Gianna Jun, Ju Ji-hoon, Oh Jung-se, Cho Han-Cheul, writer Kim Eun-hee and director of
photography Choi Sang-mook star at the press conference
Manila, 13 October 2021 – iQiyi Original K-series Jirisan took centre stage internationally this afternoon (October 13th), in a global press conference that featured writer Kim Eun-hee, director of photography Choi Sang-mook, together with stars Gianna Jun, Ju Ji-hoon, Oh Jung-se and Cho Han-Cheul. Opening with a highlight video of Jirisan, the sneak preview showcased Jirisan peak in its glory through the four seasons. Jun, Ju and their fellow actors star as national park rangers who face typhoons, fires, floods and untold dangers without fear in their search and rescue missions. Lying in wait are not only mysteries and suspense, but also heartwarming stories that viewers can look forward to.
Jirisan follows the team of national park rangers who are responsible for search and rescue on Jirisan. Experienced ranger (played by Gianna Jun) and rookie ranger (played by Ju Ji-hoon) are set to unravel the secrets of the peak. The iQiyi Original K-series will exclusively simulcast with Korea on October 23rd on iQiyi International app or iQ.com worldwide.
WATCH HIGHLIGHT HERE:
Some keynotes from the Press conference:
Writer, Kim Eun-hee, shared that she wrote a story previously with a police officer in the lead and was focused on finding the cause of murder after it occurred. But for Jirisan, she shared those park rangers would be trying to prevent incidents. Smiling, Jun said, “Few actors have worked with writer Kim consecutively. I am very thankful for that. The charm in her scripts is that details that seem unimportant at the start, turn out to be crucial at the end.” Ju added, “I’ve worked with writer Kim for
five years. She’s like a relative, someone who I will greet during a festival, and we meet often. Her scripts are extremely detailed.” Ju and Kim both expressed hope to continue working together in the future.
From her elegant, goddess-like image in previous romance comedies, Gianna Jun showcases a new side of strength and skill in Jirisan. Speaking of her role, Jun said “Actually, I didn’t accept the role because I wished to play a strong woman, females today are stronger in character. I never thought I would play a park ranger, to me this is a brand new experience.” Gianna Jun also felt that the filming process was not too tough, “I didn’t feel exceptionally tired or cold, I was very happy throughout the
filming process. As I prepared well in mountaineering gear, there were not many difficulties.” In fact, Jun feels that the production process has improved her physical health. Screenwriter Kim also praises Jun for growing from strength to strength, just as her iconic character in the box office hit film, My Sassy Girl, Jun replied, “Thank you to everyone for your praises, I think there are some humorous parts in there.”
Ju Ji-hoon plays rookie ranger Kang Hyun-jo who seems to bring the element of mystery into the series. He shared his thoughts on his character and revealed how he went about bringing it to life. He felt every actor has different charms. Prior to production, he would discuss with writer Kim, listen to her analysis of his role. He revealed that he enjoyed climbing from a young age and expressed enthusiasm to climb Jirisan in the future. Ju shared that it took a lot of energy to shoot this series, it was tough, especially when ascending the peak and his legs had to hold still. The shoot was about 3 – 4 times more demanding than shooting on even ground, he quipped, “That’s why I run to keep fit.”
Oh Jung-se has played many memorable characters in various drama series including Stove League. Having starred in many successful dramas, he is enjoying great popularity. Oh shared what made Jirisan his latest project and the challenges he encountered through production, he said, “Many are anticipating Jirisan, one can feel its charm from the show title alone, especially with writer Kim, director Lee Eung-bok and photography director’s Choi Sang-mook behind it, I had no reason not to accept the role.”
Cho Han-cheul has played comedic roles that brightened up many shows. In Jirisan, not only is he teammates with Jun, Ju as the Haidong Branch park rangers, he will once again inject humour to lighten up Jirisan. Sharing his shoot experience, Cho talked about the joys and challenges of filming in nature and revealed that when he was 20, he climbed the mountain in an attempt to quit smoking. He has even ascended to the peak twice since. Laughing about his own age, Cho said that the production took a toll on him physically. Oh Jung-se joked, “I’m younger than Cho Han-cheul!” Oh believed that the
mountain enables him to feel nature and embrace its charm. This warmth is similar to a parents’ embrace and that will be felt by viewers.”
Check iQiyi PH social media pages for more updates on iQiyi’s amazing shows:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iQIYIphilippines
Instagram: @iqiyiphilippines
Twitter: @iQIYIph
