Hwang Jung-min wrings tears as everyman in Gukje Market
by girlfriday
Warning: This movie is rated T for Tissue. I’ll be the first to admit that this movie about my father’s generation sounded boring on paper, but I kept seeing headlines about how it was so highly anticipated and how it’s going to make everyone cry, so I finally stopped to read about it and watch the trailer. A minute and a half later, I already wanted to call my parents. I know December is pretty much the season of heartwarming family movies, but Gukje Market might just win for most tears collected.
Gukje means “international,” but the film is named for Gukje Market, the biggest open-air street market in Busan that began in the 1950s as a series of stalls set up by wartime refugees seeking to earn a meager living. The project comes from director Yoon Je-kyun of the Busan-set disaster movie Haeundae, and tells the story of a common Korean father all the way from the 1950s to the present day.
Hwang Jung-min plays the lead character from start to finish, using prosthetics and CG to age him throughout the course of his life story. He plays an average man from an average home, with two parents (Jung Jin-young, Jang Young-nam) and an aunt (Ra Mi-ran) who arrived in Busan during the war with nothing but the clothes on their backs. He has two younger siblings (Lee Hyun, Kim Seul-gi), a best friend (Oh Dal-soo), and he gets to marry his first love, played by leading lady Kim Yun-jin (Mistresses, Lost).
The teaser already wrenches my heart, but in the best way — it just tells the simple story of a man who works hard his entire life to provide for his loved ones, to be the best firstborn son and best father he can be. He never complains, never turns down a job, and never makes a fuss over his sacrifices, keeping his hardship and his tears hidden all the while. In short, it’s the story of every Korean dad. And the small story of one man is told against the big backdrop of modern Korean society since the war.
In an emotional scene at the end of the teaser, Hwang Jung-min asks, “Father, I lived well, right? If I did this much, I lived well, right?” Why is he so good at playing the down-on-his-luck, but always-optimistic underdog? I just want to hug him. The teaser’s tagline reads: “To you, who lived courageously for your family / For the most ordinary father / The most extraordinary story.” If that’s not a love letter to fathers everywhere, I don’t know what is.
Gukje Market opens in theaters December 17.
Via MBN
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1 fab
December 11, 2014 at 1:19 PM
Aww that's so heart wrenching, I have the urge to call my dad now, who is currently 2000 miles away but I would just worry him sick when he hears me sob like a madwoman.
Seriously, Hwang Jung-min never fails to grab my attention, he is amazing in every role he plays.
(go away onion cutting ninjas!)
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Amie
December 11, 2014 at 6:44 PM
I was reading the article and it already brought tears to my eyes. I didn't even look at the pictures anymore. Whoa, for sure, one day, if I need a good cry I will watch this one. I do have a good father, so good that some people takes advantage of him. Long story short, we gotta do something for him to enjoy his remaining years, while he still can.
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azkiya
December 11, 2014 at 9:33 PM
same here, wet eyes already..i even didn't watch the trailer,
but just reading it really had me all the way..
will try to look for this movie once it out. all the love to my mum and dad, love youu! *sorry for using this comment section for personal thingy :))
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2 alua
December 11, 2014 at 1:24 PM
Hwang Jung-min is so underrated, but I feel like lately he's getting bigger roles and more attention, which is just wonderful.
I'll pretty much watch anything he's in, including the biggest tearjerker (I'll skip horror though, but fortunately he hasn't done anything in that genre as far as I know).
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Megumi
December 11, 2014 at 4:33 PM
Yes he has, there is a movie of his called 'Black House' which is a really good movie, he plays an honest insurance investigator that suspects a family murdered their young son to receive insurance, his character in the movie is so lovable and sweet but also daring and fearless when needed to be, and I have to give it to him, he's such a versatile actor who has played all sorts of roles and succeeded in it, he used to be a stage actor and really suffered when he transitioned to movies, to think that he even thought about quitting the industry and now he's considered an A-list movie star, once he definitely used to be so underrated but now him along with Ha Jung Woo, Kim Yoon Seok, Song Kang Ho and Choi Min Sik are considered the best of the A-list actors, I used to think he was still underrated but once I found out how much Korean people respect and love him as an actor I was very happy, if you search polls on who the locals believe are the best Korean movie actors you will find his name is always somewhere on the top, he really deserves at least that much recognition.
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3 birdscout
December 11, 2014 at 1:28 PM
Must.watch.this.
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4 ck1Oz
December 11, 2014 at 1:35 PM
Omg it's only early here and you've made me cry GirlFriday.
That's so sad. I mean the trailer is so slice of life sad. It's not that he soldiers on but it's the fact it's so human or however you describe it. That's not a Busan accent is it? I normally don't understand it but I can for this trailer.
I really can't take movies where their young life is shown and then the reality of adult life is shown. Of in this case war, hardship and suffering. Why do people want to watch this during the holiday period? I wish all fathers could have his determination and spirit and acceptance of what life brings. Instead of giving excuses or running away from their responsibilities.
