Unlike chess or shogi, where every piece is unique and serves a specific role, every stone in Go looks identical and can be placed on any intersection of a 19×19 grid. This endless potential makes Go feel like a universe of its own to those who get it, while it’s just a bunch of “stones” to outsiders. There was once a time when this tricky game became a national sensation in South Korea—back in the 1990s, right after 9-dan master Cho Hun Hyun took down China’s 9-dan Nie Weiping in a world championship in 1989. And that’s exactly where The Match begins.
The Match is based on the true story of Cho Hun Hyun (portrayed by Lee Byung Hun) and his protégé Lee Chang Ho (portrayed by Kim Kang Hoon and Yoo Ah In). Fresh off his world title, Cho is still at the top of his game when a friend introduces him to a young prodigy, Lee Chang Ho. The kid is a Go genius—brilliant but sometimes cocky—so Cho makes sure to teach him not just strategy, but respect for his opponents. Over time, Lee Chang Ho starts carving out his own approach to the game, which doesn’t sit well with Cho deep down. Soon enough, the student starts defeating other professionals and advances to the final match, leaving Cho with no choice but to face his own protégé in a dramatic showdown.
Master-disciple dramas are easily found, but The Match stands apart by depicting a scenario in which both mentor and protégé must confront each other while still in their prime. In most stories, a mentor watches his student rise to the top as an inevitable part of time’s progression. However, that familiar, feel-good ending doesn’t play out in The Match.
The Match follows the story of an iconic figure who had never known defeat—until a new rival emerges and repeatedly bests him. Having witnessed the time shared by Cho Hun Hyun and Lee Chang Ho, the audience understands that neither is at fault nor deserves blame. This makes Cho Hun Hyun’s struggle through his losses all the more immersive, naturally pulling viewers into his experience.
Director Kim Hyeong Ju, along with actors Lee Byung Hun, Cho Woo Jin, Moon Jung Hee, Go Chang Seok, and Hyun Bong Sik, attended the press conference held right after the preview screening, and all of them admitted to feeling some pressure since the film is based on real people and events.
Director Kim Hyeong Ju addressed the creative liberties taken in the film, noting, “Cho Hun Hyun wasn’t actually this strict when teaching Lee Chang Ho,” “Lee Chang Ho once described himself as cheerful in his autobiography, so we highlighted that side of his personality in the childhood scenes,” and “The film presents their match as if it were their first, but in reality, it wasn’t.” He repeatedly emphasized that fictional elements had been incorporated into the story.
The Match also states at the beginning of the film that some fictionalized aspects are included in the story. Kim Hyeong Ju shared, “I wasn’t familiar with Go myself, so my top priority was making sure viewers could follow the film without prior knowledge.” As a Go-centered film, The Match occasionally uses technical terms, but it explains them through subtitles or character dialogue.
The actors played a crucial role in bringing the game of Go to life in The Match. Cho Woo Jin, who portrays Nam Ki Chul, has scenes where he advises the two Go masters. He approached his performance with the thought, “How can I influence these characters and prompt a shift in perspective for the audience?“ Go Chang Seok took on the role of Chun Seung Pil, a character driven by his deep love for Go. He shared that he put his heart into the role, hoping the film would spark interest in the game among viewers. Hyun Bong Sik, who attended the press conference after a long time away from such events, couldn’t hide his nervousness. While his role didn’t involve playing Go on screen, he shyly revealed that he practiced placing the stones carefully to appear authentic as a professional player. Moon Jung Hee played Jung Mi Hwa, Cho Hun Hyun’s wife, who cares for Lee Chang Ho like a son. As she portrayed Mi Hwa, who silently endured struggles between her husband and his student, Moon shared that she truly felt the weight of her character’s emotions.
Given the numerous challenges The Match faced due to Yoo Ah In’s drug scandal, it was no surprise that questions about him came up. Director Kim Hyeong Ju addressed the issue directly, saying, “When Lee Byung Hun and Yoo Ah In joined the cast, I felt like I had everything I could ask for. What happened was unacceptable for a lead actor, and he made a serious mistake as a member of society. He’s facing legal consequences now, so I don’t have much more to say. It felt like I was trapped in a tunnel with no way out. But now, I finally see the light at the end—the film’s release. It’s an overwhelming relief.” He continued, “It’s not just me—the actors, the staff, we’ve all been waiting for this moment as much as I have. It’s overwhelming.” He also shared heartfelt thanks to everyone who’d been part of the journey.
Lee Byung Hun, who plays Cho Hun Hyun in the film, shared that the hardest part of the role was “showing the passage of time he spent in front of the Go board without major hurdles,” something he paid special attention to. He also revealed an interesting personal connection to Cho Hun Hyun. His breakout role in All In was based on the real-life figure Cha Min Soo, who happened to be a close friend of Cho Hun Hyun. Cha Min Soo was not only a professional poker player but also a Go player, and he became friends with Cho Hun Hyun during his military service. Lee Byung Hun recalled hearing stories about Cho from Cha Min Soo, which led him to realize that Go masters and professional gamblers share a similar mindset as competitive players. This understanding helped him approach his role with deeper insight.
>> Lee Byung Hun Opens Up About His Experience Acting Opposite Yoo Ah In in ‘The Match’
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