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| ▲ This photo, provided by YAMYAM Entertainment, shows actor Kim Min-jae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by tvN, shows actor Kim Min-jae from a scene in 'Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by YAMYAM Entertainment, shows actor Kim Min-jae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by YAMYAM Entertainment, shows actor Kim Min-jae. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Feb. 12 (Yonhap) -- TvN’s period romance drama “Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist,” which featured the story of people in the Joseon Dynasty who suffered from mental illness healing their heartaches and finding happiness, reached its conclusion on Feb. 9.
South Korean actor Kim Min-jae, who starred as Yoo Se-poong, a well-known internal medicine doctor who was expelled from the royal court after getting caught up in a conspiracy, held an interview at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on Friday, to share his thoughts following the recent wrap-up of his drama series. Kim started off by saying, “I was proud to be acting as an internal medicine doctor but it was also very challenging.”
Kim plays Se-poong, a royal acupuncturist who loses his ability to coolly handle an acupuncture needle after going through a traumatic incident involving the previous king but eventually becomes a doctor who touches the hearts of those who have been mentally hurt with his own special solutions.
He diagnoses patients who show abnormal behaviors or complain of unprovoked symptoms of depression, an emotional disorder as a result of repressed anger or stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and helps them to get cured of such ills with all his might.
The actor said, “I made this character wishing that I would have my own doctor like Se-poong,” explaining, “I wanted to create a persona who would bring warmth in difficult times.”
As he devoted more time playing Se-poong over the past two series of this drama, Kim said that he feels particularly more attached to the drama series than his previous works. The drama aired its first 12 episodes in the first season last August and immediately picked up from it left off and began shooting the 10-episode-long season 2. The second season had its premiere in January of 2023.
The actor said with a jest, “I spent my last year as Yoo Se-poong himself to the point where I felt awkward staying at my modern-style house as I did not make many memories in the present times last year.”
He added, “Even though we have finished shooting and airing the drama, Yoo Se-poong was a character who has so much to learn, so I think he has become a part of me.”
“Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist” is a fusion period romance drama that is set in Joseon Dynasty but featuring several modern values: It deeply dealt with the agony of Seo Eun-woo, played by Kim Hyang-gi, who is pointed fingers at as a widow, and shed light on the times when freedom was suppressed for gender and status discrepancies through the diverse stories of colorful characters.
The 26-year-old actor said, “We did tell some unbelievable stories for historical reasons, but the drama surely had its own charm.”
“I think what makes historical dramas as ours so special is that they are not only unpredictable but also compelling as they deliver a message that can be applied to the present while telling the stories of the past. I fancied our drama as it well-demonstrated this particular charm of period dramas.”
Kim Min-jae, who made his debut in 2015 with the television series “Preserve, Goo Hae Ra,” made himself known by appearing as a responsible and upright nurse Park Eun-tak in the drama “Dr. Romantic” (2016), and also received rave reviews by featuring as a romantic couple with co-actress So Joo-yeon, who starred as nurse Yoon Ah-reum.
In another romance drama “Do You Like Brahms?” (2020), the actor showed off more of his emotional sides and also received support from viewers for his acting skills.
The actor said, “In fact, starring in a romance drama once was the most challenging genre for me,” adding, “I would be honored if viewers would be reminded of me starring in a romance drama.”
“Romance dramas have now become my favorite genre to act in; however, since I have been only playing favorable, genial roles so far, I wish I get an opportunity to play a villain,” Kim added. “If I play the villain, I think I can play well enough for the viewers to think, ‘Wow, this person pretended to be nice so far.’”
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)
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