Shin Hyunjoon, 36 Years on Screen, Now a Film Festival Organizer: "Ahn Sungki Symbolizes an Era of Korean Cinema"

Interview with Shin Hyunjoon, Chairman of the Samcheok Haerang Film Festival

Leading the Festival for a Second Year, Focusing on Discovering New Filmmakers
A Retrospective of Ahn Sungki, Special Program for Bae Changho
"I Must Give Back What I've Gained from Film to the Next Generation"

Shin Hyun-jun, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd Samcheok Haerang Film Festival. HJ Culture

It has been 36 years since Shin Hyunjoon (57) first appeared on the screen with 'The General's Son.' Today, he is as concerned about creating new opportunities for younger filmmakers as he is about the projects he appears in himself. He introduces emerging directors and actors to audiences, and brings the works of veteran contributors to Korean cinema back to the big screen. That is also why he took on the role of chairman of the Samcheok Haerang Film Festival Organizing Committee for the second year in a row.

In an interview with The Asia Business Daily on September 4, Shin Hyunjoon said, "As an actor for over 30 years, I have received so much from films," adding, "I think the time has come for me to begin giving back, little by little, to the movie industry and to my juniors."

He has been serving as the chairman of the organizing committee for the 3rd Samcheok Haerang Film Festival, which is being held throughout Samcheok, Gangwon Province, from September 4 to 5. He is directly involved in the festival's advisory work, promotion, and expanding the network among filmmakers.

Shin Hyunjoon made his debut in 1990 with the film 'The General's Son.' He has appeared in various genres for over 30 years, including 'The Gingko Bed' (1996), 'The Story of Two Women' (1998), 'Bichunmoo' (2000), 'Marrying the Mafia' (2002), and 'Barefoot Ki Bong' (2006). In recent years, he has also taught younger actors at the university level. He describes his three roles—as actor, educator, and film festival chairman—as having a single root: film.

"Acting, teaching students, and working for the film festival may look completely different on the surface. But in the end, they're all linked through film. We need outstanding actors and directors to keep Korean cinema moving forward, and we also need spaces where they can meet audiences."

Taking on the role of chairman gave him a broader perspective. "Actors are responsible for their roles within a given project, but as chairman of a film festival, you have to look at the big picture," he said. "You have to think about which movies to present to the audience, which directors and actors to give opportunities to, and how films can intersect with the local community."

He is especially interested in those just starting out in the film industry. Given that opportunities to meet audiences directly are rare unless it is for large-scale commercial films, he believes regional film festivals can be a gateway to discovering new directors and actors. "Having conversations with audiences (GVs), talking about their works, and hearing the audience's reactions on the spot—it can be the driving force that motivates them to make their next film," Shin Hyunjoon said.

Shin Hyunjun, Chairperson of the 3rd Samcheok Haerang Film Festival Organizing Committee. HJ Culture

This year's festival will feature 15 feature films and 20 short films selected through open submissions. The opening film is 'My Name Is,' directed by Chung Ji-young. Seven films will host GV sessions, with directors and actors participating in post-screening conversations. The festival will be held at venues such as the Isabu-Dokdo Memorial Hall and Garam Cinema. The opening ceremony will be hosted by actress Ko Won-hee, and figures such as Park Sang-won, Jung Bo-seok, Jung Joon-ho, and Kim Bo-yeon will also be in attendance in Samcheok.

While searching for new faces, the festival also reflects on the history of Korean cinema. This year, there will be a retrospective dedicated to the late Ahn Sung-ki and a special program for director Bae Chang-ho. The Bae Chang-ho retrospective will showcase five films: 'Whale Hunting' (1984), 'Our Joyful Young Days' (1987), 'The Dream' (1990), 'Double Agent' (2001), and 'Bae Chang-ho's Close-Up' (2025). After the screening of 'The Dream,' director Bae and actor Jung Bo-seok will meet with the audience, while after 'Bae Chang-ho's Close-Up,' co-director Park Jang-chun and director Bae will join a GV session.

Shin Hyunjoon believes that, just as it is important to spotlight newcomers, it is also a film festival's role to show veteran filmmakers' works to the audience once again.

"In organizing this special program for Ahn Sung-ki, whom everyone respects, I hope audiences will remember his love and passion for movies and the countless works he has left behind," he said. He continued, "Ahn Sung-ki is more than just an actor; he is a symbol of an era in Korean cinema. I hope young moviegoers will revisit his films in theaters and reflect on the era and the filmmakers' dedication that produced those works."

He acknowledges that the realities facing regional film festivals are tough. As the center of film viewing shifts from theaters to online video services (OTT), smaller festivals face challenges in securing both budgets and audiences. "There are roles that bigger festivals can play, and roles that smaller, regional festivals can fill separately," he said. "There's no need for every festival to be the same."

The theme of this year's Samcheok Haerang Film Festival is 'Myth & History of the Blue Sea.' The festival utilizes Samcheok's ocean and natural surroundings as its spaces and aims to be a 'picnic-style festival' where families can also easily participate.

"When you attend a regional film festival, you're not just watching movies and leaving—you experience the city as a whole," Shin Hyunjoon said. "You see the sea, walk the streets, and meet the local people. Those memories, along with the films, are the true charm of regional festivals. I hope the festival is not an event separated from the city, but that the city itself becomes the festival."

What he seeks is not a festival defined by scale or fame. Shin Hyunjoon uses the term 'close film festival.' "I want the festival to be a place where audiences and filmmakers can meet up close," he explained. "I hope families will come holding their children's hands to watch movies, ask questions directly to directors and actors, and discover works by directors they've never heard of."

Shin Hyunjoon, Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 3rd Samcheok Haerang Film Festival. HJ Culture

He added that he does not want to judge the festival's success by how many famous film personalities attend. "It would be even more rewarding if actors discovered here become great actors in a few years, or if directors whom we meet for the first time return with new works," Shin Hyunjoon said. "I hope it becomes a festival where people can say, 'I saw that director's first movie in Samcheok.'"

"The main characters of a film festival are the audience. It should not be just for filmmakers to meet and take photos; it should be a place for the audience to discover new works, and for filmmakers to encounter audiences directly," he said.

He has not yet decided what roles he will take on in the future.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to leave film. Whether it's by appearing myself, teaching the next generation, or creating opportunities like this to connect people with movies, I feel a responsibility to contribute, even in a small way, to Korean cinema that has made me an actor for over 30 years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.