Moon Sang-min, who recently appeared in the Netflix film 'Pavane' directed by Lee Jong-pil, candidly shared various behind-the-scenes stories related to the project. He discussed his chemistry with co-stars Byun Yo-han and Go Ah-sung, the process of filming kiss scenes, his concerns as an actor, and his goals for the year.
'Pavane' tells the story of three individuals who, while living with closed hearts, become a light for each other and face life and love. In the film, Moon portrays Kyung-rok, a young man who gives up his dream of becoming a dancer to adapt to reality.
The interview began with light-hearted updates and transitioned into a discussion about the recently concluded KBS drama 'Beloved Bandit.' The drama garnered significant attention, leading to changes in Moon's daily life. Moon humorously noted, "It seems I've captured the hearts of mothers," adding, "Many of my friends' mothers have expressed a desire to have me as their son-in-law." He continued, "There's a saying that mothers' reactions are sincere. I'm enjoying it."
Moon also mentioned the much-talked-about kiss scene with Byun Yo-han. The scene, which was pre-released, became a hot topic. Moon laughed, "The kiss with Yo-han wasn't my idea." He explained, "Yo-han came up with the idea, and it was a natural way to transition the scene. I wondered what I would have done without Yo-han's help. It was very beneficial."
He also opened up about the kiss scene with Go Ah-sung, who played his on-screen partner, Mi-jung. "Mi-jung's kiss was clumsy, which was nice. It felt different from the scenes I've seen in other dramas," he said. "I thought Kyung-rok's feelings were too ahead of the kiss."
He added, "It wasn't just about waiting for the act of kissing, but about the moment of meeting Mi-jung and the emotional connection that had been long-awaited. That's why it felt clumsy. It was a scene that came from emotion." Reflecting on the filming, he said, "I thought I executed the kiss skillfully, but watching the film, it seemed more awkward than I expected."
Moon continued to discuss his acting chemistry with Go Ah-sung. "Ah-sung is one of Korea's representative actresses," he said. "What I appreciated was that on set, her experience and career didn't show at all." He added, "I didn't think of her as 'Ah-sung' or 'senior.' She helped me exist as Kyung-rok and naturally created an environment where I could focus on Mi-jung. Thanks to her, I was able to concentrate well."
He also noted, "Even in scenes where she didn't appear, she was there watching, showing a lot of thoughtful consideration. That energy naturally blended into the film." He emphasized, "The emotion of Mi-jung caring for Kyung-rok was well expressed thanks to Ah-sung."
Moon expressed his affection for 'dance,' a key element of Kyung-rok's identity. "I've always loved dance. Sungkyunkwan University, where I'm studying, is known for its movement," he said. "Professors pay a lot of attention to lines and posture. It was my first choice since my second year of high school."
Having consistently practiced dance during his college entrance preparation, he said, "No matter how much I practice, I can't be as perfect as professional dancers, but I'm familiar with capturing lines and moving with emotion." He added, "I had confidence in dance because I encountered it a lot during my entrance exams."
He explained, "For Kyung-rok, dance was something he originally wanted to do but couldn't due to circumstances. So I thought of it as one of the objects to express the character and prepared more diligently."
Moon also shared his thoughts on his goals for the year. "I want to meet the public more often, not just through acting," he said. "I'm thinking about how to fill the gap that arises after a project is released."
He also shared insights from his recent appearances on YouTube content. "In movies or dramas, I meet people through roles, but on YouTube, I can present myself as 'Moon Sang-min,'" he said. "It's refreshing." He added, "If people like that side of me, I think it would be nice to meet them as myself, not just as an actor."
Finally, he expressed a desire to expand his activities, saying with a smile, "I'd like to try vlogging."
Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr