She has firmly established herself as actress Kim Ji-yeon from the group WJSN after successfully wrapping up the SBS Friday-Saturday drama 'The Haunted Palace' (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Seong-sik), achieving another growth. Kim Ji-yeon perfectly portrayed the role of a shaman in the complex genre and showcased a special chemistry with her long-time friend Yoo Seong-jae, whom she has known for 16 years. With deep reflection on the project, insights learned from senior actors, and a passionate commitment to acting, she is emerging as a 'real actress' whose future is even more promising.
In her remarks about the conclusion of 'The Haunted Palace', Kim Ji-yeon said, "I received such great love that I spent the entire airing period with an excited heart. It was really a challenging shoot, but it was rewarding to go through it." As she mentioned, 'The Haunted Palace' was a complex genre that traversed fantasy, romance, and historical drama, and she expressed it was a high-level shoot that felt like doing several dramas at once.
Taking on the role of shaman 'Yeori', Kim Ji-yeon found herself in deep contemplation. "There are sayings that taking on such a role could mean one might receive divine possession, and I was concerned because it's said that the fortunes of entertainers and shamans are similar," she noted, ultimately opting for a fantastical approach after discussing with the director. She integrated Korean dance in the shamanistic scenes and thought of conversing with spirits as preparing for "a completely new character". Despite the challenging CG acting, spirit possession performance, and the environmental difficulties unique to historical dramas, she conveyed her exceptional passion for acting, saying, "The harder it was, the more rewarding it felt."
Through this challenge, Kim Ji-yeon said, "After finishing it, I gained the courage to feel that I could do any genre," showcasing her growth as an actress. In particular, she expressed, "It's really rare. When I achieve more than I initially expected, I feel a thrill. I wonder how I can do even better, and I want to succeed," revealing her relentless thirst as an actress continuously pushing herself. Kim Ji-yeon, who said the feedback from viewers that "her acting has improved a lot" is the best, is an 'actress' who yearns for growth at every moment.
Kim Ji-yeon's ambition for acting grew even larger from her role as 'Go Yu-rim' in 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One'. She explained, "The character I feel most attached to is Go Yu-rim. I feel regret about 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One'. If I were to go back and do it again, I think I could do better," indicating that since then, her desire to 'perform well' has grown.
The presence of Kim Tae-ri has had a significant influence on Kim Ji-yeon's path as an actress. Kim Ji-yeon remarked, "The cool senior I think of is Kim Tae-ri. I met many wonderful seniors on set and learned a lot, but Kim Tae-ri really takes care of people. Until then, I had been busy with my own tasks, but seeing Kim Tae-ri made me realize 'this is how a lead actor should be'. I appreciated her ability to encompass everyone," indicating that she learned the responsibility and leadership of a lead actor who drives the project from Kim Tae-ri. This was an opportunity for her to ponder the role of an actress beyond simply acting within the 'field'.
Additionally, the chemistry with Yoo Seong-jae, whom she has known for 16 years, became a further opportunity for Kim Ji-yeon to grow. Having known Yoo Seong-jae since preparing to become an idol, Kim Ji-yeon expressed surprise at his excellent capacity to take on the fantasy genre and professionalism, noting, "He acts really well and has so much talent that I wanted to learn from him."
While she currently conveys her aspirations for acting as 'actress Kim Ji-yeon', the group WJSN, which made her name known, will also celebrate its 10th anniversary next year since debut. Although it still feels awkward to be called 'noona', 'unnie', and 'senpai' on set, Kim Ji-yeon revealed that she is striving to become a 'cool senior' by taking Kim Tae-ri as her role model.
Kim Ji-yeon expressed her new aspirations as an actor, saying, "I want to show a side of me that I haven't shown before." She displayed abundant enthusiasm, stating, "Fans have told me that they want to see me play a character who is rich and a bit arrogant." She has a desire to take on many projects, but due to her tendency to feel significantly stressed with each work, she emphasizes maintaining her own pace by consistently releasing one project each year.
Having broadened her acting spectrum and matured as an actress through 'The Haunted Palace', Kim Ji-yeon continues to grow through endless contemplation about her projects and interactions with colleagues and seniors. It is exciting to anticipate what kind of character and story she will surprise the public with next.
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