Actress Kim Hye-jung has shared her struggles following her role in the drama 'Country Diary'.
On the 7th, the YouTube channel 'Exclusive World - The People of That Time' released a video titled 'The Story of Kim Hye-jung, the Mother of Bok-gil from Country Diary, Living as a Natural Person in the Mountains'.
Debuting as Miss MBC in 1981, Kim took on the role of Bok-gil's mother in 'Country Diary' at the age of 23, earning the nickname 'National Daughter-in-Law' and captivating audiences for over 20 years.
In the video, Kim Hye-jung is seen living a secluded life in the mountains, away from the city. She starts her day early, taking care of animals. Kim remarked, "This place is truly quiet. The word 'silence' fits perfectly," adding, "Knowing that there are lives I need to care for is a great comfort."
She revealed that she completely transformed her appearance to immerse herself in her role in 'Country Diary'. Kim explained, "I darkened my face and even my hands, and made it look like there was dirt under my nails," adding, "I wrapped bandages and applied ointment to appear like a rural woman who got injured while working."
Thanks to these efforts, she earned the nickname 'National Daughter-in-Law' and received much love.
Kim Hye-jung confessed, "After 'Country Diary' ended, I was fine for the first few months, but as time passed, my heart broke," adding, "Having lived as one character for over 20 years, I felt like Bok-gil's mother was standing in the mirror instead of Kim Hye-jung." She recalled, "It was as if Bok-gil's mother's life was etched on my face like a map, and it made me very sad."
She shared, "A tremendous emptiness and fear came over me, and I experienced symptoms similar to panic disorder, to the point where I couldn't breathe," adding, "There were many nights I cried myself to sleep, curled up like a snail."
"I felt like an empty scarecrow, like a shell of a person," she reflected on her feelings at the time.
Kim Hye-jung stated, "Happiness isn't something grand or far away," and shared that after a long period of wandering, she found a new life in nature.
Meanwhile, Kim Hye-jung was selected as an MBC 14th generation public talent in 1981 and received much love for her role as Bok-gil's mother in 'Country Diary'. She returned to the small screen in 2024 through MBC's 'Kind Seon-joo'.
Reporter Na-yeon Jo, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr