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Actor Jung Woo explores personal struggles and dreams in self-directed film 'Audition 109'

Published: 26 Apr. 2026, 07:00

Actor Jung Woo in a scene from ″Audition 109″ [BY4M STUDIO]

Actor Jung Woo stands at a crossroads where his past struggles cross with his present in “Audition 109,” his recent self-directed film.

The film, released on Wednesday, tells the story of the protagonist, Jjang-gu, whose name is inspired by the lead actor’s real-life nickname. Jung Woo, whose legal name is Kim Jeong-guk, plays Jjang-gu on screen, while also serving as the film’s screenwriter and co-director behind the camera.

“To all the beginners out there in the world, I wanted to deliver encouragement and cheer,” Jung Woo said during an interview held on April 20 in central Seoul.

“Audition 109” is a sequel to the 2009 indie film “Wish,” which was considered a quintessential staple among young men. The movie "Wish" was adapted into a screenplay based on a scenario written by the actor.

While “Wish” depicted stories of high schoolers in their sweat-soaked, rebellious coming-of-age years in Busan, "Audition 109" centers on a Busan-born aspiring actor who moves to Seoul in pursuit of his dream.

“The official viewership record of 100,000 for ‘Wish’ was a huge success for an indie film,” Jung Woo said. “It was incredibly meaningful as it was continuously loved across generations.”

The catalyst for bringing “Audition 109” to life was his wife, actor Kim Yoo-mi, who is also credited as a producer. “My wife came across the story I had written as a sequel to ‘Wish,’” Jung Woo said. “It developed into a screenplay and turned into production.”

Actor Jung Woo, right, is seen in a scene from ″Audition 109.″ [BY4M STUDIO]

“Audition 109” is built on the actor’s autobiographical elements, as in the 2009 film “Wish,” which runs almost in parallel to his own experience.

In the film, Jjang-gu shares the actor’s legal name and mirrors the hardships he faced in his early years — struggling to pay his electricity bills while attending dozens of auditions. Yet he holds on to his dream of becoming an actor.

A scene in which aspiring actors train together in a swimming pool is drawn directly from Jung Woo’s own experience auditioning for "Silmido" (2003).

“I passed the audition for 'Silmido' after learning how to swim in just a week,” Jung Woo said. “But I had to give it up when I was told I would have to live on an island for a year, which meant I couldn’t attend other auditions.”

“There were times when I pushed ahead, convinced everything would work out,” he said. “At other times, I hit a wall and felt discouraged, questioning whether I was on the right path.”

After debuting in a minor role in the 2002 comedy film “Break Out,” directed by Jang Hang-jun, the actor remained a little-known actor for nearly a decade.

Actor Jung Woo, right, is seen in a scene from ″Audition 109.″ [BY4M STUDIO]

And like any rite of passage into adulthood, heartbreak inevitably follows in "Audition 109."

A female protagonist, played by Jung Soo-jung, whom Jjang-gu meets at a nightclub, sends mixed signals to him. Yet, despite her initial hard-to-get attitude, she later warmly embraces Jjang-gu — typical tenderness of first love.

“I want to build a first-love character that everyone could relate to, such as Seo-yeon from ‘Architecture 101 (2012),’” Jung Woo said. “From Jjang-gu’s perspective, she may seem like a bad woman, but she likely had her own reasons.”

“I wanted to portray the growing pains of people in their 20s — a time that can feel insecure in terms of navigating love and their dreams — when compared to their teenage years.”

The film is candid and rough around the edges. Some scenes, such as early nightclub booking sequences, may feel out of step with contemporary sensibilities. It is also somewhat disappointing that Jjang-gu’s desperate drive toward his dream does not always come through as strongly as it could.

Actor Jung Woo [BY4M STUDIO]

Still, his sincerity is vividly visual.

A photograph of the actor’s father, who once dreamed of becoming an actor himself, appears in the film, as well as his name in the ending credits. Just as in the 2009 film, he passed away when Jung Woo was a high school senior in the actor’s real life.

“I still get choked up during the scenes reminding me of my father whenever I rewatch ‘Wish,’” Jung Woo said. “I wanted to depict memories of him and my thoughts about what it means to become an adult in the sequel. It is precious and grateful that I am living while sharing the same dream as my father.”

Several audition scenes in the film were drawn from the actor’s real-life experiences. Through scenes in which audition judges question his acting ability, Jung Woo said he wanted to deliver “encouragement to everyone just starting out.”

Director Jang, whose film “The King's Warden” recently garnered 16 million viewers in theaters, makes a cameo appearance as a judge in Jjang-gu’s final audition. Jang is the first director Jung Woo met at auditions decades ago.

Actor Jung Woo speaks during a media screening event for his self-directed film ″Audition 109″ on April 16 in central Seoul. [YONHAP]

“Acting in front of the director I first auditioned for more than 20 years later felt like a dream,” Jung Woo said.

“It was such a strange feeling, like my past self and present self were crossing each other,” he continued. “During the rehearsal for that scene, I got emotional. Director Jang gave me a lot of strength. Although he was about to leave for a location search for 'The King’s Warden' the next day, he stayed until dawn to finish filming with me.”

Jung Woo, who said that writing has remained his dream since his school days, said he will keep his pen moving regardless of how “Audition 109” performs at the box office.

“Writing excites me just as much as acting,” the actor said.

BY JUNG HYUN-MOK [[email protected]]