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| ▲ E-do, portrayed by Kim Nam-gil, is featured in this still from "Trigger," provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ Moon-baek, portrayed by Kim Young-gwang, is featured in this still from "Trigger," provided by Netflix. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
Netflix series-press conference
Netflix's 'Trigger' offers cautionary tale amid heightened awareness of gun violence
By Woo Jae-yeon
SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- The upcoming crime thriller "Trigger," which involves gun violence, couldn't have come at a more relevant time for the country in shock over a recent, rare gun crime.
Just a day earlier, a 63-year-old man was taken into police custody for allegedly shooting his son to death in Incheon, west of Seoul, during his own birthday party.
The shocking case, involving an illegal gun and the horrific nature of a father killing his own son, immediately heightened nationwide awareness of gun violence, which is extremely rare in the country.
Addressing the tragic real-life context at a press conference Tuesday, director and scriptwriter Kwon Oh-seung said the drama is intended as a strong warning against the very violence that has just occurred.
"I am deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident," Kwon said. "When you watch the series, you will see the clear message that this kind of violence should never happen."
The 10-episode series centers on the uneasy alliance between E-do (Kim Nam-gil), a former sniper now working as a police officer, and the mysterious Moon-baek (Kim Young-kwang). The unlikely pair embarks on a dangerous mission to stop the widespread chaos caused by the sudden availability of illegal guns.
The director said the show's premise came from a chilling question, "What would happen if someone distributes guns on purpose so that everyone could get their hands on a gun in an increasingly divisive society?"
By exploring this "what if" scenario, he said he was able to move firearms from their typical role as mere plot devices to the very center of the story.
"What matters in the series is not how you use your gun, but who should have the right to wield one," Kwon said. "This approach challenges the conventional role of firearms in storytelling."
Actor Kim Nam-gil explained his character, E-do, as a man who struggles with the morality of using a gun, constantly questioning if it is right to harm one person to save another. He noted that E-do actively seeks alternatives to firearms whenever possible.
To capture this internal conflict, Kim said he intentionally performed his action scenes "in a subdued manner."
Kim Young-kwang said he was drawn to playing Moon-baek, a character he described as a catalyst who poses the story's central questions.
"I found the character very refreshing," he said. "I was fascinated by how this free-spirited, unpredictable man would transform as the story unfolds."
"Trigger" is set for release Friday.
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