'Drive' Heroine Park Ju-hyun 'Understood Claustrophobia Firsthand' from Trunk Scene

▲ This profile photo, provided by production firm MerryChristmas on June 4, 2024, shows South Korean actress Park Ju-hyun. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- "While I don't have claustrophobia, I was curious about what it felt like. I think I got a sense of it this time. I wanted to escape the trunk so badly," actress Park Ju-hyun said with a laugh during an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, on the 4th.

Director Park Dong-hee's thriller film "Drive," set to release on the 12th, centers on the kidnapping of a famous influencer. Park Ju-hyun plays Yuna, a YouTuber with 800,000 subscribers, who is kidnapped by a mysterious assailant while negotiating a contract with a new agency and ends up trapped in the trunk of a car. The kidnapper demands she raise 650 million won through a live broadcast to secure her release.

For scenes showing the car's exterior, including moments when the trunk opens while the car is moving, Park Ju-hyun actually acted from within the car trunk. For the live broadcast scenes, a set replicating the trunk was used, with the front, back, and sides designed to open. Only one side was opened for the camera to capture her performance.

Given the extreme nature of the film's events, Yuna's role posed a significant challenge for Park Ju-hyun. "When I act, I typically gauge the intensity from 1 to 10. In 'Drive,' it felt like I went up to 30. I reached 10, but then even more intense scenes followed, gradually increasing the intensity."

▲ This still photo of South Korean thriller film "Drive," starring actress Park Ju-hyun, is provided by production firm MerryChristmas on June 4, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Filming trunk scenes for extended periods made it difficult to maintain continuity from one day to the next. "Since my condition changes daily, to keep the same expressions and gestures, I had to monitor my performance at home to reset my expressions the next day. Filming like that for months was the toughest part."

Co-star Kim Yeo-jin, who plays a detective in the film, praised Park Ju-hyun's performance after watching the edited version, saying she was "proud" of her. Park Ju-hyun confessed, "I got so emotional from her words that I went to the bathroom and cried my eyes out."

Park Ju-hyun has mainly appeared in dramas such as "Extracurricular," "Zombie Detective," "Mouse," "Love All Play," and "The Forbidden Marriage." She also starred in the Netflix film "Seoul Vibe." "Drive" marks her first theatrical film release. "I'm very excited to meet audiences in theaters for the first time," she said.

Next month, she will also be seen in the late Lee Sun-kyun's final film, "Escape: Project Silent." Unlike "Escape," in "Drive," Park Ju-hyun takes on the lead role, making this her proper debut on the big screen.

When asked about her future aspirations, Park Ju-hyun said, "I hope to always be able to freely transform to fit the character, with the character taking precedence over me. At the same time, it would be nice if audiences could also associate a specific image with Park Ju-hyun."

Regarding the film "Drive," she added, "Although it conveys a message and explores darker themes, I hope audiences can enjoy the film's pace and thrills."

▲ This still photo of South Korean thriller film "Drive," starring actress Park Ju-hyun, is provided by production firm MerryChristmas on June 4, 2024. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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