Kim Hye-yoon Breaks Her Cheerful Image in New Horror Film 'Salmoji'

Actress Kim Hye-yoon, known for her cheerful and lovely image, takes on a new challenge with lifeless eyes in front of the camera. The bright energy she displayed as Im Sol in the drama 'Run Away with Seon-jae' is nowhere to be found. In the film 'Salmoji' directed by Lee Sang-min, Kim Hye-yoon shatters her existing image with a face worn out by guilt and daily struggles.

Ahead of the film's release on the 8th, we met Kim Hye-yoon, the star of 'Salmoji', at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. 'Salmoji' is a horror film about a mysterious figure captured at a reservoir with strange rumors, leading a road view filming team to return for a reshoot. Kim Hye-yoon plays Han Soo-in, a PD at the road view service company Onroad Media, anchoring the story.

Kim Hye-yoon, making her first foray into horror, chose this project for its 'novelty'. A fan of horror, she said, "The water ghost theme was fresh, and the script had an unending charm until the end." However, watching horror and acting in it are different challenges. Kim stripped away her energetic image for the role of Soo-in. She explained, "Soo-in feels guilty about her senior Kyosik (played by Kim Jun-han) and is worn out by life. I tried to convey a sense of struggle and lifelessness from the first scene."

Kim Hye-yoon deliberately reduced her 'vitality' for the character. She shared, "Soo-in is heavily stressed by guilt over Kyosik and struggles with everything. It was challenging to portray a calm exterior while expressing inner turmoil through eyes and breath."

Filming at a humid, remote reservoir meant battling insects. Kim said, "There were so many bugs. I was sweating a lot during running scenes, and bugs kept sticking to me. I used several bottles of insect repellent." She also mentioned the inconvenience of the remote location's restrooms but fondly recalled, "The cast was around my age, so it felt like camping, and we had fun filming."

Ghost sightings on horror film sets are common tales in the industry. This set was no exception. Kim recounted, "A staff member saw something. It was chilly enough for padded jackets, but they saw a child in a sleeveless shirt in the distance, shrugging their shoulders as they passed by."

Kim, who loves water, found the dark, eerie underwater environment of the horror film intimidating despite previous underwater filming experience. She recalled, "The black water filled with scary props was frightening." Yet, she found comfort in her co-star Jong-won's skilled presence, saying, "Thanks to him, I became more comfortable with underwater filming."

Turning 30 this year, Kim joked, "The difference between 29 and 30 hits physically first. Colds linger longer, and pillow marks last hours instead of minutes." She thoughtfully discussed her identity and direction as an actress, expressing, "I have expectations for what I can show. I want to look back in 10 or 20 years and feel I've grown, so I try and learn from each project." When asked about roles she wants to play, she said, "It's hard to pick one. I'm curious about my quirky side and eager to take on scripts that showcase my other charms."

Kim invited audiences, saying, "I remember watching horror films with friends in high school, screaming and laughing together. Watching in theaters with others can amplify emotional synergy."

She rated the film's scare factor at 9.5 out of 10, explaining, "I deducted 0.5 because saying it's a perfect 10 might deter those who scare easily. I hope even those who are hesitant will come, trusting that 0.5."

Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr