Comic action 'Hi-Five' readies for release amid star's absence
Yoo Ah-in once again scrubbed from promo events following drug scandal
The press conference for the upcoming superhero comedy "Hi-Five" convened Monday at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University in Seoul, with director Kang Hyung-cheol and his cast in attendance. Conspicuously absent was Yoo Ah-in, who has vanished entirely from public view following his drug conviction in September.
"I wanted to make a fun, entertaining film — the kind you'd find in video rental shops back in the day," said Kang, explaining his vision. "I've been fortunate enough to direct several films, and this time I wanted to create something that audiences could watch comfortably and enjoy."
Kang reigns as Korean cinema's go-to hitmaker for modest crowd-pleasing comedies. The box office numbers speak for themselves — his 2008 debut "Scandal Makers" racked up an impressive 8.3 million admissions, and his sophomore effort "Sunny" (2011) defied expectations by turning a high school reunion story into a 7.4 million smash hit.
Ahn Jae-hong, who plays one of the five protagonists, cited the director as his primary motivation for joining the project. "More than anything, the fact that this was Kang Hyung-cheol's film drew me in immediately," he said. "The way he conceived this story, the premise, the flow — it seemed incredibly exciting."
Oh Jung-se shared similar sentiments after his third collaboration with Kang. "Director Kang's films still have that old-school movie magic," Oh said. "That's why whenever people ask me what kind of film I want to do next, I always say 'a Kang Hyung-cheol film.'"
"Hi-Five" follows five ordinary individuals who suddenly develop superpowers after receiving organ transplants from a man with psychic abilities. The ensemble cast features, among others, Lee Jae-in as a taekwondo enthusiast with super strength, Ra Mi-ran as a mysterious yogurt seller and Kim Hee-won as a factory manager with healing powers. Yoo Ah-in plays Ki-dong, an unemployed man who gains electromagnetic vision after a corneal transplant.
The trailer screened at the event showcased a deliberate B-movie aesthetic — over-the-top effects, goofy sight gags and outsized action — all true to the director's knack for feel-good, broad comedy. Notably, not a single frame of Yoo made it in.
Addressing the film's approach, Kang highlighted the contrast between fantasy powers and everyday characters. "Yes, it's a comedy that deals with the unrealistic concept of superpowers," he explained. "But precisely because we're using such a fantastical premise, I wanted to ground everything else in reality."
Ahn added, "All the characters have such distinct personalities. When such different characters from different worlds come together, fun things naturally happen. The way they interact creates something incredibly fun that I think audiences will enjoy."
When asked about Yoo's drug scandal and subsequent exile from the promotional circuit, Kang responded with measured composure.
"It's unfortunate — something we wish hadn't happened," he said. "At that time, the film wasn't yet completed, and we were in the middle of postproduction. A leader needs to focus on solutions when problems arise."
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