Ryu Jun Yeol has opened up about why he signed an exclusive contract with Galaxy Corporation, addressing speculation that he joined the company because of a large signing bonus.
Ryu Jun Yeol, whose Netflix series Mousetrap was released on August 28th, spoke with SpoTV News at a cafe in Seoul on September 1st at 11AM. During the interview, he explained what led him to sign with Galaxy Corporation and discussed his growing interest in film production and distribution.
Addressing rumors that he received a large signing bonus, Ryu said, “That’s not the case. I can talk about it comfortably.”
He explained that his decision was largely driven by his growing interest in the film industry.
“I’ve been attending film festivals lately. I’ve been involved in and loved Korean cinema for a long time, so I’ve naturally become interested in things like film revenue and production,” he said. “Since last year, I’ve also been going to theaters more often. I wanted to see more diverse films rather than just the usual ones, and I think that’s what led me to start attending film festivals.”
Ryu said he has also been exploring film distribution and production. “I’ve been looking into importing films, attending meetings and learning about partnerships. I became interested in production as well through that process.”
He said he was looking for a company that could support those interests, which led him to Galaxy Corporation.
“Starting my own production company, hiring staff and managing everything myself felt like a lot,” he said. “I felt Galaxy could help with those things. I’m currently working on scripts and learning through meetings. I even met with the CEO of another film company to ask for advice. I’ve received a lot of support in that sense.”
Ryu emphasized again that money was not the reason behind his move to Galaxy.
“It has nothing to do with a large signing bonus,” he said. “Film production is difficult to handle alone. Galaxy has a strong infrastructure, so I thought they could help me with production.”
He added that these plans are already underway, although he does not know exactly when they will come to fruition.
“I’ve also partnered with someone to import films. I’m not sure how much I can say yet, but it’s actively happening,” he said. “I’m also considering YouTube content where I can introduce films. There’s a lot of energy and support around these projects.”
Ryu also addressed whether he has plans to direct a film himself.
“People ask me about that a lot. Even directors sometimes suggest ideas and ask if I’m interested, but I don’t have any plans to direct yet,” he said. “I do have the ambition to work with a good plan, staff and actors to make the kinds of films I want to see.”
His interest in production has grown as he has attended more film festivals and learned more about how films are made and financed.
“I see films and think, ‘They made this kind of movie,’ and then I learn how much it cost to make and how much it sold for,” he said. “Seeing how people cover production costs and actually make these films has made me want to create something myself.”
He said he has been discussing the idea with Galaxy, particularly projects that are difficult to produce.
“Many filmmakers are already doing this, and I think I’ve reached a point where I’m becoming interested in those kinds of projects too,” he added.
Ryu was also asked whether actor So Ji Sub, who has been involved in importing films, is someone he looks up to in that area.
“Ji Sub seems to be quite concerned about that,” Ryu said with a laugh. He recalled meeting So Ji Sub at a premiere for Sirât, a film So Ji Sub imported.
“I told him, ‘Thanks to you, I got to see such a great movie,’ and he seemed really happy and proud,” Ryu said. “I was able to experience that feeling vicariously through him. I hope I can feel the same way someday when someone tells me, ‘Thanks to you, I got to watch a great movie.’”
Whether he produces a film himself or brings one to Korea through distribution, Ryu said he would find that rewarding regardless of its box office performance.
“For some films, we even received payments when we went to the market with the films we imported,” he said. “It may not be millions, but even hearing someone say that they enjoyed a film because of something I did would give me a lot of strength.”
Ryu admitted that he does not know exactly why So Ji Sub chose to import films, but said he appreciates what the actor has done and hopes to experience something similar himself.
Meanwhile, Mousetrap is a chase thriller starring Ryu Jun Yeol as Moon Jae, a novelist whose name, face and entire life are stolen by a mysterious entity. Yoo Hae Jin plays No Ja, a private lender who sets out to recover stolen money while pursuing the truth behind The Beagles.
>> Ryu Jun Yeol Asked ‘Mousetrap’ Director to Knock Him Out During Action Scenes
In the meantime, watch trending K-dramas for free on Amasian TV.
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