The local top actors of Mongolia's first location film 'Undercover Investigation' expressed their expectations for collaborations with the Korean film industry, including works like 'Squid Game' and 'Parasite'.

The film 'Undercover Investigation' (director T. Amartbushin, provided/distributed by Smile ENT, imported by Horizon Works, co-distributed by Blue Film Works) held a press screening and a meeting with reporters on the 19th at Lotte Cinema World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The film's stars, Sukbold Ragchabarzar, Niyamdamba Baisha, Ganbayar Shavakchern, Sukbatar Baatzorgiog, Oranchogt Churtukbayar, and Manlai Baatar attended the event and shared their thoughts about the work with local and domestic press.

'Undercover Investigation' is a film depicting the extraordinary undercover investigations of legendary detectives from Mongolia in Korea. Although unfamiliar in Korea, these are local top actors famous enough that everyone in Mongolia knows them. 'Undercover Investigation' has already achieved a big hit in Mongolia.

Led by the film's producer and actor-singer Manlai Baatar, the team is anchored by Takhta (Sukbold Ragchabarzar), who is called 'Mongolia's Ma Dong-seok', a national actor and a singer from the popular boy band 'MAAZ'. The witty and entertaining Baisha (Niyamdamba Baisha) is known as 'Mongolia's Shin Dong-yup' and is a versatile entertainer who acts, directs, and writes screenplays. Additionally, Churigor (Sukbatar Baatzorgiog), who is recognized globally for his acting after starring in 'I Would Rather Sleep in Winter' (2023), the first-ever Mongolian film invited to the competition section at the Cannes Film Festival, Chukter (Oranchogt Churtukbayar), who shines in the top 3 of Mongolian celebrities on social media, and the top star Jiji (Ganbayar Shavakchern), who actually experienced manual labor in Korea, proudly refer to himself as 'Mongolia's G-Dragon'.

The actors, who appeared singing the movie's insert song 'Mimi', caused laughter and applause with their enthusiastic performance reminiscent of Korean trot entertainment while wearing traditional Mongolian costumes. Their playful poses and lively expressions, accompanied by phrases like "thank you" in Korean, hinted at their affection for Korea.

'Undercover Investigation' is the first Mongolian commercial film shot entirely in Korea. Manlai, who planned the project, explained the reason for this challenge: "I love Korea. I also like Korean films. I have often seen Koreans filming movies in Mongolia and traveling there. We thought, 'Why can't we go to Korea and make a movie?' and decided to head to Korea. When I first came here, I knocked on many doors, but many didn’t go well. However, being here now and sitting here feels like a dream."

Mongolia was so similar to Korea's new cities that it was even referred to as 'Mongtan New City' on domestic social media. How do local top actors view this? Churigor noted, "Koreans who come to Mongolia and many Korean things that have come to Mongolia have made it very similar. In films, Korea is great and there are many things to learn."

Regarding the praise on social media calling him 'Mongolia's Ma Dong-seok', Takhta said, "I feel very good. 'Mongolia's Ma Dong-seok' is here. I want to ask where Korean Ma Dong-seok is." He playfully greeted Ma Dong-seok with the video question, "Hello, brother, where are you?" which drew a lively response.

Baisha, also known as Mongolia's Shin Dong-yup, said, "If the Korean Shin Dong-yup danced, I think he would dance like this," and delighted everyone by dancing playfully to T-ara's 'Roly-Poly'.

Did anything special happen while filming in Korea? Manlai first said, "Filming in Korea is 100% location shooting, so since I don't know Korean, there were challenging aspects. And 30 people came from Mongolia to shoot. There were many things to learn in Korea."

Manlai continued, "The Korean food was so delicious. I liked everything." He laughed, "It was interesting that during the first shoot, when we were kidnapping a female actor, many police actually came. We were like, 'Why are so many police here?' We thought that Koreans reported that a kidnapping was happening, and we were surprised. Later, we explained well to the police and continued filming. However, it was scary."

He continued, "When the Korean staff explained to us, they said we should just do it once while filming, while in Korea, they proceed silently."

Chukter commented, "When we came from Mongolia, we were very slim. But after working with Koreans, we became fatter. When the Korean staff first met us, they often asked, 'Have you eaten?' That doesn't happen in Mongolia. In Mongolia, only our mothers ask if we've eaten, but it felt like all Koreans had a mother's heart asking us that question. I love Koreans. If Koreans move, I want to help them."

Baisha remarked, "The actor Yoon Jae-moon, who appeared in our movie, is loved a lot by Mongolians. It felt like a dream to shoot with actors like him. When I told Mongolians that I was shooting with these actors, their jaws dropped. Our movie opens on the 27th, and I would appreciate it if you could love it. To those who watch, I'll dance in every theater."

'Jiji' commented, "My story is also in the movie 'Undercover Investigation'. I stayed in Korea when I was not famous in Mongolia in 2017. I worked for three months in Korea. I’ve done everything from hotel cleaning to moving and office work. At that time, seeing how hard Koreans work made me go back to Mongolia and work harder, leading me to sit here. When I worked in Korea, I thought about what it would be like to make this kind of movie, and when I went back to Mongolia, I wanted to be an actress, not to labor again. Now, I am grateful to have achieved that promise with my friends and myself and to sit here."

Takhta explained about the song 'Mimi' inserted in the film, saying, "It's a famous song from Mongolia, 30 years ago, and I received permission from the singers to sing it in Korean for this movie."

How was shooting with Korean actors like Yoon Jae-moon and Ki Joo-bong? 'Jiji' shared, "I learned a lot while shooting. In the movie, I said to Bada (played by Yoon Jae-moon), 'Bada, I will catch you,' but while shooting with Yoon Jae-moon, I was so scared and surprised that I couldn’t say it well. So I practiced a lot for the next time and shot it again." He continued, "In the next project, I want to fulfill Takhta's dream and shoot with actor Ma Dong-seok," which drew applause from the audience.

Takhta added, "I was waiting and looking forward to coming to Korea for a long time. So, I told my wife that I’ll be shooting with actor Yoon Jae-moon, and my wife was watching the drama in which Yoon Jae-moon was appearing. She was very happy and encouraged me to shoot well in Korea."

Manlai stated, "Actor Ki Joo-bong also appeared in our movie, and Mongolians love him a lot. I am really grateful that he shot in our movie. I want to express my gratitude here as well."

So are there actors who want to shoot in Korea? Chukter said, "I really like actors who appeared in famous works like 'Squid Game' and 'Parasite'. I hope to work with them."

On the other hand, Churigor said, "My father passed away and is in heaven, but I have fulfilled my dream. I am sitting here as an actor in the country where my father worked. I am so grateful to be sitting here now. Please love our movie." This remark evoked a sense of emotion.

'Jiji' humorously said, "The lives of Mongolians are connected to Korea through even one person. Making this film is creating a long history of Mongolian cinema. I am very grateful that we shot 100% in Korea and will also premiere in Korea. I am very thankful to the same teammates who brought this to fruition. Please watch our movie and love it as much as we worked for it."

'Undercover Investigation' will be released domestically on the 27th.

[Photo] OSEN reporter Park Jun-hyung, provided by Smile ENT.

[OSEN]