▲ A profile photo of actor Kim Sung-cheol, provided by Acemaker Movieworks. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, March 20 (Yonhap) -- Director Ahn Gooc-jin's new film "Troll Factory," which will be released on the 27th of this month, is a crime thriller depicting the dark world of online opinion manipulation.

 

In the movie, a group called "Team Alep" operates as a troll factory, posting provocative and malicious comments on social networking services (SNS) or online communities to manipulate public opinion, a practice commonly known as "aggravating."

 

Starting as a prank, they gradually transform into professional opinion manipulators, receiving money in exchange for their services, and eventually getting entangled in the world of crime.

 

Though referred to as a troll factory, the group consists of only three members: Jingboking, Chatfatket, and Poptack. Spending most of their time in cyberspace, they use online aliases instead of their real names.

 

Actor Kim Sung-cheol (33), who plays Jingboking, met at a cafe in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the 20th and commented on his character, stating, "He is quick-witted, makes good judgments, and constantly schemes," adding, "I acted as if my eyes were rolling to convey that."

 

▲ Actor Kim Sung-cheol (C) appears on the still photo of Ahn Gooc-jin's new film "Troll Factory," provided by Acemaker Movieworks. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Jingboking, the leader of Team Alep, delegates tasks to team members and also receives requests from external sources. Chatfatket (Kim Dong-hwi), an aspiring writer, writes plausible comments, while Poptack, who understands the dynamics of cyberspace well, spreads them across online communities.

 

"We focused on presenting the three as a cohesive team. Similar to defenders, attackers, and midfielders playing their roles in soccer, we wanted to show how we move as one team," said Kim.

 

The members of Team Alep remind one of "keyboard warriors," individuals immersed in anonymous cyberspace who have lost their empathy towards others.

 

As they become increasingly involved in crime, Jingboking is the first to sense the danger. Internal conflicts arise within the group as a result.

 

"Jingboking isn't a character with a clear ultimate goal in life. It wasn't easy to express his ambiguity. I also pondered on what charm could be found within that ambiguity," commented Kim.

 

Although based on the novel of the same name by writer Jang Kang-myung, the film differs in many aspects. Kim Sung-cheol mentioned that although he read the original work, he heavily relied on the script to construct the character of Jingboking.

 

In the movie, Jingboking remains a mysterious figure, never directly facing the protagonist, Sang-jin (played by Son Seok-gu), in a scene. Kim Sung-cheol expressed regret, saying, "I wished I could have interacted directly with Seok-gu hyung."

 

While movies centered around journalists often evoke stories of truth uncovering, "Troll Factory" blurs the line between truth and falsehood. It's difficult to ascertain whether Team Alep's existence is real or fabricated.

 

Kim Sung-cheol described "Troll Factory" as "refreshing," stating, "From the opening to the unfolding of the story, there are many unique and novel scenes. It won't feel boring."

 

Kim Sung-cheol, who debuted in the musical "Puberty" (2014), has been active across various genres, including films such as "Kim Ji-young: Born 1982" (2019), "Ollie" (2022), and dramas like "Prison Playbook" (2017–2018), "Arthdal Chronicles" (2019), and "Our Beloved Summer" (2021–2022). He also takes on a leading role in the Netflix drama "Hell" Season 2, set to be released in the latter half of this year.

 

He remarked, "Acting is so much fun," adding, "My goal is to continue showing new sides of myself through various works."

 

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