Meet the Real Star of ‘My Daughter is a Zombie’ — A Scene-Stealing Cat Named Geumdong
As the summer box office heats up, one of Korea’s most anticipated films, ‘My Daughter is a Zombie’, is already turning heads—and not just because of the zombies. Ahead of its July 30 release, the production team has revealed the surprising story behind one of the film’s unexpected stars: a cat named Geumdong.
In the film, based on a popular webtoon of the same name, the cat character “Aeyong” is the beloved pet of main characters Jeonghwan (played by Cho Jung-seok) and Sua (Choi Yuri). Known for her perpetually unimpressed expression and aloof charm, Aeyong quickly became a fan-favorite in the original comic. But translating that feline attitude to the big screen proved to be no easy feat.
Cats, unlike dogs, aren’t exactly known for their trainability—especially when cameras are rolling. So instead of relying on CGI or anthropomorphism, the filmmakers embarked on a nationwide search for a real-life cat who could embody Aeyong’s unique aura. Four cheese tabby cats were brought in for auditions. Yes, actual auditions.
Enter Geumdong.
While the other cats hid or bolted at the sight of the crew, Geumdong strutted in, flopped on his back, and exposed his belly like he owned the place. Director Pil Gam-seong reportedly exclaimed, “You ARE Aeyong!” and cast him on the spot.
What followed was pure magic. With sleepy eyes that scream “I’ve seen it all” and a perfect ‘ㅅ’-shaped mouth, Geumdong mirrored the webtoon character almost eerily. In fact, he performed so well on set—with a bit of help from his favorite treat, Churu—that many scenes originally planned for CGI ended up being shot live.
Director Pil joked, “If it weren’t for Geumdong, we might still be filming.”
Beyond its zombie twist, ‘My Daughter is a Zombie’ blends family love, comedy, and heartfelt drama, offering a refreshing take on the genre. The recently released main trailer has already sparked buzz for Jo Jung-suk’s signature emotional comedy, Lee Jung-eun’s uncanny resemblance to her webtoon counterpart, and the warm, offbeat family narrative at its core.
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Now, with Geumdong’s breakout performance added to the mix, viewers can expect not just laughs and tears—but maybe a new feline icon in K-cinema.
‘My Daughter is a Zombie’ hits theaters Korea on July 30.
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