🦁📰 Kim Junghyun’s reflections on his acting career, personal challenges, and future goals.
"...if you work until you die..." Kim Junghyun Dreams of Acting
Reporter Park Hae Jin [ⓓ인터뷰] "죽을 때까지 노력하면"...김정현이 꿈꾸는 연기 | 디스패치 | 뉴스는 팩트다! (dispatch.co.kr)
Kim Junghyun is a natural born actor. I knew it the moment I met him. There wasn't the smirking Gu Seungjun of <Crash Landing on You> or the cranky Cheon Suho of <Time>.
Instead, there was the serious Kim Junghyun. When I realized that his characters were strictly acting, and when he spoke of his confidence in acting, I thought to myself.
'This is someone who should be an actor.'
I asked him why he became an actor. He gave a simple answer.
"I enjoy the moment of acting. I'm happy to be able to act, it makes me hopeful."
Kim Junghyun made his presence felt in tvN's <Crash Landing on You>. He made viewers laugh and cry with his hateful yet lovable, cheerful yet heartbreaking performance.
He kept the center of attention among the big actors. No matter who he was paired with, there was no awkwardness. He created narrative and chemistry with each of them.
Kim Junghyun, who on earth is this actor?
Dreaming of being an 'actor'
Actually, Kim Junghyun is a late bloomer*. In 2012, he made his screen debut in the short film <I'll Be with You>.
[*T/N: humble beginnings, but great endings]
Since then, he's been acting wherever he can. Theaters, musicals, movies, and dramas. He doesn't discriminate between genres.
"I saw the play <In the Smoke> and it made me want to be an actor. I cried a lot, and that's when I realized that I had the question mark (in my mind), which made me think about acting again."
Your acting career also started with theater. In 2013, you first appeared on the theater stage in <Thérèse Raquin>. But wait, what is the 'question mark' in your mind?
"I realized that acting is a precious thing where you can give and receive emotions from people. The idea of sharing new experiences was fascinating to me."
That's when he started to pursue acting in earnest.
Everybody has ups and downs
In 2015, he made his professional debut with movie <Overman> and was recognized by critics. He continued to gain recognition with each work, making his mark with <Jealousy Incarnate>, <Rebel>, <School 2017>, and more.
But there were also bumps in the road. When he dropped out of <Time> due to a sleep disorder and eating disorder, he was criticized for it.
"I felt like I neglected myself. It was a time of deceiving, betraying, and beating myself up. I stopped loving myself. My self-esteem dropped, and my anxiety grew."
He didn't want to fall apart. He dropped everything and went back to the beginning. "I spent a year and five months recovering my body and mind. I've built a lot of mental muscle* as an actor."
[*T/N: willpower; perseverance, judgment, system of thought, exploration, impulse control, goal setting, and other mental traits]
It was acting, after all, that got him back on his feet.
"I always had the desire to act (in my heart). I had a lot of desire to work."
Acting became more precious to him during his break. "I became more focused on the present moment and enjoying it. I'm in a better state of mind to look at my surroundings."
Crash Landing on You
He put his heartfelt feelings into <Crash Landing on You>. Whether it was a lead role or a supporting role, it didn't matter. For Kim Junghyun, it weighed the same. He was grateful to just be able to act.
"I tried to enjoy the moment of acting, no matter if I was on set or reading the script, because I know it's important to do my best with what I can do now."
Kim Junghyun plays Gu Seungjun, a fraudster. His (life's) purpose is money and revenge. He didn't have the love of his parents. However, he was a pure man in front of love. He's a character with a wide range of emotions.
"The most important thing was to maintain the position. I thought that if North Korea had Pyo Chisoo (played by Yang Kyungwon) and the crew, Seungjun should create that atmosphere in South Korea."
Kim Junghyun slept with the script by his bedside. He studied the script until he closed his eyes, and then acted it out; a not too serious, yet hilarious Seungjun.
He had his own way of speaking the North Korean dialect. "The dialect changes depending on the interpretation of the lines, and I just caught the nuances and put them into Seungjun's words."
The acting in <Crash Landing on You>
He gave the four-angle romance three-dimensional feel*. Though he didn't have much screen time, his acting was dynamic. It even captured the growth of one character.
[*T/N: given depth and realism; the acting has a realistic and deep feeling.]
"The writer did a good job of showing the inflection points of growth. Seungjun gave Seri (played by Son Yejin) a certain intentionality, and gave Dan (played by Seo Jihye) a more humanized approach. There was a clear temperature difference."
The crying scene in episode 15, for instance. When North Korean children sing, 'I'm a poor orphan,’ Seungjun sobs to himself. It's the first time his inner self comes out.
"The situation of being chased by danger, being alone in a hiding place... I was thinking about how Seungjun must have felt in that place. My heart ached a lot. I realized that he must have been desperate."
Kim Junghyun had his own input. "I wanted Seungjun to show emotion in this scene, and I thought it would be a turning point in his life."
The same goes for the shooting scene in which he jokingly says, ‘I did some clay shooting in South Korea.’ The scene is even more poignant because he did it with a light chuckle. This was also Junghyun's idea.
"It felt right. My primary purpose was to reassure Dan. I was thinking about her right up until the moment I died. I remember that."
Revisiting the 'actor' dream
There is a certain ease to his performance. He is quick but relaxed, he is light but has weight. What makes him so flexible is his unwavering effort (to act).
"It's like a swan on a lake, you need to paddle your legs vigorously to look relaxed. Even when you're acting, the action is (actually) going on inside."
"I ask myself, 'what keywords is this line influenced by?' or 'what purpose is it serving?' When you have a clear idea, you're less likely to get stuck (in practice)."
When asked about his next project, he said, "I haven't decided on a stage (to act), be it a movie, a drama, or a theater. I would love to get together with some of my favorite people and do some performances."
Recently, he's been studying English for two reasons: acting and writing. "If I get better at English, there will be more works that I can come across, and I want to experience and convey various kinds of acting."
However, Kim Junghyun has only completed one (series) episode. He plans to follow the path he's been given without hesitation. Once again, he's dreaming of becoming an actor.
"I see where I'm still lacking, and I have a desire to grow, rather than just run in circles. I'm eager to share new experiences in any conversational way I can."
And one last thing.
"If you work until you die, won't you be able to fulfill that dream?"
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Translated by @deeliciouskjh. Do not modify it in whole or in part. All errors are mine, constructive feedback is welcome.