[INTERVIEW] 'Train to Busan' director builds low-budget paradise to test human existence

Director Yeon Sang-ho said in Seoul on Wednesday that Paradise Lost examines human identity and emotional boundaries through AI, rather than simply warning about the technology. The film follows So-young, a grieving mother who interacts with a virtual version of her missing son before his grown-up self returns as a stranger. Yeon said the story came from a three-page draft by his mother and expressed skepticism that AI could replace actors. Paradise Lost was made for around 500 million won with about 20 crew members and opens Oct. 21.

So-young’s son Sun-woo disappeared with 12 other children on a school bus, and she has lived with the loss for nine years.

The film uses an augmented reality program that lets So-young interact daily with a virtual version of her child.

Yeon said actors’ socially formed identities and the originality of cinema make AI replacement difficult.

Paradise Lost follows Yeon’s 220 million won independent project The Ugly, whose success enabled incentives for staff and actors.

Yeon said he trusts Kim Hyun-joo to shape the role beyond what he initially imagines.

Published Oct 14, 2026 4:52 pm KST

Director Yeon Sang-ho / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Director Yeon Sang-ho said his latest low-budget psychological thriller "Paradise Lost" explores human identity, the double-edged nature of filling a loss and a story written by his mother.

The director explained that the movie uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to examine human existence and emotional boundaries, rather than simply warning about its dangers.

"Trying to replace what you've lost always has two sides," Yeon told The Korea Times at a cafe in Seoul on Wednesday, recalling how he often discussed existential literature, such as Albert Camus' "The Stranger," during his college years.

"The main character So-young's choices may or may not be emotionally understandable to viewers by the end, but I think that gap creates a necessary story in today's AI-driven world."

The film centers on So-young (Kim Hyun-joo), a mother trapped in grief nine years after her son Sun-woo went missing along with 12 other children on a school bus.

To endure her pain, she interacts daily with a virtual version of her child through an augmented reality program. However, she collapses when a grown-up Sun-woo (Bae Hyeon-seong), unexpectedly returns as a total stranger.

"Existentialism sounds complicated, but I hope viewers can simply talk about this movie together," Yeon added. "I think talking about it is already a debate on human existence."

Actor Kim Hyun-joo, center, in a scene from "Paradise Lost" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Yeon revealed that the story originated from a three-page draft penned by his mother, which depicted a woman's tragic choice regarding her troubled son.

"I didn't ask her why she wrote it. Making this film was my process of trying to understand her text," Yeon said. "Parents and children think they know each other well, but they often don't. While I couldn't fully understand it 100 percent, I came to the conclusion that creating a perfect paradise in real life is no easy task."

The director also commented on whether AI could ever replace human actors in the film industry, expressing skepticism about technology replacing the unique social identity actors carry.

"It is not easy for AI to replace actors," Yeon said. "Acting is not like a 100-meter sprint where clear records are set. Audiences judge a performance based on a complex combination of skill and the actor's image. An actor's identity given by society is crucial, so AI will struggle to replace that. AI represents the sum of universality, whereas cinema is the sum of originality."

Actor Bae Hyeon-seong in a scene from "Paradise Lost" / Courtesy of CJ ENM

Made with a modest budget of around 500 million won ($374,000) and a small crew of about 20 people, "Paradise Lost" follows the commercial success of Yeon's previous 220 million won indie project "The Ugly."

"Thanks to the success of 'The Ugly,' we were able to share incentives with our staff and actors and gain the confidence to start 'Paradise Lost,'" Yeon said. "If 'Paradise Lost' doesn't completely fail, I want to keep making low-budget projects like this."

He expressed deep trust in lead actor Kim, who previously starred in several of his works, including "Hellbound" and "Jung_E."

"I simply trust her and leave the role in her hands," Yeon said. "She thinks deeply about what she wants to express, far beyond what I initially imagine.”

"Paradise Lost" hits local theaters on Oct. 21.

