Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il Face Off in Murder Report: Korean Thriller Sets September 2025 Release
Stars express bold confidence in psychological interview thriller ahead of September 5 premiere
Korean cinema's acclaimed duo Cho Yeo-jeong and Jung Sung-il are generating buzz with their upcoming psychological thriller "Murder Report," set for theatrical release on September 5, 2025. The film promises an unprecedented cinematic experience centered on a dangerous interview between a desperate journalist and a confessed serial killer.
"Murder Report" follows veteran journalist Seon-ju (Cho Yeo-jeong), hungry for a breakthrough story, who receives an unexpected interview request from Young-hoon (Jung Sung-il), a psychiatrist claiming to have murdered eleven people. The entire narrative unfolds within a hotel suite, creating intense claustrophobic tension.
At the film's August 12 press conference at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall, both stars displayed remarkable confidence. "I'm really confident. This is a movie worth visiting theaters for," declared Cho Yeo-jeong, fresh from her zombie hit "Zombie for Sale."
Director Jo Young-jun, known for his sensitive drama "Chaebi" (2017), drew inspiration from an unexpected source. "One day at the zoo, I saw a child looking at a tiger. I wondered what would happen if the bars separating them moved backward. Just having two beings in a cage creates tension," he explained.
The filmmaker emphasized avoiding simplistic characterizations: "I didn't want to give a flat feeling of 'this person is evil, this person is good.' Like humans having different ratios of good and evil sides, I wanted both to have human aspects."
Cho Yeo-jeong's Professional Challenge
The "Parasite" star described the unique format as unprecedented. "It's a film format I've never seen before. That a movie can be made with just a one-on-one interview was surprisingly immersive," she noted, adding the professional challenge was intimidating yet exciting.
Jung Sung-il's Commercial Debut
Jung Sung-il, celebrated for "The Glory," makes his first commercial film leading role. He revealed his immediate attraction to the script: "I read it all at once during a theater break and was scared someone else might get it. I immediately called expressing my desire to do it."
The actor praised his co-star's professionalism, calling her "Jo-teacher" on set and crediting her supportive attitude throughout the challenging shoot.
The film's innovative approach relies entirely on dialogue and psychological tension rather than action. Set in a hotel suite room, with detective Sang-woo (Kim Tae-han) monitoring from below, the story creates multiple layers of suspense.
Director Jo described the viewing experience: "After watching 'Murder Report,' you feel drained. Not because it's boring, but from handling the spark between two people and the emotional weight of the conclusion."
The collaboration between these award-winning actors-Cho Yeo-jeong (Blue Dragon Film Award winner) and Jung Sung-il (Baeksang Arts Award recipient)-has generated significant industry buzz. Their on-screen psychological duel promises to deliver what the director calls "tremendous immersion and spark that will drain your energy."
"Murder Report" positions itself as essential theatrical viewing, with its creators emphasizing the big-screen experience. The film represents a bold experiment in Korean thriller cinema, relying on compelling performances and tight storytelling rather than elaborate production values.
As audiences await the September 5 release, "Murder Report" stands ready to challenge conventional thriller formulas while showcasing the exceptional talents of two of Korea's finest actors in what promises to be an unforgettable cinematic confrontation.
