‘One Win’: Korea’s first volleyball film exploring power of single victory

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) — When director and screenwriter Shin Yeon-shick conceived the idea for his upcoming drama film, “One Win,” he thought of one victory most people yearn to achieve — a moment of personal significance that brings both fulfillment and the potential for further advancement.

“It is not about most people striving to become the absolute best. Rather, it’s about simply hoping for just one victory,” Shin said at a press conference Monday, discussing the production process and the film’s hidden stories.

“There is longing within each of us to achieve something significant at least once in our lives, even if no one else notices,” he said. “Achieving one win is not about becoming a champion. It is about finding meaning in that single victory.”

The film follows the Pink Storm, a volleyball team on the brink of disbandment after losing its star players. Kim Woo-jin (Song Kang-ho) unexpectedly receives an offer to coach the team from Kang Jung-won (Park Jeong-min), a second-generation chaebol scion who recently acquired the team.

However, Kang appears to have little genuine interest in saving the team, or even in the sport itself. His primary goal seems to be boosting season ticket sales by capitalizing on the underdog story of a winless, struggling coach and players aiming for a single victory. To promote the narrative and sell tickets, Kang offers a 2 billion-won (US$1.44 million) prize if the team can pull off just one win in the entire season.

Actor Song, acclaimed for his roles in “Parasite” and “Broker,” said a lighthearted sports movie was exactly what he had been waiting for after a series of intense roles in TV and film.

Although the story of “One Win” is humble and simple, it possesses a powerful ability to inspire courage and happiness, he said.

“While my previous roles had their unique appeal, working on the film felt exciting and refreshing,” Song said, adding he enjoys “taking on diverse and experimental challenges” as “constant experimentation is essential for an actor.”

“Even if the results aren’t always perfect, what matters is trying to connect with audiences through new stories.”

Another lead actor, Park, who most recently starred in Netflix’s Korean original film “Uprising,” the opening title at this year’s Busan International Film Festival, shared that his character, despite outwardly chasing fame, secretly sympathizes with and roots for the underdogs.

“My character may come across as a bit funny and quirky, but I see him as deeply connected to the team he acquired, viewing it as a reflection of himself.”

Director Shin, who previously collaborated with both lead actors — working with Song on “Cobweb” (2023) and Disney+’s Korean original series “Uncle Samsik,” and with Park on “Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet” (2016) — discussed the challenges he faced in making a movie about volleyball, the first of its kind in Korean cinematic history.

“I didn’t fully understand what I was getting into. It was only after we started filming that I realized why no one had made a film about this sport,” he said. “It was really hard to control the ball, and the sport is extremely dynamic due to the fast movement of the ball,” he explained.

However, he was able to overcome these challenges with advancements in cinematography and filming techniques. In addition, current and former volleyball players provided a lot of help, not to mention appearing in the film as actors and coaches, he said.

“If no one has done it yet, it’s better for me to take it on,” he said.

The film is slated for release in December.

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