Go Ah-sung Takes on Her First Romance Film with 'Pavane'

Actress Go Ah-sung embarks on her first romance film with 'Pavane'. After carefully selecting this project over a long period, she candidly shared her experiences working with co-stars Moon Sang-min and Byun Yo-han, as well as her feelings after completing the shoot.

Recently, Go Ah-sung sat down for an interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, to discuss her role in the Netflix film 'Pavane', directed by Lee Jong-pil.

'Pavane' tells the story of three individuals who, while living with closed hearts, become lights for each other and face life and love. Go Ah-sung plays 'Mi-jung', a character who hides from the gaze of others.

Recalling her first meeting with Moon Sang-min, who plays her on-screen partner, she said, "I was practicing Mi-jung's lines alone when I heard Moon Sang-min was cast as Kyung-rok. When we practiced together, he truly embodied 'Kyung-rok'," she laughed. "I was so moved. It felt like, 'I've been waiting for you,' and 'Finally, Kyung-rok has appeared.'"

Not only did the on-screen chemistry leave a lasting impression, but so did the moments shared with her co-stars. "While the scenes with Kyung-rok are memorable, the times when Moon Sang-min, Byun Yo-han, and I gathered were also significant," she said. "Despite our age differences and unique personalities, there was a distinct chemistry when the three of us were together. It felt like we could create an atmosphere unique to us."

She also shared her first impression of Moon Sang-min. "When I first saw him, his height created a visual imbalance that added to our chemistry," she laughed. "As we talked, I realized he had a lonely yet passionate side. He seemed ready to express that energy as an actor."

Go Ah-sung revealed that the casting process for Kyung-rok was unexpected. "I left the casting entirely to the director. When I heard it was finalized, I was surprised, thinking, 'Kyung-rok?'" she said. "I never imagined Kyung-rok would come with such a melancholic vibe. But he felt like a prepared actor, which made me even more excited."

She continued to talk about Byun Yo-han, saying, "I always felt that I would meet Byun Yo-han in a project someday." She added, "I thought we would have a connection, and I've long admired his humor and serious energy."

Regarding Byun Yo-han's character 'Yohan' in the film, she said, "I wondered how he could be so exceptional. It felt like Byun Yo-han's unique energy was perfectly captured in the character." She expressed her happiness about working with him and her desire to collaborate again in future projects.

There was also an unexpected past connection. "I thought I had never met him before, but when we first met, he asked if I remembered him," she laughed. "I didn't remember, but in 2009, when I was a high school sophomore, I visited the Korea National University of Arts for a graduation project."

She explained the situation at the time: "After class, I went to the university in my school uniform. Since it was after the movie 'The Host', some people recognized me and jokingly greeted me as 'senior'. Byun Yo-han and Park Jung-min were there, but I don't remember it at all."

This fleeting encounter eventually led to their collaboration. "It was fascinating, and it made me think about the nature of connections," she added.

For Go Ah-sung, 'Pavane' was a project she had been preparing for seven years. "I thought the film was ultimately a love story. That's why I was more cautious and couldn't easily choose this project," she explained. "I've been preparing for 'Pavane' for seven years, and it became my first romance film." She emphasized that while she had worked on projects with romantic elements before, this was her first in the romance genre.

When the filming wrapped and she heard the final mixing was complete, she felt a strange emptiness. "I wondered if the time I had been preparing since my twenties was coming to an end. I felt like there was nothing more I could do," she said. "It felt like I had spent an entire season."

She added, "The film was over, but I felt like I was left alone. However, when I saw reviews saying 'the afterimage lingers', I realized I wasn't the only one feeling this way."

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr