South Korean actor Lee Byung-hun takes on a commanding role in the upcoming disaster thriller “Concrete Utopia,” where he leads a group of survivors in building a post-apocalyptic society. However, off-screen, the 53-year-old actor is not comfortable with wielding too much power.
During the film’s press conference held for Asian media at Seoul’s Lotte World Tower on July 31, Lee expressed his hesitations about directing movies, a question that has been posed to him considering his stature in the industry. He explained, “Some people ask me why I don’t direct movies, since some of my peers are going into that. But I have difficulty making decisions. I’m an actor. Being a director is way too much work and involves a lot of decision-making. It would be a disaster if I had to do that.”
Fellow actors from his generation, such as Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung, have ventured into directing. Despite the on-screen leadership role he takes on in “Concrete Utopia,” Lee acknowledges that his comfort zone lies in acting rather than directing.
“Concrete Utopia,” a South Korean disaster movie, centers around the residents of the sole surviving apartment building in Seoul following a massive earthquake. While the film has been described as a disaster movie, it also incorporates elements of black comedy and social commentary on power dynamics, greed, and the dream of apartment ownership in South Korea.
Lee Byung-hun portrays Young-tak, an ordinary man who becomes a leader among the apartment residents after a heroic act. As the group initially welcomes refugees from other areas, tensions arise when they decide to expel them.
The film, which also features Park Seo-joon and Park Bo-young, portrays a young couple with differing strategies for navigating the apocalypse. Despite their first-time collaboration, the chemistry between the actors was evident from the start, as they spent their first day on set posing for wedding photos.
Lee’s on-screen leadership in “Concrete Utopia” contrasts with his real-life approach, highlighting his dedication to his craft as an actor rather than a director. The movie is set to premiere in cinemas on August 24, offering audiences a unique blend of disaster, comedy, and social commentary.
