Rising Star Kim Tae-jung on His Journey from Magic to Acting and His Aspirations

"Just three months ago, I was often complimented on my physique. I had an impressive muscle mass, but now I've lost 8kg. My confidence has waned a bit (laughs). I worked out hard and bulked up like a refrigerator for my role in 'Good Partner.' I reached my peak, but I realized my roles might be limited, so I slimmed down. Personally, I miss my old physique, but people around me say I look better now."

Kim Tae-jung, a promising actor born in 1999 with a towering height of 185cm, expressed pride in his body. In an interview at the Ten Asia office in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 24th, he shared his journey from debuting in 2019 with 'Extraordinary You' to starring in various works this year, including 'Detective 1958,' 'Hierarchy,' 'Cinderella at 2 AM,' 'Good Partner,' and 'The Law of Love in a Big City.'

Kim has often taken on roles that emphasize physicality, such as wrestling team members or sports majors. He also expressed a desire to appear on variety shows, saying, "I really want to be on the YouTube channel 'Kim Jong-kook GYM JONG KOOK.' I want to show that there's a rookie with a great body like mine." He added, "I'd also like to appear on 'Pyeonstorang.' I've been living alone and cooking pasta, and I'd love to show viewers my cooking skills."

Regarding his motivation for working out, Kim explained, "I seriously injured my foot in high school. The hospital recommended building muscle, so I started working out six years ago. I went from 73kg to 90kg. After dieting recently, I'm now 82kg."

"Magic is over 90% acting. Since it's a job that involves performing in front of people, performing magic in front of an audience provides new stimulation for acting. I love both fields, so I'm very happy to be active in both these days."

Kim Tae-jung is balancing acting and magic performances. He earned a spot on the SBS variety show 'The Magic Star' through a fair audition process. He shared, "I recently performed magic at a 50-seat venue and have more shows lined up. While I'm focusing on acting, I've been doing magic for a long time and continue to pursue it."

"Before acting, I dreamed of becoming a magician, inspired by Lee Eun-gyeol. My mentor suggested that, given my build, I should perform large-scale magic. I enrolled in a famous acting academy with magic in mind. It was so much fun. I lived in Yeongwol, Gangwon-do, and traveled to Seoul by train every weekend for a year to learn acting."

Kim Tae-jung also shared his experience of not passing the first round in numerous auditions from May 2020 to November 2021. He said, "I didn't have any actor friends, so I couldn't objectively assess my situation. I didn't feel anxious and thought it was normal. I just felt I needed to work harder," showcasing his positive outlook.

He mentioned that he started focusing on acting through face-to-face auditions. Kim said, "It was hard to capture my charm on screen, but I could convey my passion in person. My physicality also played a role in showcasing my unique strengths," he joked.

Kim Tae-jung expressed gratitude for being able to work continuously on set, saying, "I'm grateful just to be able to work without breaks. The attention motivates me to work even harder." He added, "Since 'Hierarchy' was released on a global OTT platform, my followers have increased significantly. Although I had a brief appearance in 'Good Partner,' the show was a hit, and I received many calls from people around me."

When asked if he feels his rising popularity, Kim laughed and said, "Not really. Maybe one or two people recognize me at the gym out of ten visits." He humorously added, "I recently attended a premiere, and a fan asked, 'Are you Jung-tae oppa?' That made me feel a strong urge to work even harder."

Kim Tae-jung expressed his admiration for Kim Woo-bin, saying, "I have a bucket list for my acting career. I want to play the role of Kim Woo-bin's younger brother. I think we resemble each other in terms of looks and suit fit. I might even work harder to resemble him more," he said, extending a love call.

What is the charm of Kim Tae-jung, who has been securing roles through numerous auditions last year and this year? He highlighted his blank canvas-like quality, saying, "I have a visual that seems suited for strong roles, so I've been given many intense roles. However, through 'Cinderella at 2 AM,' 'Good Partner,' and 'The Law of Love in a Big City,' I think I've shown that I can also do melodramatic and pure acting. I hope to have more opportunities to showcase my diverse charms. I'll do my best."

"I want to thank the fans who come to premieres, send supportive DMs, and even create fan pages. I can't express my gratitude enough. I know it's not a given that people like me. I'll work diligently to repay their precious support. I promise to act sincerely so that I won't feel embarrassed. Please continue to support me."

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