Rising Star Yoon Ga-i Shares Her Journey and Aspirations in Exclusive Interview

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Broadcasting's Shining Stars: Catching and Introducing Promising Talents.

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"After graduating from college, I spent a period without any projects while auditioning. When I felt the need for a change, I received an audition offer for 'SNL Korea' (hereafter 'SNL'). Although I was scared because it was an unfamiliar path, I thought a challenge was necessary if I wanted to change. With that mindset, I auditioned and luckily got in, allowing me to work with great people."

Yoon Ga-i, who gained recognition for her irreplaceable performance on 'SNL,' recently finished filming the drama 'Insa's Side.' On the afternoon of the 19th, she visited the Ten Asia office in Jungnim-dong, Seoul, and shared various stories. Contrary to her fresh and lively appearance, she answered questions seriously and calmly, showing a mature side.

When asked if she frequently monitors public reactions, Yoon Ga-i said, "When the first video is uploaded, I read good comments while monitoring. However, I don't watch them intensively. I gain a lot of strength from the supportive messages," expressing her gratitude.

Regarding memorable comments, she said, "When I first became an 'SNL' crew member, I was curious if I seemed to adapt well. At that moment, I saw a comment saying, 'The combination of female crew members is great,' which made me very proud. It made me feel like I had blended well with the program and the team." When asked if she preferred team compliments over personal acting skills, she nodded.

"The candidates were so strong that I didn't imagine I would win the award. When I received it, it didn't feel real at first, but as time passed, I was happy to contact those I was grateful to because of the award. It was an opportunity to thank those who taught me a lot and to pledge to work harder."

Earlier, on the 19th of last month, Yoon Ga-i won the Rookie Female Entertainer Award at the '3rd Blue Dragon Series Awards.' At that time, Mi-yeon from 'Love Siblings,' Um Ji-yoon from 'Comedy Royal,' Ji Ye-eun from 'SNL Korea Season 5,' and Patricia from 'Love Siblings' were nominated alongside Yoon Ga-i.

When Yoon Ga-i received the award at the ceremony, Lee Soo-ji was seen shedding tears. Yoon Ga-i explained, "Not only Soo-ji unnie but also Ye-eun unnie, Hyun-young unnie, and Ah-young unnie conveyed their heartfelt emotions. We are very close, as we relied on each other a lot."

"I joined 'SNL' alone without any peers. It could have been a situation where I couldn't adapt and felt out of place, but the unnies pulled me along diligently. I relaxed a lot and relied on them a lot. Even though I'm the youngest with a significant age gap, they considered me mature and even consulted me about their concerns. We became really close. I think the moment I received the award, the time we spent together flashed through the unnies' minds as well."

Throughout the interview, Yoon Ga-i's eyes sparkled with special affection whenever she talked about 'SNL.' Cherishing her past steps, what kind of actor does she want to become in the future?

"I love stories about family the most. It's truly happy to convey messages through warm works with my acting. The drama 'Insa's Side,' which I recently finished filming, contains warmth, so I hope you look forward to it."

Yoon Ga-i has repeatedly mentioned Jeon Mi-do as her role model. Once again, she expressed her respect for Jeon Mi-do, saying, "I tend to watch her works, and she gives a new impression in every project. I want to be an actor with a wide spectrum who can perfectly digest every role." She also paid homage to Kang Mal-geum, saying, "I first met Mal-geum sunbae while filming a short film. Thanks to learning a lot from her, I approached my work with a different mindset than before."

"Like Jeon Mi-do sunbae, I want to have a wide spectrum and quietly give a positive influence for a long time. Also, like Kang Mal-geum sunbae, I want to have a warm heart and be a 'colleague to work with' for other actors."

Lee So-jung, Ten Asia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr