At the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF 2025), veteran actress Youn Yuh-jung looked back on how she first joined the film The Wedding Banquet, recalling a surprising casting offer that made her laugh.
During the film’s press conference held on September 19 at BIFF Hill in Haeundae, Youn Yuh-jung revealed: “When director Andrew Ahn first approached me, the role wasn’t a grandmother, but a mother. At first, I thought it could work — but then I found out the son, played by Han Ki-chan, was only in his 20s. I told him, ‘Isn’t that too much? I’ll just play the grandmother instead.’”
The Wedding Banquet, officially invited to BIFF’s World Cinema section, is an unpredictable comedy about two gay men who plan a fake marriage, only to be confronted by a sharp-witted Korean grandmother. The film is helmed by Korean-American director Andrew Ahn.
In the film, Youn Yuh-jung plays Ja-young, the grandmother who embraces her gay grandson Min with warmth and resilience. Describing her approach to the role, Youn Yuh-jung said: “It’s an ordinary character. I’m not the type of actor who carefully plans everything in advance. By reading the script repeatedly, I get to know the character’s personality and decide how to portray her naturally. Whether my version of a grandmother is different from others, I’m not really sure.”
Her candid humor and humility reflected her signature style, which has endeared her to audiences worldwide — especially after her Academy Award-winning performance in Minari.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs from September 17 to 26, with The Wedding Banquet set for release on September 24.
Sources: Daum
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