Actor Kim Myung-min Discusses Weight Gain and Smoking for 'Your Honor' Role

"I made a lot of efforts to gain weight, eating over 1000-calorie burgers and sleeping right after. It was really hard because I don't gain weight easily. I think I've eaten all the high-calorie foods I'll ever eat in my life (laughs). In the end, I gained about 7-8kg."

Actor Kim Myung-min, who stars in the Genie TV original drama 'Your Honor,' shared this during an interview with TenAsia on the 5th at Nuri Dream Square in Sangam, Seoul. Kim Myung-min is making his return to the entertainment industry after three years since the drama 'Law School' ended in June 2021.

'Your Honor' is a drama about a judge who covers up his son's murder and a crime boss who chases his son's murderer, depicting the clash of paternal instincts between two fathers who become monsters for their children. In the drama, Kim Myung-min plays Kim Kang-heon, a crime boss with a cold heart and an imposing presence. He is a ruthless and omnipotent boss who instills fear in everyone but also has a deep paternal love for his child, making him a multi-dimensional character.

Kim Myung-min said, "I didn't want to focus too much on the weight gain, but I've been getting a lot of comments like 'Why did you gain so much weight?' and 'What's wrong with your face?'" He added, "As an actor, it's common to make such changes for a role, but in my case, it seems more noticeable. It feels a bit like I'm showing off."

"While filming the movie 'VIP,' I smoked so much that I felt like I wanted to scrub my lungs clean. Since then, I haven't smoked a single cigarette."

Kim Myung-min also took up smoking again for 'Your Honor.' He explained, "It seemed essential for Kim Kang-heon's powerful image. I asked the director multiple times if it was necessary to smoke, but he insisted. I didn't want to dirty my clean lungs again. I even questioned if the amount of smoking shown was permissible in our country."

"When I heard that director Pyo Min-soo and actor Son Hyun-joo were involved, I didn't feel the need to read the script. I just wanted to do it. I've always wanted to work with them, so I had to seize this opportunity."

He expressed his admiration, saying, "While acting, I constantly felt 'As expected, Son Hyun-joo is a great actor.'" Kim Myung-min added, "I don't have many lines. I had to exude a strong presence in my scenes, so I had to focus on the external aspects." He also revealed that he prepared with the movie 'The Godfather' as a motif.

Kim Myung-min shared, "We started filming with a funeral scene. Starting like that, the atmosphere on set wasn't always cheerful. We needed to work harmoniously and laugh together, but it felt like a funeral every day." He added, "To avoid getting too immersed in the method acting, I often joked with the staff."

Before joining 'Your Honor,' Kim Myung-min had a three-year hiatus as an actor. He shared, "I spent invaluable time as a father that I wouldn't trade for anything." He confessed, "I had little time to communicate with my child due to my previous work. My wife mostly took care of him."

Kim Myung-min, who has a son, said, "My child is now a college student and is about to enlist this month." He added, "When he was younger, he wasn't particularly good at studying, so I thought about having him try Go or golf. He showed talent in golf and even played as a player until the sixth grade. During that time, I worked hard to support him financially."

Kim Myung-min explained, "He won several golf tournaments in Seoul, but his performance declined, affecting his mental state." He added, "I told him, 'If you're going to be like this, just quit,' and he did. I didn't expect him to listen so well to my drastic advice."

He shared, "It wasn't easy for my child to return to studying after spending six years in elementary school in Korea. My wife provided tremendous support, spending a lot of time with him, while I felt somewhat excluded. During my hiatus, I thought about how to spend time with my son."

"During my break, I took a road trip to the U.S. with my son. We communicated a lot and felt like friends. It was wonderful. However, I also got shingles (laughs). I realized that 'nothing in life is free.' It was a very meaningful time."

What does Kim Myung-min think about a second season of 'Your Honor'? He said, "If Hyun-joo hyung does it, I want to do it too. If many viewers want it, it could be positive."

"There's a saying that 'no second season is as good as the first.' If 'Your Honor' shines in its first season, I would prefer to end it there. I don't want the next season to dilute its honor."

Kim Myung-min concluded, "But no one knows the future. A second season as good as the original could be made. I know it's not an easy task."

Sojung Lee, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr