Actress Lee Honey talked about the difficulties she experienced in choosing to appear in the forthcoming film "The People Upstairs," directed by Ha Jung-woo.

On December 1, during an interview conducted at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, the actress remembered how tough the circumstances were surrounding the offer and the conversations that followed.

Distributed by By4M Studio and produced by Sidus and Workhouse Company, this film tells the story of two couples whose lives collide because of noise complaints every night, which escalates into a highly unexpected and revealing dinner get-together. Lee Honey plays Choi Soo-kyung, an upstairs neighbor keen to share her unusual experiences.

According to OSEN, Lee Honey first found out about the project through fellow actress Gong Hyo-jin. She said, "Actress Gong Hyo-jin first gave me the script. Hyojin unnie said, 'I was wondering if you could take a look and see what you think.'" She went on to explain that at the time she was exhausted from consecutive projects and childbirth.

"I'm so sorry to Hyojin, but I want to spend some time with my family. I asked for just two weeks and said I'd join then, but Senior Ha Jung-woo turned me down. Usually, they'd tell you to rest for about two weeks and then come back, but I was just rejected." She added that the rejection surprised her and made her reconsider her decision.

According to an article from the Maeil Business Newspaper, Lee Honey said she was left with lingering thoughts on the project. She explained, "Because I still had regrets and felt I could do well if I tried, I asked for a chance, and I really felt sorry for my husband, but I asked for an excuse just once." She added that balancing work and motherhood heightened her sense of guilt toward her family.

When asked why director Ha Jung-woo had been so firm, she said, "He said that he also had a drama lined up afterward, and there were circumstances where the production absolutely had to happen at that time."

Lee Honey also shared her husband's reaction after watching the original production.She said, "They said it was more fun than they expected after coming to the news program."

"The People Upstairs" will make its bow today, December 3, 2025.