• Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Events/Win
  • Best Beauty Buys 2023
  • Food
    • Eating Out
    • Cooking Tips
    • Festive Food
    • Asian Recipes
    • Food
    • Celebrity Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Western Recipes
  • Family
    • Family
    • Save Money
    • Parenting
    • Sex & Marriage
    • Travel
  • Beauty & Health
    • Beauty & Health
    • Skincare
    • Makeup
    • Hair
    • Awards
    • Diet & Nutrition
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
  • Style
  • Great Women
    • Career
    • Great Women of Our Time
    • Real Life
  • Entertainment
  • EVENTS/WIN
  • Subscribe
Privacy Menu
SPH Media

Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.

  • Food
  • Family
  • Beauty & Health
  • Style
  • Great Women
  • Events/Win

Entertainment

8 Things To Know About Korean Sci-Fi Movie ‘Space Sweepers’ Starring Song Joong-ki &...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Entertainment

8 Things To Know About Korean Sci-Fi Movie ‘Space Sweepers’ Starring Song Joong-ki & Kim Tae-ri

Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri and the cast of upcoming Korean sci-fi movie Space Sweepers share more tidbits about the blockbuster that’ll air on Netflix this week

by Michelle Lee  /   February 2, 2021

Sci-fi movies might be a Hollywood norm, but this time, it’s got a Hallyu twist. Space Sweepers is a futuristic South Korean film that follows the adventure of a space debris collection ship called “Victory” and its motley crew.

Set in the year 2092, Earth has become inhabitable, and a new civilisation has been built in the satellite orbit. “Victory” is one of the many ships that survive by scavaging space debris, and eventually retrieves a crashed space shuttle. There, they find a humanoid robot named “Dorothy,” known to have been produced for mass destruction.

While the whole of space frantically hunts for Dorothy, the Victory crew comes up with a dangerous plan to trade Dorothy for a large sum of money.

Directed by Jo Sung-hee, the cast includes Song Joong-ki (best known for ‘Descendants of The Sun’), Kim Tae-ri who starred in ‘The Handmaiden’ and ‘Mr. Sunshine‘, Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hai-jin.

They’re joined by English actor Richard Armitage, who played Thorin in “The Hobbit” franchise. In a press conference, this morning (Feb 2), the South Korean cast and director shed more light on the film.

READ NEXT

The Top Korean Dramas To Watch In 2021

What Makes A Good Rom-Com Love Triangle? ‘To All The Boys’ Author Jenny Han Shares More

7 Cafes & Restaurants In Singapore That’ll Transport You To Korea

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/entertainment/korean-sci-fi-movie-space-sweepers-song-joong-ki-kim-tae-ri/
8 Things To Know About Korean Sci-Fi Movie 'Space Sweepers' Starring Song Joong-ki & Kim Tae-ri
It's Korea's first sci-fi film
image

As the country’s first sci-fi film, there was definitely a differentiating factor compared to other films of the same genre. When asked, director Jo said, “It’s obvious, but for Space Sweepers, you hear people in an outer space backdrop speaking in Korean. I really wanted to make it seem as less odd as possible and make it familiar for the audience.”

On being asked about the pressure of playing a part in the country’s first sci-fi film, Song Joong-ki shares, “A lot of the pressure was on the director’s shoulders, but it’s also almost like having the Korean flag on our chest. We didn’t want to be pressured by that. On the contrary, I was more excited, I felt like I was a child again. When I first read the script, it seemed like such an amazing adventure film.”

“I’m excited and nervous, I feel almost like I’m playing for the nation as an athlete. I feel like we’re going out into space as representatives,” quips Jin Seon-kyu.

Netflix
They play a bunch of misfits
image

There’s Tae-ho the pilot (Song Joong-ki) who lived all of his life as the Special Troops on UTS. Due to a certain event, he leaves the forces and meets the crew members. 

Captain Jang (Kim Tae-ri) was the captain of an ex-pirate crew, but her comrades got killed, and she ends up putting together this squad. She has a special dream that she wants to fulfill and collects the space debris with her crew members to make money in order to achieve it.

Jin Seon-kyu plays Tiger Park, the engineer who also takes on housekeeping duties.  “Tiger Park looks very tough and ruthless but he is actually very warm. He’s very sentimental and loves children,” says Seon-kyu.

Then there’s the robot Bubs played by Yoo Hai-jin, a lively character whom the actor describes as “warm-hearted and very skilled with spears. He’s very cute and adorable. He also has his own dream he wants to achieve.”

Netflix
There are a lot of visual effects, obviously
image

Says Jo Sung-hee, “The pre-production process was quite difficult, compared to other films. We had to prepare a lot and it required a great deal of imagination on the set from all of us. However, there was also a lot of excitement about what it would look like on-screen and that’s what drove us.”

“The supervisors and technicians put in a lot of effort to make sure the quality is impressive. There were two elements; we tried to visualise the light shining on the surface of these objects as best as possible to make them look realistic, and we also tried to visualise the sheer speed of these objects travelling in outer space. We wanted to make it look intense and suspenseful. So we really focused on balancing out these technical aspects.”

Jin Seon-kyu adds on “It was tough at first because it starts with where we should be looking at while doing my lines. But the director gave us very good details. It took some time getting used to, but after going through the whole process, I actually do see outer space when I see it on-screen.”