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5 Emmy
December 11, 2014 at 1:43 PM
Woah, i know what you mean Girlfriday. I've got tears in my eyes as well.
The trailer is so great at promoting the emotional message of the movie. Now I will have to see it when it comes out, and cry a bucket of tears.
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6 Angélina Eang
December 11, 2014 at 1:52 PM
And now, I am feeling really sh*tty for my behavior toward my father for the past few months if not years.
Gosh', why am I so happy to finally have a movie about fathers ? Obviously, there are a few of them but everytime, I watch a drama/serie/movie or just listen to music, it's always about the mother and for me, who is more close to my father, I always can't relate to it whereas with this movie, I feel I will be able to. Damn it, Hwang Jung Min, why do you always have to pick good projects ?
He was amazing in Dancing Queen and New World :D
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7 paroles
December 11, 2014 at 2:16 PM
Absolutely love Hwang Jung-min and I'm so looking forward to this.
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8 ajewell
December 11, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Wow, I got teary eyed just reading the translation for the emotional scene at the end. This does not bode well - I'm gonna be needing ALL THE TISSUES.
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9 Dafy
December 11, 2014 at 2:42 PM
I cried watching the trailer. The 2 min trailer! Like, maybe it's because the music that's so touching kkk. But it is really moving, and the way he asks his dad, weather he leaved well, right, and yet how difficult it is. Definitely a movie to watch.
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10 museofmanymasks
December 11, 2014 at 3:03 PM
As if I didn't love Hwang Jung-min enough already. Sniff. Sniff.
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11 kimchikay
December 11, 2014 at 3:15 PM
The feels....oh the feels~
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12 revlow
December 11, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Boy, he can wring tears like nobody else. And never fails to deliver a good performance, tears or no tears.
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13 jandoe
December 11, 2014 at 3:47 PM
OMG trailer's seriously got me in tears T_T
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14 cingdoc
December 11, 2014 at 4:32 PM
I already know who I'm going to see this with....
Thanks for the recommendation.
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15 cindy
December 11, 2014 at 4:56 PM
Even without sub, it got me teary eyes... How I wish I had a father to rely on, adore, and love.
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16 marin
December 11, 2014 at 5:39 PM
oh god. I didn't understand a word and I'm crying. 2 minute trailer shouldn't do that. it looks epic.
Hwang Jung-min is amazing.
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17 Annie
December 11, 2014 at 6:44 PM
OMG, someone tell Mary... Song Jae Rim is the leading man for that KBS drama about not so nice women and the female lead is Lee Hana.
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18 Hwari
December 11, 2014 at 8:43 PM
I swear that Ra Mi Ran in every block buster movies this year. That woman never get to sleep. I never see her in dramas this year.
Hwang Jung Min is awesome as he can be. I think Kim Seul Gi will be the bratty sister.
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19 zakin89
December 11, 2014 at 11:02 PM
You know when a trailer already makes me teary eyed even though I don't understand what is spoken it is a sign that I need to watch a movie :D
Guess as soon as subs are out I'll be watching ;)
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20 zamboanguena
December 11, 2014 at 11:54 PM
I'm already crying just reading your post, so I'm putting off watching the trailer till...well...I need to prepare my heart, you know.
Oh, Hwang Jung-min! You just own my heart. *sniff, sniff*
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21 annflln
December 12, 2014 at 1:39 AM
My eyes were brimming with tears...and its only from read the article. I'm sure It will be bucket of tears down when watch this movie TT-TT
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22 Winniethepooh
December 12, 2014 at 3:13 AM
I give my appreciation to this kind of movies (even though without huge stars) rather than some movies which just seems indirectly selling explicit sex scenes with beautiful actors in it and without solid story.
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zamboanguena
December 12, 2014 at 3:44 AM
Oh but Hwang Jung-min and Kim Yun-jin ARE huge stars!
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Winniethepooh
December 12, 2014 at 3:57 PM
That's why I said I appreciate this movie more. I don't care about how huge their popularity but the movie seems has great story and solid actings. What I'm gonna say is nowadays korean movies always include explicit sex scenes and actors and team productions will promote the movies saying "they have extremely sex/bed scenes in it…bla..bla..bla…". Such a weird way to promote the movies…mehhh...
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23 daria
December 12, 2014 at 5:28 AM
you got me at hwang jungmin & oh dalsoo :)
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24 whitewire
December 12, 2014 at 6:11 AM
Huhu I looooooove Hwang Jung-min!!! He is my ideal man. I must marry someone exactly like him. He deserves more recognition than what he already has. He is really good. I cried in his movie When A Man Loves (2014) with Han Hye-jin. He is truly amazing. Love him!!
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25 maldita
December 13, 2014 at 2:25 AM
I'm a sucker for this type of movies. Definitely putting this in my Must Watch list. :)
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26 jinglebell
December 18, 2014 at 10:15 AM
Just watched this movie..cried 2 litres of tears ㅠ.ㅠ
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