By Honorary Reporter Glaiza Godinez from Philippines

Photos= Mon Confiado

Mon Confiado, a veteran Philippine actor who has appeared in some 300 movies and 700 TV shows since 1993, stars in the upcoming Korean action-crime film "The Golden Holiday (Gukjesusa)," directed by Kim Bong-han. 

The movie is about a police officer's family trip to the Philippines turning into a murder investigation surrounding Yamashita's gold, or alleged loot taken from Southeast Asia by Japanese soldiers during World War II and supposedly hidden in the Philippines in caves, tunnels or underground. Korean detective Hong Byeong-soo (played by actor Kwak Do-won) becomes a murder suspect in the Philippines in a crime set up by murderous gangster Patrick (Kim Hee-won). Hong works with his best friend Man-cheol (Kim Dae-myung), a tour guide in the Philippine archipelago, to clear his name.

Confiado is an award-winning actor known for playing a wide range of roles and displaying finely honed acting skills. His recent credits include the 2018 historical film "Goyo: The Boy General" and the Philippine remake of the Korean tear-jerking film "Miracle in Cell No. 7" last year.

In an email interview, the Manila native expressed his excitement over appearing in "Holiday." "I wanted to get the role so I auditioned for it. Luckily, I got the part," he said. "I’m playing one of the two main villains in the film. One is played by famous Korean actor Kim Hee-won and the other by me."

"The film's genre is a combination of action, crime, suspense and comedy. Eighty percent of the movie was shot in the Philippines including Palawan, since the spatial background of the movie is set there. You can see Korean settings as well. I also went to Busan for shooting."

In a Facebook post with photos of scenes from the movie, Confiado added that he learned so much while shooting in Korea and noted the Korean government's support for the Korean entertainment industry. "In my 27 years of acting, I feel that 'The Golden Holiday' was actually my best experience," he said.

On Korea's filmmaking environment, he described his co-stars and directors as "meticulous and sophisticated professionals." "They are very detail-oriented in filmmaking. Sometimes, I had to shoot 20 takes for a single scene to get the perfect cut. It was the scene that I was supposed to get hit in my face," he said.

"The actors are also highly professional. They are so focused on every scene and their acting is very absorbing. But when they hear the director shout "Cut!" they came out of character right away. Behind the scenes, they like to chill and have a nice time with their colleagues. They especially love eating and going out for drinks."

The actor added, "When I was shooting in Korea, Kwak Do-won, the main actor, invited colleagues including myself to dinner and showed us around Busan. All of his fans were screaming when he showed up on the street, but he was never arrogant or haughty. I found out that he's so humble and friendly despite being such a huge star in Korea."

Confiado noted his "unforgettable" experience shooting a film in Korea and said he hopes "Holiday" is successful both in Korea and the Philippines.

The film will open in Korea on Aug. 16, while its release date in the Philippines is pending.

chaey0726@korea.kr


*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.