Byeol and Hyunjuni play musical ‘My Mother’ as Kim Soo-mi’s daughter

Singers Byul and Hyunjuni, who tried out for a girl group under the name “Mom,” will perform on stage in the musical “My Mom.” Hyunjuni was confident that she and Byul would see each other again through ‘My Mom’.

On the 4th, a press call for the musical ‘My Mom’ was held at the Daesung D-Cube Art Center in Guro-gu, Seoul. In attendance were writer Ko Hye-jeong, director Kim Jae-seong, music director Heo Soo-hyun, choreography director Kim Soo-han, and actors Kim Soo-mi, Jeong Kyeong-sun, Kim Seo-ra, Kim Go-eun (star), Hyun Juni, Shin Seo-ok, Kim Hyeong-jun, and Kim Do-hyun.

'My Mother's Mother' is a work about a mother who loves her daughter more than anyone else and a daughter who is not good at expressing her love because she does not understand her mother. The daily life of a mother and daughter is described in a realistic yet detailed manner, reminding us once again of a mother's love, which is easy to forget.

On this day, writer Ko Hye-jeong said, "'My Mother's Mother' did not have any particular message. This work itself is my autobiographical story. I was immature and hated my mother, so I was in a hurry. 'I won't live like my mother', 'Why did you give birth to me, mother?' 'Oh,' she said. But when I gave birth to my daughter and raised her, I felt sorry for my mother. I couldn't say 'I'm sorry, I'll do better in the future,' so I published it as a book. That book became a musical."

He continued, "When I first uploaded this work 14 years ago, I was anxious. I thought who would like the story of someone else's mother and daughter. But I received a lot of love over the past 14 years. How could I have done it on my own? Teacher Kim Soo-mi was there, and a new story was created. "Actors came. New directors and directors came. The staff groomed me and raised me. I just gave birth to a naked child," he added.

Kim Soo-mi played the role of a mother in the play. A mother loves her daughter more than anyone else and will do anything for her without hesitation. Previously, Kim Soo-mi's daughter-in-law Seo Hyo-rim's review of 'My Mom' left on SNS attracted attention. Seo Hyo-rim wrote, "After all, a mother is a mother. The reason it touches me more than the performance four years ago is probably because I also became a mother of a child. Our respectable mom, Teacher Sumi♥."

Kim Soo-mi said, "My daughter-in-law said she saw the musical 'My Mom' before she got married. After she got married and had a daughter, she said it was different from then and now." He continued, "My daughter-in-law saw the first performance and cried a lot. She came to the dressing room and cried so much that her eyes were red. Watching 'My Mother's Mother' is a performance that makes mothers who have given birth to children think more about their own mothers and children. “I think so,” he added.

Kim Go-eun (Star) and Hyun Jun-i play the role of daughter Mi-young in the play. Miyoung is a daughter who loves her mother, but is not good at expressing it, and begins to understand her mother's unconditional love after giving birth to her daughter Yubin. In particular, Kim Go-eun returned to the stage for the first time in 14 years since the 2009 musicals ‘Gambler’ and ‘The Handmaiden and the Gangsters’.

Kim Go-eun began by saying, "As teacher Sumi said, I have been working as a singer for 21 years, but I am currently a rookie as a musical actor. I am the youngest and a newcomer. I did it with the mindset of a learner." He laughed, saying, "In the case of the musical I performed 14 years ago, there was only dancing and no dialogue, so I only got a taste of it. I am having a valuable experience working with great seniors in a proper production."

Also, "I took on the challenge while preparing with a fearful heart. Still, I am doing it with courage. My husband (Haha) seemed to be nervous and he hadn't even seen the first performance yet. When I asked him, 'When are you going to come?', he said he would come soon. My husband hasn't seen the performance yet. "I haven't seen it. I'm working hard to monitor it through my employees. When I come here soon, I'll have people watch it and then leave a review on social media or other places," he said, making everyone laugh.

Kim Go-eun said, "Actually, I'm not in a situation where I can practice at home. I had to put all three children to bed and my husband needs to rest, but I practiced my lines in the living room. There are some lines in which I get angry at my husband. As I practiced, my husband was next to me in surprise. He said, “(Maybe that’s why) my acting practice went well. He told me I was good at it and told me to work hard. He said he looked happy and cheered me on.”

Hyunjuni said, "Strangely enough, I do a musical every 10 years. The first time I received an offer for this musical, I got a call from my sister (Byul). She said, 'Are you interested in doing it?' At that time, she was looking for the role of the daughter. “I said right away, ‘I can do it,’ and the title was ‘My Mom.’”

Hyun Juni said, "The title was important (in choosing). I had a strong desire to show an act that touches emotions on stage. So when the offer came, I didn't have to think. Starting with 'My Mother's Mom,' I also spent 10 years. “My goal is to (perform) and play the role of a mother following Seoul House. I have ambitions to be a ‘real mother,’” he joked.

Kim Hyeong-jun plays the role of a husband who loves his daughter Mi-young, but is a son-in-law who is embarrassed by his mother. Kim Hyeong-jun said, "Still, I have a good voice as a singer. I debuted as a singer in 2005 and have been working as a solo artist since 2011. In the meantime, I have performed in several dynamic or lively musicals. I was also given a good opportunity early this year to work on this work with my teachers. “It’s done,” he said.

Kim Hyeong-jun said, "The role of the son-in-law and husband seems boring in some ways. When I first received the script, I thought it was me. I thought, 'Did the writer think of me at all?' I wondered how this could be possible. I enjoyed reading the script and definitely tried it. “I wanted to do a musical that would show peaceful family love, and it’s nice to have a good opportunity to show my true self,” he added, laughing.

Kim Go-eun and Hyun Junie debuted as a girl group through tvN's 'Mom Is an Idol'. Following ‘Mom Is an Idol’, I have once again formed a relationship with my ‘real mother’. Kim Go-eun said, "I depended on her while sweating while doing 'Mom Idol'. After it was over, I went back home. Junie is a friend with a lot of talent. She has a lot of passion and talent. She needed to make a big splash, but she was resting at home. She asked me first. “I got the chance to appear in ‘My Mother’s Mom,’ and I thought of Hyunjuni, who could play the same role. Hyunjuni gave her consent, and we became friends,” he said, expressing his affection.

Hyunjuni said that she had a physical burden as she was not a dance singer. He said, "When I was working on 'Mom Idol,' the difficult part was physical strength. After giving birth, the jar broke once and had to be glued back together. My sister Byul took care of my physical condition. She also accepted a lot of my emotional pain. "I was so overwhelmed by the thought of her reminding me of me. We have become closer to each other, and we are filling in the gaps in acting and singing that each other missed. I am confident that we will see my sister and I again through this work. I have to do well for my sister." He said vigorously.

Meanwhile, the musical ‘My Mom’ will be performed at Daesung D-Cube Arts Center until June 4th.

Kang Min-kyung, Ten Asia reporter kkk39@tenasia.co.kr