Actress Kim Ji-yeon candidly shared the behind-the-scenes story of her kiss scene with Yook Sung-jae.
On the 9th, an interview with Kim Ji-yeon, who delivered a stellar performance in the SBS drama 'Gwigung,' took place at the King Kong by Starship office in Gangnam, Seoul.
'Gwigung,' which concluded on the 8th, is a fantasy romantic comedy about Yeori, a shaman who rejects her fate as a medium, and Kang Cheol-yi, a dragon trapped in the body of Yeori's first love, Yoon Gap, as they confront a vengeful spirit haunting the royal family. Kim Ji-yeon portrayed the strong-willed shaman Yeori with nuanced depth.
When asked about her on-screen romance with Yook Sung-jae, her friend of 16 years, Kim Ji-yeon laughed and shared her genuine thoughts. Regarding the kiss scene with Yook Sung-jae, she said, "I was worried it might be awkward since we're friends, but it was freezing that day at minus 26 degrees Celsius. My lips were so cold that I couldn't pronounce words properly."
She added, "It was so cold that even tears would freeze, so I couldn't focus on the intimacy. I was just thinking, 'I need to do this scene well.' It was a bit disappointing. If the weather had been better, I think I could have done it better."
When asked if she felt any pressure about acting in a romance with a longtime friend, Kim Ji-yeon said, "I tried to see him as a man only when acting. We were worried it might be awkward because we're so close, but it was surprisingly comfortable, and I received a lot of help from Sung-jae."
Kim Ji-yeon praised Yook Sung-jae's comedic acting, saying, "One of the reasons I think Sung-jae is amazing is his excellent comedic acting. Comedy is a really difficult genre, but seeing him perform it so well while maintaining the right balance made me think, 'I want to try acting like that too.'"
Reporter Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr