From Hangul to Hiragana—Hong Kyung Goes Global
It’s official: Korea’s quietly rising actor Hong Kyung is going international—with a big linguistic twist. In the upcoming Netflix film Good News, he stars alongside Japan’s Yamada Takayuki, delivering his first-ever performance in Japanese. The movie had its grand spotlight at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, and Hong’s ambitious role has people talking.
‘Good News’ Revives a Chilling Chapter of History
Good News, directed by Byeon Sung-hyun, portrays a fictionalized take on the shocking real-life 1970 Yodo-go hijacking incident. The event involved a radical Japanese group hijacking a plane in an attempt to defect to North Korea. The film dives into the chaos and clandestine strategies behind the scenes as various characters scramble to avert disaster. With its premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, the film has earned global buzz for its tight storytelling and intriguing characters.
Who Is Seo Go-myeong? Meet Hong Kyung’s Character
Hong takes on the role of Seo Go-myeong, a Korean Air Force lieutenant caught in the high-stakes turbulence. “Seo is based on a real person,” Hong shared during the festival press conference. “Though the story revisits a real event, much of it is reimagined by the director. I had space to explore who this young man could be, and that freedom really guided my performance.”
Learning Japanese from the Ground Up
What’s more impressive than playing a historical figure? Doing it in a foreign tongue. Instead of memorizing lines phonetically, Hong insisted on learning Japanese the hard way: from scratch. “He started with hiragana, the Japanese phonetic alphabet,” director Byeon Sung-hyun revealed. “He said he wanted to understand what his co-stars were saying—not just recite lines. It was incredible.”
The result? A performance so natural it barely felt like acting. “He didn’t sound rehearsed; it was like listening to an actual Japanese speaker,” said Park Ga-on, lead programmer of the Busan festival.
Humble Even When He Shines
Despite the praise, Hong remains modest. “Honestly, I don’t think I did all that well,” he said shyly. “The production team gave me ample time to prepare, and that was huge for someone with little experience. I just hope the effort shows.”
Streaming Soon, and Not to Be Missed
Good News premieres globally on October 17 via Netflix. With a compelling pan-Asian cast, an intense premise, and Hong Kyung’s standout performance, it’s shaping up to be a must-watch. Think Money Heist meets Argo—but with a distinctly East Asian lens.
Will Hong Kyung’s linguistic gamble pay off with a global fanbase? Tune in and find out.
