▲ Korean veteran actor Song Kang-ho (C) appears in this still image of South Korean film "One Win" provided by Artist Studio on Oct. 21, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Renowned Korean actor Song Kang-ho returns as a coach for a women’s professional volleyball team in One Win, directed by Shin Yeon-shik, slated for release in December. 

 

During a production briefing in Seoul on October 28, Song expressed his excitement about the film's departure from the intense themes of his recent projects, such as Emergency Declaration (2022) and Cobweb (2023). 

 

He described One Win as "a lively, hope-filled drama" designed for light-hearted enjoyment, adding, "I wanted to show audiences a new, experimental side of myself as an actor."

 

In One Win, Song plays Woo-jin, a volleyball coach with a dismal win rate of less than 10%. He’s tasked with coaching “Pink Storm,” a struggling women’s volleyball team on the brink of dissolution. The storyline escalates as Jeong-won (Park Jung-min), a second-generation chaebol-turned-club-owner, promises Woo-jin and his team a hefty 2-billion-won bonus if they can secure even a single win.

 

The film spotlights the dynamic interplay between Song Kang-ho and Park Jung-min. Park shared, "I jumped at the chance to work with Song Kang-ho in this role," jokingly adding, "It was a rare opportunity to boss around an acting legend like him." He further noted that One Win aims to reciprocate the support fans show actors by “cheering for the audience.”

 

▲ Korean veteran actor Song Kang-ho appears in this still image of South Korean film "One Win" provided by Artist Studio on Oct. 28, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

 

Model-actress Jang Yoon-ju, playing the team's captain, praised the film’s humor, highlighting Song’s distinct comedic timing. While One Win shares similarities with other underdog sports films, its volleyball setting makes it unique, marking the first Korean movie centered on the sport. Director Shin acknowledged volleyball's cinematic challenges, noting, "It's incredibly difficult to film due to the ball control involved, but advanced cinematic technology has finally made this possible."

 

The film utilizes CGI to enhance the energy of volleyball scenes, with actors undergoing intensive training to capture authentic movements and teamwork. One Win will also feature several high-profile cameos: actor Jo Jung-suk as the rival team’s coach, volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung in a cameo, and 1990s volleyball legends Kim Se-jin and Shin Jin-sik as opposing coaches.

 

One Win premiered at last year’s Rotterdam International Film Festival to positive feedback, with critics praising its “warm and uplifting atmosphere.” Director Shin, also known for Fair Love (2010) and Song’s upcoming series Uncle Samsik, shared that he was inspired to create a film enjoyable for audiences of all ages, especially his own family.

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