Late Lee Sun Kyun's final performance in 'Land of Happiness' leaves a lasting impact

The late Lee Sun-kyun delivers his final farewell through “Land of Happiness.”

“We remember our time with Lee Sun-kyun.”

This is the ending credit of the movie “Land of Happiness,” which was released on August 14th. Lee Sun-kyun’s last role was that of Park Tae-joo.

“Land of Happiness” (directed by Choo Chang-min) tells the story of Park Tae-joo (played by Lee Sun-kyun), who becomes involved in the assassination of the president on October 26, 1979, due to the orders of his superior, and lawyer Jung In-hoo (played by Jo Jung-suk), who takes on the case, plunging into one of South Korea’s most infamous political trials.

Lee Sun-kyun plays Park Tae-joo, who maintains his beliefs even in a situation where he could lose his life. With a face covered in an unkempt beard and eyes filled with despair, he delivers a performance never seen before, making this his final work.

Following the release of “Project Silence” last month, this posthumous work by the late actor has left his colleagues deeply affected, unable to hide their sorrow.

Jo Jung-suk expressed, “(Lee Sun-kyun) was such a warm-hearted person. There wasn’t a single moment on set that wasn’t enjoyable. He was incredibly dedicated and passionate during filming, and I remember him as a warm older brother once the acting was over. I still miss him now,” he confessed with teary eyes.

Yoo Jae-myung, Jeon Bae-soo, Song Young-kyu, and Choi Won-young also reminisced about Lee Sun-kyun, describing him as “a warm person,” “consistent and seemingly indifferent, but someone who took care of marginalized friends, leaving a deep impression,” and “a good person whom I was honored to work with.”

Director Choo Chang-min revealed his pride and sadness, saying, “When you watch the movie, you’ll realize just how great an actor we’ve lost,” as he reflected on the last performance of Lee Sun-kyun that he encountered as a director.

Lee Sun-kyun portrayed Park Tae-joo with a subtle, emotion-filled performance, relying solely on his eyes and expressionless face to convey deep emotions, without the need for dialogue or large movements.

“I won’t be home tonight. Take good care of the kids.”

As you watch Park Tae-joo, from his anxious demeanor on the day of the incident to quietly capturing the sight of his sleeping children over his shocked wife’s shoulder, all of the emotions Lee Sun-kyun intended to convey come through.

In contrast to Jo Jung-suk, who had many lines, Lee Sun-kyun’s true talent shines in “Land of Happiness,” where facial expressions were more important than dialogue.

Although Park Tae-joo seems uninterested in his own survival and appears to have given up on everything, he repeatedly relives that day every night, tormented by guilt and unspeakable anguish. Lee Sun-kyun’s restrained emotional depth brilliantly captures these feelings.

The relationship between Lee Sun-kyun and Jo Jung-suk’s characters starts with mutual distrust and frustration but gradually deepens, showing them eventually embracing each other.

However, as the chemistry intensifies and emotions reach their peak, the inevitable ending that everyone must accept arrives, making it even more poignant.

In an interview, Jo Jung-suk reflected on Lee Sun-kyun’s final role, saying, “I watched the movie with tension, trying to put aside my emotions, but I broke down during the high-five scene.”

He added, “If he had seen the final version, he would have said, ‘You worked hard.’ It’s a shame that ‘Land of Happiness’ is his last work. I wanted to see more great performances from him,” expressing his deep sense of loss.

Jo Jung-suk, who saw a heavy, serious side of Lee Sun-kyun that he hadn’t seen before, expressed satisfaction with “Land of Happiness,” raising expectations for Lee Sun-kyun’s performance.

The final, regret-free performance of the late Lee Sun-kyun is in “Land of Happiness.”