iQiyi Original Korean Drama "Jirisan" Premieres Globally and Exclusively

Written by: Media Buffet PR

iQiyi’s original Korean drama, *Jirisan*, garnered international attention at a global press conference held today (October 13). The cast—including Gianna Jun, Ju Ji-hoon, Oh Jung-se, and Cho Han-chul—as well as screenwriter Kim Eun-hee and cinematographer Choi Sang-mook, were on hand to enliven the event.

The “Jirisan” press conference—for which Media Buffet PR served as the agency handling Indonesian media relations—opened with a screening of highlights from the drama through an exclusive sneak peek video showcasing the beautiful scenery of Jirisan Peak across the four seasons. Gianna Jun and Ju Ji-hoon play national park rangers who must face typhoons, wildfires, floods, and many other dangers while carrying out their duty of searching for and rescuing lost mountain climbers. Not only is the drama filled with mystery and suspense, but viewers can also look forward to its heartwarming stories.

“Jirisan” tells the story of the Jiri Mountain rangers tasked with saving the lives of people who have gotten lost in Jiri Mountain National Park. Starring Gianna Jun (better known as Jun Ji-hyun) as an experienced ranger and Ju Ji-hoon as an amateur ranger with many dark secrets. This iQiyi Original Korean drama will premiere on October 23, 2021, on the iQiyi app and iQ.com, concurrently with its broadcast in South Korea.

In *Jirisan*, Gianna Jun and Ju Ji-hoon play a senior and junior ranger, respectively. The time they spent together strengthened their on-screen chemistry. During a press conference hosted by iQiyi, Ju Ji-hoon admitted, “I’ve been a fan of Jun Ji-hyun since I was young. Her charisma has always amazed me; she’s also been a role model for me. Throughout our collaboration, she’s always tried to help me. So I’m very grateful to her.”

In addition, the chemistry built by the Haidong Branch Rangers team—consisting of Gianna Jun, Oh Jung-se, and Cho Han-chul—is just as impressive. The funny moments when they tease each other are not to be missed. Sung Dong-il said in a previous interview that Oh Jung-se could make everyone laugh when Gianna Jun felt guilty about having to reshoot some scenes: “Honestly, he looks funny. There were many scenes where we had to film together, and they were all serious scenes, but he always made us laugh. And just before we burst out laughing, the director would yell, ‘Cut!’”

Oh Jung-se added, “Once, Gianna Jun wanted to hit me on the head, but she burst out laughing before she could do it. After laughing, she still hit me on the head,” he said. He also mentioned that Gianna Jun really liked his character. Blushing, Gianna Jun replied, “I was trying to stay serious at the time, but I couldn’t help but laugh—I’m really sorry.”

Cho Han-chul joked, “The three of us in this series are the same age; I’m really happy about that.” Gianna Jun immediately chimed in to clarify, “After reading the script, I told writer Kim that I wasn’t at fault, and asked why my character was as old as the uncles—at the time, I couldn’t convince myself.” Cho Han-chul replied again, “What’s so hard about it? The acting we see on screen is so convincing!” The three of them joked around at the press conference, just like their characters do on screen.

Kim Eun-hee said that previously she had written stories about a police officer who took the lead and focused on solving murder cases. But for *Jirisan*, Kim Eun-hee instead had the forest rangers try to prevent incidents before they occurred. Smiling, Gianna Jun said, “Only a handful of actors get the chance to work with writer Kim back-to-back. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. The charm of her scripts is that details that seem unimportant at first turn out to be crucial in the end.”

Ju Ji-hoon added, “I’ve been working with writer Kim Eun-hee for five years. I’ve come to think of her as my own sister—someone I’ll greet at festivals, and we often meet. The scripts she writes are incredibly detailed.” Both Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Eun-hee expressed their hope to continue collaborating in the future.

In contrast to her elegant image in the romantic comedies she’s starred in previously, Gianna Jun showcases a new side of herself as a strong and skilled character in *Jirisan*. Speaking about her role, Jun said, “Actually, at first I didn’t accept the role because I wanted to play a strong woman—women today have stronger personalities. I never thought I’d play a park ranger—for me, this was a new experience.” Gianna Jun also felt that the filming process wasn’t too grueling: “I didn’t feel very tired or cold; I was really happy throughout the shoot. As long as I prepared well with my mountain climbing gear, there weren’t many difficulties.” In fact, Jun felt that the production process had improved her physical health.

Kim Eun-hee also praised Gianna Jun for her continuously evolving acting and her increasingly strong character, just like her iconic role in the legendary film *My Sassy Girl*. Gianna Jun reciprocated the praise by saying, “Thank you for all the compliments—I think there were some humorous moments in there.”

Ju Ji-hoon plays the role of rookie ranger Kang Hyun-jo, who brings an element of mystery to the drama. Ji-hoon shared his thoughts on his character and revealed how he brought Kang Hyun-jo to life. Before production began, Ju Ji-hoon would meet with writer Kim Eun-hee to hear her analysis of his role. Ju Ji-hoon also revealed that he has enjoyed hiking since he was young and expressed enthusiasm for climbing Mount Jiri in the future. Ju Ji-hoon shared that he needs a lot of energy for the filming process of this drama, especially when climbing to the summit and having to keep his feet still. Filming this drama is about 3–4 times more demanding than shooting on flat ground. “That’s why I run to stay in shape,” Joo Ji-hoon joked.

Oh Jung-se has played several iconic characters in various Korean dramas, including *Stove League*. After taking on roles in several hugely successful dramas, Oh Jung-se explained what makes *Jirisan* different and the challenges he faced during production: “Many people have been waiting for *Jirisan* because they’ve already felt the appeal of the title itself. Especially knowing that this is a work by writer Kim Eun-hee, director Lee Eung-bok, and cinematographer Choi Sang-mook, I had no choice but to accept this offer.”

Often cast in comedic roles, in *Jirisan* Cho Han-chul once again takes on a humorous character who liven up the atmosphere. As part of the Haidong Branch Ranger team alongside Gianna Jun and Ju Ji-hoon, Cho Han-chul shared stories about the excitement and challenges of filming in the great outdoors, and recounted how, when he was 20 years old, he climbed a tree to quit smoking, so he’s actually climbed to the summit of a mountain twice. Now at his current age, Cho Han-chul jokingly remarks that the production team likes to push him physically. “I’m younger than Cho Han-chul!” Oh Jung-se quips in a playful tone. According to Oh Jung-se, the mountain atmosphere allows him to feel the charm and warmth of nature, and he hopes that viewers will also feel that warmth.

“Jirisan” premieres on October 23 on the iQiyi app and the iQ.com website, and is available to watch in 191 countries. New episodes air every Saturday and Sunday.