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An Interview with Kim Kang-woo, Star of 'Guimoon: The Lightless Door'

By InCinemas / 25 Oct 2021 (Monday)

Actor Kim Kang-woo, best known from his roles in South Korean film The Taste of Money and series The Missing, stars in a new horror film, The Lightless Door.

The Lightless Door depicts the story of the director of a psychic research institute and college students. Alongside Kim, the film also stars Kim So-hye and Lee Jung-hyung and is directed by Kim Yong-wan. The film is produced in 2D, ScreenX and 4DX versions, marking the first time a Korean film is made where its audience can feel the horror of film's characters with screens extended to both walls, and 4DX equipped with motion chairs and special environmental equipment.

(The interview between Kim Kang-woo and CJ ENM was conducted via email.)

1. Guimoon: The Lightless Door is very dark and heavy. Will it be easy for you to leave the role when you are done?
As the film was always shot throughout inside the dark and shady building, I occasionally felt very down and depressed. But after the filming, I quickly returned to myself soon.

2. Understand that Guimoon: The Lightless Door was shot in a rundown building, did anything strange happen during the shooting? From your other interviews, you mentioned that the filming location was very cold – can you elaborate more on this please?
I remember the weather to be freezing as the shooting was done in the middle of winter, under -20℃. As you know, the indoor should be warmer than outside, but when we were shooting Guimoon: The Lightless Door, the being inside the building was colder than outside. I followed the sun like a sunflower when I rested.

3. How did you prepare for the role?
Rather than preparing something special, I tried to concentrate on every moment throughout the shoot. I tried to convey Do-jin's whole emotion and tension to the audience. I believed the fear would be better vivid in that way.

4. Do you believe ghosts exist in this world?
Although I haven't experienced it personally, considering the numerous experiences that I have heard or have been passed down so far, it seems difficult to be sure that there will not be any supernatural being.

5. Are you a fan of horror/ghost movies? Were there any regrets? Would you agree to star in another horror movie?
Actually, I don’t enjoy horror movies. So participating this project was a big decision for me. I have never regretted shooting it and if there is an attractive afterward work, I am willing to do a horror movie again.

6. Is filming a horror movie more physically & mentally demanding, as compared to filming your other works?
It was a movie that requires a lot of physical energy because I had to use a lot of breathing to convey my tension and fear and there were many action scenes as other real action movies. I think it will be the same with other horror movies too.

7. What's your impression of working with Kim So-hye?
As I know, Kim So-hye is an actress who hasn't shoot that many titles. Nevertheless, as I watched her immersed and expressing in the play that requires dramatic and intense emotions, I can tell that she's a real actress. Looking forward to her performances in the future.

8. Which scene was the hardest to shoot for you?
Rather than a particular scene, I struggled with many physical difficulties like shooting action scenes, rolling around that stuff every day inside a cold building.

9. What is your favorite behind-the-scenes moment from the film?
Since it's a horror movie, there were many scenes that I should confront with ghosts, and each and every ghost was really horrifying especially in the dark. As a person who can’t watch horror movies well, it was terrifying and fun at the same time. But I think my emotional performances showed out better in that way.

10. How do you think this movie is different from other horror movies?
Guimoon is a horror movie that happens over one night, in one place. There are many other horror movies all over the world but Guimoon has its specialty with this. It takes place in one place, the coexistence of present and the past and many ghosts appear in it. I'm sure it will be more tension since it happens overnight.

Additionally, unlike other movies, Guimoon features new technology 'Screen X'. When you watch you can feel like walking in one place with Do-jin and fight together with him more than in other horror movies. I think this is the most attractive point of this movie.

Watch the trailer below:

Guimoon: The Lightless Door is available on tvN Movies (Singtel TV CH528, Singtel TV GO & CAST (On Demand)/ StarHub CH819 & StarHub Go (On Demand, iQiyi and VIU) from 30 Oct after 10pm.

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An Interview with Kim Kang-woo, Star of 'Guimoon: The Lightless Door'