The Desperate Chase” is an action comedy set on South Korea’s southern resort island of Jeju, featuring an intriguing dynamic between three main characters: a con artist, a detective and a member of the Taiwanese mafia.

While on the surface, the Korean film appears to fit into the familiar cop-chasing-criminal genre, there is more to the story than meets the eye, hidden within the thrilling chases and comedic elements, the film’s director said Tuesday.

“While living on Jeju Island for a month and talking to many locals, I learned that Jeju is suffering from many internal problems despite its outward appearance,” director Kim Jae-hoon said at a press event in Seoul to promote his upcoming movie.

“Due to reckless development from Chinese capital, much of the natural landscape was being destroyed, and this was causing many conflicts among the local residents,” he said. “I wanted to share these stories with a wider audience.”

Kim incorporated many of the actual events he saw and heard into the script and the
final film. The majority of the shooting took place in the rural villages where he had resided during his stay on the island, he said.

“Although they were being heavily developed, I tried to capture a lot of their beautiful scenery,” he said, adding he made the film with a hope that “future generations will be able to see Jeju Island as we see it now,” with its natural landscapes still intact and unspoiled.

Actor Park Sung-woong takes on the role of Kim In-hae, a master of disguise and elusive con artist whose deceptions span across genders and professions. Renowned for his versatile acting range from his performance in the noir classic “New World” (2013) to the action comedy “OK! Madam” (2020), the actor showcases his transformative abilities by portraying seven distinct characters in the film, including an elderly man and a female diver, or “haenyeo.”

The transformation process for some of Park’s characters demanded extensive time and effort. In one instance, he spent over five hours in the makeup chair
to become an old man for just one hour of filming.

“I focused on emphasizing one distinctive feature for each persona to make each character unique,” he said.

The con artist is being pursued by detective Cho Soo-gwang (Kwak Si-yang), a hot-headed cop who favors physical confrontation over legal procedures. He has been newly transferred to the island in a disciplinary measure for his anger management problems.

Completing the trio is actor Yoon Kyung-ho, who portrays a merciless Taiwanese mafia boss. This character has chosen Jeju Island as the base for his narcotics operations, adding another layer to the film’s exploration of outside influences on the island.

Despite the film’s underlying social commentary, the director said he tried to create a film that can be “enjoyed by audiences of all ages.”

“When you’re in the theater, think of it as taking a trip to Jeju Island and just have a great time,” he said.

The film marks the director’s second feature film after the crime thriller “Devils” (2022).

“The
Desperate Chase” is set for release on Aug. 21.

Source: Yonhap News Agency