Yeon Sang-ho tackles AI, human abyss in grief-driven 'Paradise Lost'

导演延尚昊周三在首尔表示，《失乐园》并非仅仅对人工智能技术发出警告，而是通过人工智能来探讨人类身份和情感边界。影片讲述了悲痛欲绝的母亲素英与失踪儿子的虚拟形象互动，之后儿子长大成人，却以陌生人的身份出现。延尚昊透露，故事源于他母亲的一份三页纸的草稿，并对人工智能能否取代演员表示怀疑。《失乐园》耗资约5亿韩元，约有20名工作人员，将于10月21日上映。

素英的儿子善宇和另外 12 个孩子一起乘坐校车失踪，她已经承受了失去儿子的痛苦九年了。

这部电影运用了增强现实技术，让素英每天都能与她孩子的虚拟版本互动。

延尚昊表示，演员的社会身份和电影的原创性使得人工智能难以取代他们。

《失乐园》是延尚昊继耗资 2.2 亿韩元的独立电影《丑陋》之后的又一部作品，《丑陋》的成功为工作人员和演员提供了奖励。

延尚昊表示，他相信金贤珠能够将这个角色演绎得超出他最初的设想。

发布于2026年10月14日下午4:52（韩国标准时间）

导演延尚昊 / 图片由CJ ENM提供

导演延尚昊表示，他的最新低成本心理惊悚片《失乐园》探讨了人类身份、填补失去亲人的双重性以及他母亲写的故事。

导演解释说，这部电影运用人工智能（AI）技术来审视人类的存在和情感边界，而不仅仅是警告人们人工智能的危险性。

“试图弥补失去的东西总是有两面性的，”延周三在首尔一家咖啡馆接受《韩国时报》采访时说道，他回忆起大学时期经常与人讨论存在主义文学，例如阿尔贝·加缪的《局外人》。

“主角素英的选择最终或许能让观众在情感上理解，或许不能，但我认为这种差异在当今人工智能驱动的世界中创造了一个必要的故事。”

这部电影以素英（金贤珠饰）为中心，讲述了她的儿子善宇和另外 12 个孩子在校车上失踪九年后，素英仍然沉浸在悲痛之中。

为了忍受痛苦，她每天通过增强现实程序与孩子的虚拟形象互动。然而，当长大成人的善宇（裴贤成饰）以陌生人的身份意外出现时，她崩溃了。

“存在主义听起来很复杂，但我希望观众们能够一起讨论这部电影，”延尚昊补充道。“我认为讨论它本身就是在探讨人类存在的意义。”

演员金贤珠（中）在电影《失乐园》中的剧照 / 图片由CJ ENM提供

延尚昊透露，这个故事源自他母亲写的一份三页草稿，讲述了一位母亲在面对她问题缠身的儿子时做出的悲惨选择。

“我没有问她为什么写这本书。拍这部电影是我尝试理解她作品的过程，”延尚昊说。“父母和孩子都以为彼此很了解，但其实往往并非如此。虽然我无法百分之百理解，但我最终得出结论：在现实生活中创造一个完美的天堂绝非易事。”

这位导演还评论了人工智能是否有可能取代电影行业的人类演员，他对技术取代演员所具有的独特社会身份表示怀疑。

“人工智能很难取代演员，”延尚昊说。“表演不像百米短跑那样能创造明确的纪录。观众评判一场表演是基于演员的技巧和形象的复杂结合。社会赋予演员的身份至关重要，因此人工智能很难取代它。人工智能代表的是普适性，而电影代表的是原创性。”

演员裴贤成在电影《失乐园》中的剧照 / 图片由CJ ENM提供

《失乐园》的制作预算仅为 5 亿韩元（约合 37.4 万美元），制作团队也只有 20 人左右。这部影片延续了延尚昊之前独立电影《丑陋》的商业成功，该片的制作预算为 2.2 亿韩元。

“多亏了《丑陋》的成功，我们才能与工作人员和演员分享奖励，并获得了启动《失乐园》的信心，”延尚昊说。“如果《失乐园》没有彻底失败，我希望继续制作像这样的低成本项目。”

他对主演金秀贤表示了深深的信任，金秀贤此前曾出演过他的多部作品，包括《地狱之门》和《郑伊》。

“我完全信任她，把角色交给她来演，”延尚昊说。“她对想要表达的东西思考得很深入，远远超出了我最初的想象。”

《失乐园》将于10月21日在当地影院上映。

延尚昊在充满悲痛的《失乐园》中探讨了人工智能和人类的深渊