In rookie director Kim Chang-hoon’s feature debut film “Hopeless” which opened in theaters last week, Hong Xa-bin plays Yeon-kyu, an 18-year-old high school student who lives with an abusive stepfather and an enervated mother. He is even asked to leave the Chinese restaurant where he works part time. Then, he meets Chi-gun (Song Joong-ki), the right-hand man of a gang boss, who seems to be a haven for Yeon-kyu.

Before "Hopeless," which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival in May, Kim had only appeared in a number of indie films and a drama series. The noir film is the 26-year-old's feature film debut, as well as his first-ever lead role in a commercial film.

“Of course, there was pressure. Everything was new to me. But when I think about it, Yeon-kyu may have felt that too," Hong told The Korea Herald in an interview in Seoul on Sept. 26.

"Although my situation is not as extremely merciless as that of Yeon-kyu, I could easily understand his mind and situation. So it was easy for me to be Yeon-kyu.”

• ·윤 대통령 “국민소통·현장소통·당정소통 강화하라”
• ·Tving streams 2023 MTV VMAs
• ·Lotte names ex
• ·NewJeans hits 1 bln streams mark on Spotify with debut album
• ·S. Korea set to open largest
• ·Seoul's financial assistance for egg freezing receives attention from single women
• ·Diplomatic vehicle blessed for safety via Hindu ritual by S. Korean Embassy in India
• ·Chuseok food cost hits all
• ·S.Korea's largest
• ·Seoul launches annual pet festival
• ·N. Korea stipulates nuclear force
• ·Tving streams 2023 MTV VMAs
• ·New government initiative offers W3b reward to combat digital piracy
• ·Memorials commemorating Itaewon crowd crush to be erected at accident site
• ·탈북민단체, 대북전단 20만장 살포…"더 많은 정보, 계속 보낼 것"
• ·Civic group to celebrate 70th anniversary of S. Korea