The eighth episode of “Normal People” was just released on the YouTube channel “SBS Entertainment,” and it featured a special appearance by actress Kim Ji-yeon. During the episode, Kim had a conversation with Shin Dong-mi and Son Tae-jin.
When inquired about her background, including the significance of her name, Kim Ji-yeon clarified, “My name symbolizes wisdom and beauty, with ‘Ji’ representing wisdom and ‘Yeon’ representing beauty. Although some may interpret it as ‘you know you’re pretty,’ the true meaning is to be a person who embodies both wisdom and beauty. I identify as an INTP on the MBTI, have blood type A, and am the youngest child with one older brother and one older sister.”
Kim Ji-yeon revealed that she began her journey as a trainee by auditioning for various companies. Living in Daegu at the time, she traveled to Seoul for auditions and to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. Surprisingly, she was scouted more frequently on the streets of Seoul. Although her mother initially had doubts about her career choice, she eventually allowed her to give it a chance. If she failed, her mother told her to give up on her dream. Fortunately, Kim Ji-yeon passed an audition in Daegu and joined her current company.
Kim Ji-yeon shared her experience of how she got into acting. She considered the timing to be perfect as her first project, ‘The Best Hit,’ was a trainee role that she auditioned for against other rookie girl groups. The character required someone with long, straight black hair who appeared cold and thin due to dieting, and at the time, Kim Ji-yeon fit the role perfectly as she was also preparing for an album. This opportunity led to her first role, and the following year she landed a role in ‘Girls’ Generation 1979,’ a drama set in Daegu during the 1970s. Her Daegu dialect played a crucial role in her audition as there were no other rookie actors who
During her first historical drama, “Joseon Attorney,”she shared her thoughts on her role. She sought guidance from the director, Shin Dong-mi, and the writer by asking numerous questions. Although she doesn’t typically set grand ambitions or long-term plans, she strives to excel in every opportunity presented to her. She dislikes feeling incapable of accomplishing something and always gives her best effort to prevent any potential regrets.
As an idol, Kim Ji-yeon stressed the importance of delivering maximum efficiency in the shortest amount of time. She expressed that if she had more preparation time for her role in ‘Joseon Attorney’, she may have been able to perform better. However, at the time, her schedule was filled with concerts and activities after winning ‘Queendom 2’, followed by the start of filming for the drama. Being a perfectionist, she always strives to do her best but understands that sometimes despite her efforts, the outcome may not be what she had hoped for. In her profession, she acknowledges that effort and results do not always align, which is why she chooses to focus on giving her best and accepting the outcome. This helps her to emotionally
Reflecting on her experience working on “Twenty-Five Twenty-One,”Kim Ji-yeon shared, “I wasn’t able to debut at 21, so I was 25 when I finally got the opportunity to be active. It was a dream come true to work with my favorite writer, actor, and director. Looking back, I am proud of the effort I put in. I dedicated myself to learning fencing, even attending physiotherapy and practicing every day for three months leading up to filming. Despite starting four months later than Kim Tae-ri, my dance background helped me catch up quickly. While she was a talented fencer, I was able to best her in our friendly competitions,”she recalled with a smile.
When discussing her role as Ko Yu-rim, a determined dream-chaser in the drama “Twenty-Five Twenty-One”, the actress revealed a personal connection to the character, drawing parallels to her trainee days. As for her character Seong Soo-ji in “Pyramid Game,”she initially had doubts about being a good fit, but found that the character’s relaxed demeanor and manner of speaking came naturally to her during filming.
Lastly, Kim Ji-yeon expressed her interest in exploring new roles and genres. She reflected on her previous role as Ko Yu-rim, a strong character, and acknowledged that she has since been offered similar roles of resilient, intelligent, and upright characters. However, she expressed a desire to step out of her comfort zone and take on a challenging role, such as that of a psychopathic killer.
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