연합뉴스
| yna@yna.co.kr 2025-06-10 09:29:38
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- "This project has made me lose my fear of genres. After doing so many new types of acting, I now feel confident that I can handle any genre." (laughs)
Kim Ji-yeon, a member of the girl group WJSN and an actress steadily building her filmography, has once again demonstrated her solid acting chops with her wide-ranging performance in the SBS fantasy historical drama "The Haunted Palace."
In a post-finale interview at Starship Entertainment headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam, on Monday, Kim said, "I wanted to prove through this project that I'm an actor not limited by genre."
"Until now, I’ve mostly chosen characters who seemed realistic and similar to me, but this time, I really wanted to portray someone more diverse. In that sense, 'The Haunted Palace' was a fresh challenge."
The drama tells the story of a shaman who rejects her spiritual fate and a royal book inspector, Yoon Gap (played by Yook Sung-jae), who is possessed by an imugi (a mythical serpent).
Kim portrayed Yeori, a woman who rejects her destiny as a shaman and lives as a glasses artisan, only to accept her fate again for her first love, Yoon Gap. She showed a range of expressions, from comedic banter with the imugi Kang Cheol, to heartbreaking romance with Yoon Gap, to powerful exorcism scenes and being possessed by a vengeful spirit.
She confessed, "Since I’d never done this kind of role before, I was very anxious and often felt awkward and unfamiliar during filming."
"Fantasy roles are a battle with yourself. I really felt that overcoming the awkwardness, embarrassment, and cringey moments is the key to pulling it off."
"While acting, I sometimes felt shy, but seeing the final version with CGI made me wish I had acted even more boldly. I didn’t realize those scenes would turn out looking so cool." (laughs)
Kim Ji-yeon began acting in 2017 with "Hit the Top" and has since appeared in "Homemade Love Story," "Twenty-Five Twenty-One," and "Pyramid Game."
To prepare for her first fantasy role, she said, "Unlike usual, I didn’t ask, ‘What would I do in this situation?’ Instead, I fully immersed myself in each scene by adjusting my tone accordingly."
"I spoke in a calm, melodramatic tone when with Yoon Gap, used a lighter rom-com tone when interacting with the imugi Kang Cheol, acted more traditionally inside the palace, and took a lighter, fusion-historical approach outside."
The project was especially meaningful as it allowed her to work with fellow singer-turned-actor Yook Sung-jae, with whom she has shared a decade-long friendship in the music industry.
"Since we were filming all over the country in freezing weather, the actors, staff, and crew all had a hard time. But it was a joy to work with an old, close friend during such tough times," she recalled.
Kim Ji-yeon, who is preparing for her next project, remained tight-lipped about the details but shared her hopes: "If I get the chance, I really want to do a romantic comedy next."
"I’d like to play a character who has a lot, and is sharp and sensitive. Fans have said they want to see me play a rich, comfortable character. Until now, I’ve mostly portrayed modest roles, so next time I’d like to try someone glamorous and stylish."
[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]