| A scene from upcoming period film "Feng Shui" / Courtesy of Megabox |
By Park Jin-hai
Details for "Feng Shui," the last installment of a three-part film series about Zhouyi, an oriental philosophy that is the root of the Korean divination system, have been unveiled.
The film, starring Cho Seung-woo and Ji Sung, is set in the later part of the Joseon Kingdom and tells the story of feng shui expert, Park Jae-sang, who can read the energy of the land and those who compete to occupy the land in order to change their fate and become king.
Korean Geomancy, which is called Pungsu-jiri-seol, or "Earth-Principles-theory," evaluates various features of land, mountains and water, and then connects them to human fortune and misfortune. First introduced before the era of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, the philosophy still has influence today to some degree.
It is the final piece that makes up the trilogy following the 2013 film "The Face Leader" and this year's romantic comedy "The Princess and the Matchmaker." The first film of the trilogy was one of the highest-grossing films of 2013, attracting over 9.1 million people.
"An important part of the cast is the land itself," said Park Hee-gon, director of the film, during the press conference at Megabox in Dongdaemun, Seoul, Monday. "We think that we live stepping on the land, but it is the land that can either allow people sustain or end their lives. Land can change life. Depending on their relationship to the land and how people treat them, one's fate and the whole world can differ."
The director said it took 12 years from planning, writing the script and pre-production work through the end of shooting. "I began to participate in the project two years ago. The production company had been preparing for the film for a long time, in researching the historical documents and writing its script. I joined in the editing of the script and directing," he said.
At the time he was handed over the script, it already included many attractive and dramatic elements that can make a great film, he said. "The propitious site boils down to human greed, which is one of the most favored elements for film makers," said Park.
Cho Seung-woo, returning to the silver screen three years after the 2015 film "Inside Men," takes the role of genius feng shui expert Park Jae-sang, while actor Ji Sung plays Heungseon Daewongun, a historical figure who tried to protect the throne during the later part of the Joseon dynasty.
Actor Ji Sung said, "There was pressure in acting as the historical figure. Since little information was available about young Hyeungseon, I back-tracked his legacy and imagined what he was like. To my understanding, he was a generous man with leadership and I played him as I understood him," he said.
"Unlike other films that mainly focus on actors, viewers will be able to see the beauty of the land of old Joseon. Although the subject of the film is the Joseon era, people will find the story still gripping today," said Cho.
"Feng Shui" will premiere Sept. 19.