Netflix
But also a real-life engine room
image

Jin Seon-kyu who plays Tiger Park says, “Tiger Park does the housekeeping and is also an engineer who takes care of the engine of the spacecraft. For those scenes, we filmed in a ship that was docked on a port. All the staff also had a tough time because it was very loud. Even with the ship docked, the engine had to be left running, so we couldn’t even hear the director’s instructions. I had to rely on my instincts.” 

Netflix
There's a fashion and makeup-loving robot
image

… who’s also the accounting manager. Yoo Hai-jin adds, “I thought of Bubs as a robot made of metal but he has a warm heart. That’s how I interpreted him to be. He’s also not the typical robot. He is the accounting manager but isn’t savvy with numbers. He’s cute, adorable, very warm-hearted and very skilled with spears. He also has his own dream he wants to achieve.”

It’s also a first for the actor when it comes to motion-capture acting, and one that comes with its challenges. “I had all the sensors attached to my body, and I had to wear the bodysuit, as well as set the zero points for each scene. While I was acting, I was curious to see how it’d turn out on-screen. The staff also had to go through a lot of technical issues.”

Netflix
The role of Captain Jang as a woman was intentional
image

In the movie, Kim Tae-ri’s Captain Jang is a brash former pirate captain who puts together the team, and bosses over everyone. Kim Tae-ri elaborates, “But she’s also someone really determined, and although she lives like a pirate, there’s something at her core that holds her. She’s very driven by what lies in her heart.”

The actress tells us, “I asked the director why he chose me – a typical captain tends to have broad shoulders, and is very charismatic – that’s the kind of visual you’d expect. But that’s his style; he moves away from the obvious. He told me there’s great power in avoiding the obvious.”

Netflix
Song Joong Ki shares he was in the same mental state as his character Tae-ho
image

“When I first read the script and tried to interpret Tae-ho, I pictured him as being devastated and having lost all hope in life. He’s given up and doesn’t think about anything — he’s in this state of void and while I was filming the movie, I was in a similar state when I started shooting,” says Song Joong-ki. 

“He’s devastated by a series of events but manages to put himself together when he meets his crew members. He finds a glimpse of hope and has more enthusiasm about his life again. The crew members helped him get back on his feet, and I tried to show that contrast as best as I could.”

Netflix
Song Joong Ki last worked with director Jo in 'A Werewolf Boy' ten years ago
image

The pair had worked together on 2012 box office hit ‘A Werewolf Boy’.

On reuniting with the director for ‘Space Sweepers’, Song Joong-ki says, “I don’t think anything was completely new and different. In ‘A Werewolf Boy’, I played the role of Chul-soo and people ask me where do you think he is today? That’s a character that’s alive in our hearts, and it’s the same with director Jo. It’s been 10 years, but he’s always been there for me. And he hasn’t lost his own unique characteristics. He’s still as quiet as ever but fun to work with. 

The director shares the same sentiment, saying “Joong-ki, just like he was ten years ago, continues to be such a friendly person and a leader on set. I make mistakes sometimes but he’s always very understanding. I really depended and relied on him mentally, and could put my trust in him. I felt a bit relieved to have him around and there’s not much to worry about.”

Space Sweepers premieres on Netflix on Feb 5, 2021.

Read Next

10 Must-Watch Korean Dramas With Smart, Strong Female Leads

5 Upcoming Korean Dramas You Shouldn't Miss This Year

6 Modern Royal Korean Dramas Like "The King: Eternal Monarch" You Should Watch

Netflix
  • TAGS:
  • kim tae ri
  • korean movies
  • song joong ki
  • space sweepers
SHARE THIS ON

What’s Hot

Entertainment

Rui En: "I Have Managed To Have A Full L...

Entertainment

5 Revenge K-Dramas With Gripping Plots &...

Entertainment

Here's What Singapore's Famous "Nepo Bab...

Entertainment

Star Awards 2023: Best Dressed Celebs In...

Entertainment

Vacays In Japan & Australia: What Lo...

Entertainment

9 New Korean Reality Shows To Get Excite...

Entertainment

Highlights From The Star Awards 2023: Th...

Entertainment

8 Handsome K-drama Actors Getting Us Dre...

Entertainment

Pre-Wedding Shoots & Easter Egg Hunts: W...

Entertainment

From Getting Fit To Travelling With Best...

Entertainment

10 Facts To Know About Singaporean Actre...

Entertainment

10 Things You Didn't Know About Singapor...

Don’t Miss These
  • Beauty & Health Mid-Year Recharge: Great Ways To Rest And Revitalise Your...
  • Family From A Cruise To Phuket To A Deluxe Skincare Set: Six Ste...
  • Skincare No More Razor Burn And Ingrowns: An Easier Way To Remove ...
  • Food Skip Food Planning And Cooking: Get Tasty, Healthy Dishes...
Editor’s Picks
  • Entertainment Rui En: "I Have Managed To Have A Full Life Without A Husband"
  • Entertainment 5 Revenge K-Dramas With Gripping Plots & Satisfying Endings
  • Entertainment Here's What Singapore's Famous "Nepo Babies" Are Up To
  • Entertainment Star Awards 2023: Best Dressed Celebs Including Jeanette Aw, Chantalle Ng & More
  • Entertainment Vacays In Japan & Australia: What Local Celebs Did This Week
  • Entertainment 9 New Korean Reality Shows To Get Excited About In 2023
Don't Miss Out Ever Again!
Tips & tricks to stay sane + win invites to our events!

By signing up, you indicate that you have read and agreed with our Privacy Statement
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Conditions of Access
  • PDPA
  • Privacy Policy
?>">
SPH Magazine

Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. All rights reserved.