Lee Joo-young parodies 'Hope' horse-riding scene with her dog

Actress Lee Joo-young has showcased her signature cheerful charm by sharing glimpses of her life immersed in the hit film 'Hope.' Her witty parodies of famous scenes from the movie are drawing massive engagement from fans and becoming a hot topic online.

On the 18th, Lee posted several photos to her social media (SNS) with the caption, "I became a 'Hop-chin-ja' after watching 'Hope,' so I've been playing like this all day." 'Hop-chin-ja' is a newly coined term used to describe fans who are deeply obsessed with the film, expressing their affection in a playful way.

In the photos, Lee is dressed comfortably in a purple top and training shorts, striking various poses while holding a toy long gun. Most notably, she drew laughter by recreating Zo In Sung's horse-riding scene from the film by posing as if she were riding her pet dog.

In another photo, she comically parodied the film's tense atmosphere by aiming a toy gun at her dogs. The sharp contrast between her serious expression and the absurd situation highlighted Lee's unique free-spirited sensibility and sense of humor.

Fans responded to the post with enthusiastic support, leaving witty comments such as, "This is the textbook definition of being obsessed," "I think the dog must have been the most flustered," "A parody that even Zo In Sung would laugh at," and "Hop-chin-ja certification complete.'

'Hope' is the new project from director Na Hong-jin, arriving approximately 10 years after his acclaimed 'The Wailing.' The film has been dominating the box office since its release on the 15th. It follows Beom-seok (Hwang Jung-min), the head of a branch office in the Demilitarized Zone's Hopo Port, who becomes embroiled in mysterious incidents after hearing reports of a tiger sighting from local youths.

With Na Hong-jin's intense direction and powerful performances from actors including Hwang Jung-min and Zo In Sung, the film has surpassed 2 million viewers just five days after its release. On the internet, a 'Hop-chin-ja' culture is spreading like a game, with fans repeatedly watching the film or creating their own parodies of iconic scenes.

In cultural studies, this phenomenon is a prime example of 'Participatory Culture.' American media scholar Henry Jenkins has analyzed how fans do not merely consume content, but produce new cultural meaning through parody, re-creation, and play. Lee's post serves as a perfect example of an actress reinterpreting a film in her own way, building a sense of community with the audience.

Lee previously expanded her acting range with voice work in the film 'Why Do Pilgrims Don't Return,' which was released last month. As she continues to grow her filmography by moving between live-action and voice acting, this playful update offered fans another glimpse of her unique charm and passion for her craft.