from public view. The film's distributor had already announced that Yoo would not participate in promotional activities.
The press conference tiptoed around the actor until the director addressed Yoo's role in the film.
"The film was already scarred before its release," Kim said hesitantly. "I didn't want to create additional scars. Since it's a story about two people, structurally, it was impossible to edit one out.
"I figured presenting the film as originally intended is the right thing to do," he added.
Based on real-life figures, "The Match" chronicles the "baduk" or "go" rivalry between Cho Hoon-hyun and his protege-turned-rival Lee Chang-ho, both legends of the game in their own right. Cho was at the peak of his career when he suffered defeats to Lee, who would eventually go on to become one of the greatest baduk players of all time. Lee Byung-hun portrays the flamboyant Cho while Yoo embodies the more introverted prodigy Lee.
The film's path to screen has been rocky, to say the least — production wrapped in April 2021, but its release was derailed when Yoo's legal troubles came to light. Netflix, the original distributor, largely shelved the project and decided not to release it on its platform.
Now, after being picked up by local production company BY4M Studio, the film is set for a nationwide theatrical release. It marks Yoo's first screen appearance since his fall from grace — the actor served five months behind bars before his release following the appeals court decision.
Lee Byung-hun, one of Korea's most celebrated actors, spoke of his immediate connection to the material. "I honestly knew nothing about baduk and had zero interest in it," he admitted. "But once I read the screenplay and watched some documentaries about it, I was completely drawn in.
"The fact that such dramatic events actually happened was astonishing. The thought of becoming Cho Hoon-hyun myself filled me with excitement."
The veteran actor's draw extended beyond audiences. Supporting actor Cho Woo-jin, who plays fellow baduk player Nam Ki-chul, cited his respect for Lee as his primary reason for taking the role.
"Just meeting his gaze creates instant immersion," Cho said. "Even with minimal movements, he conveys every emotional layer. Watching him again reminded me why I admire him so much."
Kim revealed that Lee was his first and only choice for the leading role. "Most of the performance happens while seated at the baduk board, which demanded someone of Lee Byung-hun's caliber," he explained. "There wasn't a moment's hesitation by the production company, either,"
The film's theatrical release has become a silver lining for the cast and crew. "That's the business side of things," Kim said. "From a director's perspective, we prepared for a theatrical release from the beginning. I'm genuinely happy to meet audiences in theaters, which make movies truly feel like movies."
Lee expressed similar enthusiasm. "As someone who loves the cinema experience, I'm grateful this film found its way back to the big screen despite all the obstacles."
"The Match" hits theaters March 26.
moonkihoon@heraldcorp.com
