Kim Yoon-seok and Koo Kyo-hwan took the stage in Seoul on October 30 for the production briefing for mystery thriller “White Blast” (íŹě„¤), previewing the acting face-off at its centre ahead of its November 18 theatrical release.
The briefing was held on the morning of October 30 at CGV Yongsan I’Park Mall in Seoul’s Yongsan district, according to Star News, which reported from the event. Director Hong Eui-jeong joined the two leads on stage.
“White Blast” follows Gap-su, a stationmaster nearing retirement played by Kim, and Hyeon-taek, his newly arrived successor played by Koo, after they discover an unidentified body at a rural train station cut off by heavy snow. The discovery turns a routine handover into a tense standoff, with the two men unable to agree on what to do next.
Kim said he was drawn to the project by Hong’s writing and strong authorial voice, describing the story as grounded in ordinary, hard-working people rather than floating above reality. He framed working with a director of that kind as a rare and valuable opportunity.
Koo said he loves winter and wanted the role after reading the material. He also said he wanted to work with Kim again, noting that the two first met while working on “Escape from Mogadishu” in Morocco, where he learned a great deal from the veteran actor.
Kim likened Koo to Peter Pan, saying he likes people who keep a childlike heart both as people and as actors, and said the two had grown close quickly when they first met. Koo joked about the comparison, saying the shared quality made them kindred spirits, while Kim said their on-screen back-and-forth felt perfectly in sync.
Hong, in turn, praised Kim as a genuine talent with remarkable knowledge of film, calling the chance to work with him an honour. The exchange underlined the briefing’s central pitch: a duel between two very different screen presences, with Kim’s intensity set against Koo’s unpredictable energy.
The briefing follows Showbox’s main trailer on October 21, which confirmed the November 18 date. The film is co-directed by Hong Eui-jeong and Park Sun-woo, with Louis Pictures as production company, and blends suspense with dark humour.
“White Blast” opens in theaters on November 18, with the briefing positioning the Kim-Koo pairing, rather than the mystery alone, as the reason to watch.
