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| Actors Oh Jung-se, left, and Yoo Da-in pose after a press conference for the film "I Don't Fire Myself" held in Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Writer-director Lee Tae-gyeom said he wanted depict the plight of powerless workers and tackle the issue of labor abuse in his new film "I Don't Fire Myself."
"When I was going through tough times after being turned down repeatedly for projects, I came across a news article about a middle-aged woman who was dispatched to the countryside for no good reason and endured humiliation," Lee said during a press conference for the film, Tuesday.
"I realized that for all of us, work is a matter of survival. The more time you spend at the workplace, the more you may feel like your work is your life. That's why a sudden layoff leads to an increased risk of suicide. I wanted to address this issue in our film," he added.
Inspired by a true story, the upcoming film is a tale of employees who stand up against injustice in the workplace while they are on the verge of being laid off.
It follows white-collar worker Jeong-eun (Yoo Da-in) who suffers from workplace discrimination and is dispatched to a subcontractor for one year. Despite the management's attempt to edge her out, Jeong-eun intends to hold on to her job and return to the head office a year later.
Climbing up high-voltage transmission towers is challenging, but Jeong-eun slowly adjusts to her new job with the help of Choong-sik (Oh Jung-se).
Lee explained that the transmission towers symbolize Jeong-eun's dire situation.
"Transmission towers are enormous, complex and are made of cold-formed steel. Just thinking about them makes her feel overwhelmed due to their complexity. Jeong-eun feels the same way with her life," he said.
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| A scene from the film "I Don't Fire Myself" / Courtesy of Jin Jin Pictures |
Yoo, who gives a rousing performance as Jeong-eun, said her character faces a "cliff" after her employer pressures her to resign.
"Right before I was offered the role, I heard the news and watched a documentary about KTX (bullet train) female attendants returning to their workplace after more than 10 years of protests against unjust layoffs. I felt like I needed to do this project," she said.
The versatile actress, known for her previous roles in "Re-encounter" (2010) and "The Snob" (2019), said she tried to portray the desperation of the character. "Being advised to quit for being a female employee would feel like I'm surrounded by walls and there's nowhere to go. I filmed the movie with the mindset that I would never give up no matter what," Yoo said.
Oh plays Choong-sik, a single dad who works as a subcontractor and juggles a few other part-time jobs to raise his three children. He helps Jeong-eun adapt to field work, teaching her how to climb a transmission tower.
"Choong-sik is an earnest worker. There are people around me who are devoted to their jobs and are hardworking like my character, but it was disappointing to witness that their efforts are not being appreciated enough. I wanted to show emotional support for them through this film," he said.
The actor, who gained public recognition through the hit TV series "When the Camellia Blooms" (2019) and "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" (2020), encouraged the audience to watch films that offer social commentary.
"I know that some find it uncomfortable to watch films that tackle social problems, and so they look for something funny or beautiful. However, I'd like you to know that watching a film like this could bring attention to marginalized groups and help them to raise their voices," Oh said.
"I Don't Fire Myself" will hit local theaters, Jan. 28.
