When I was growing up, we were taught in school that North Koreans, and especially the North Korean leadership, were all devils.

I actually pay careful attention to that sort of thing - infusing humor into my films - because that's how important I think humor is.

I believe 'love' is very nice to hear, but it's used so much that it's come to a point where it's almost meaningless.

Actually, I can't stand watching violent scenes in films; I avoid watching horror films. I don't tend to watch action films mainly because I find them boring, but I watch the films of David Cronenberg and Martin Scorsese, usually in a state close to having a heart attack. I'm a complete coward. I make violent films as a result of my sensitivity to violence - in other words, my fear of violence.

Actors are professionals who deal with people's emotions and their thoughts. So, working with this very intelligent, smart cast meant that sometimes I would only have to start speaking a word and these wonderful actors would immediately catch onto what I wanted them to portray, and how I wanted them to act.

I do like musical films more than big Hollywood films, especially those by Jacques Demi and Vincent Minelli.

Certainly, it includes that. I want the story to be interpreted in as many ways as possible, and of course, the bad blood aspect of it included. For instance, perhaps this is a story not about the hereditary nature of evil, but rather you could interpret it from a different perspective, too.