Jung Il Woo attended the premiere of "Taking Mom on a Trip" in Ho Chi Minh City. The film, a Vietnamese-Korean collaboration, is directed by Mo Hong Jin. The actor plays Jeong Min, a young man who pursues Hanh (Juliet Bao Ngoc) when she moves from Vietnam to South Korea for her studies.

Jung Il Woo discusses his Vietnamese lines and singing "Le Da" at the 29/7 event. Video: Mai Nhat

Despite having limited Vietnamese dialogue, Jung Il Woo dedicated time to learning the language, receiving guidance from Juliet Bao Ngoc on basic phrases. In one notable scene, upon hearing Hanh play the classic Vietnamese song "Le Da" (composed by Tran Trinh) on guitar, Jeong Min resolves to learn the song to win her over. Jung Il Woo explained that during rehearsals, Bao Ngoc sang each line for him to follow.

The actor also suggested to the director that some lines be changed to Vietnamese to better suit the context. For example, when confessing his feelings to Hanh, Jeong Min haltingly says, "Toi quyet dinh se thich em" ("I've decided I like you"). "This line was originally in Korean in the script," Jung Il Woo said, "but I suggested changing it. I believe that when a man wants to impress a woman from another country, the first thing he'd do is try to overcome the language barrier."

Jung Il Woo explained that he accepted the role because he enjoyed the script, which revolves around a son's love and responsibility in caring for his aging mother. "Furthermore," he added, "there haven't been many collaborative film projects between Vietnam and South Korea, so I wanted this to be one of the first."

Jung Il Woo (2:13) in the trailer for "Taking Mom on a Trip." Video: Provided by the film crew

Jung Il Woo is well-known throughout Asia for his role in the 2006 sitcom "Unstoppable High Kick", portraying a rebellious, motorcycle-riding student with a crush on his teacher. He later starred in dramas like "49 Days", "Moon Embracing The Sun", and "Haechi". He has never publicly confirmed any romantic relationships and keeps his private life discreet. In 2024, he attracted attention while traveling in Hoi An ancient town and Da Nang, enjoying the local cuisine.

The film centers around Le Thi Hanh (played by Hong Dao), an Alzheimer's patient. She frequently gets lost, necessitating a name tag with her address and phone number. Despite the constant care of her son, Hoan (Tuan Tran), her condition progressively worsens. Hoan grapples with the question: "When love becomes a burden, what will you decide?" This marks the second time Hong Dao and Tuan Tran have portrayed mother and son, following their roles in Tran Thanh's "Mai" (2024).

From right: Jung Il Woo, Hong Dao, and Tuan Tran at the 29/7 event. Photo: Quynh Nhu

From right: Jung Il Woo, Hong Dao, and Tuan Tran at the 29/7 event. Photo: Quynh Nhu

"Taking Mom on a Trip" is directed by Mo Hong Jin, known for the film "A Prisoner's Last Wish" (2037). To write the screenplay, Mo Hong Jin researched Vietnamese lifestyles and culture, collaborating with several local production companies. The team chose the theme of family, believing it's universally relatable. Phan Gia Nhat Linh, the director of "Em and Trinh" and "Sweet 20", is one of the producers.

Mai Nhat