Im Soo-hyang Addresses Rumors and Shares Insights on 'Radio Star'

Actress Im Soo-hyang clarified rumors about her appearance on the recent episode of MBC's variety show 'Radio Star,' which aired on the 24th. The episode featured Kim Mi-kyung, Jang So-yeon, Lee El, and Im Soo-hyang in a special titled 'Prolific Actors Unite.'

The episode achieved a household rating of 4.0%, securing the top spot in its Wednesday time slot, with the 2049 demographic also ranking first. The 'Best Minute' peaked at 5.0%, featuring Jang So-yeon's demonstration of her 'dialect research process.'

Kim Mi-kyung revealed her impressive record of playing the mother to approximately 100 children in dramas, recalling her first son as Ryu Seung-bum in 'Sunshine Pours Down.' She mentioned being cast as a mother character frequently after that role. She reminisced about playing the mother to actors like Seo In-guk, Byun Yo-han, Yoo Seung-ho, and Um Ki-joon, even playing mother to Uhm Jung-hwa, who is only six years younger than her, and Jeon Do-yeon, with just a nine-year age gap.

When asked about her favorite on-screen daughters, Kim Mi-kyung named Jang Na-ra and Kim Tae-hee, stating that their emotional on-screen relationships extended into real life. She also mentioned working with Park Min-young in five projects, sharing that Park once texted her saying, 'This must be fate.'

Kim Mi-kyung recalled how many of her 'drama daughters' attended her mother's funeral, despite not being informed, emphasizing the deep connections formed beyond the screen.

Jang So-yeon, who captured the 'Best Minute,' shared her unique approach to mastering dialects, describing them as rhythms rather than words. She studied North Korean documentaries, cross-referenced pronunciations with dictionaries, and visited local communities to capture authentic speech patterns.

She demonstrated the differences between Pyeongan and Hamgyeong dialects, impressing the cast with her ability to switch between the two. Jang also shared behind-the-scenes stories from 'Something in the Rain,' where she bonded with Son Ye-jin during a scene where they had to rely on each other while pretending to be drunk.

Jang So-yeon also discussed her experience on the variety show 'Old Friends Pursuit Season 3,' where she made good friends despite not finding a romantic partner. She expressed gratitude to director Ahn Pan-seok for casting her in multiple projects, crediting him for her continued acting career. She also mentioned working with director Na Hong-jin on 'The Wailing,' appreciating his attention to detail.

In the film 'Silenced,' she learned sign language, emphasizing that it involves both hand movements and emotions, taught by a professional interpreter.

Lee El, a 17-year veteran actress, candidly shared her struggles, revealing that she was inspired by senior actresses Go Hyun-jung and Uhm Jung-hwa, who set aside their glamorous images for genuine performances. She embraced her reputation as a 'chameleon actress,' having played diverse roles across genres and genders.

She shared the challenges of playing the Samsin grandmother in 'Goblin,' which required five hours of special makeup, restricting her from eating or using the restroom. Lee El also opened up about her troubled past before becoming an actress, recalling how her father's words led her to pursue acting as a career.

Returning to 'Radio Star' after a decade, Im Soo-hyang humorously stated she was there to clear up misconceptions. She addressed the 'heavy drinker' image that spread after Kang Min-kyung's comments, sharing her struggles with the label but jokingly asking to be called 'young-looking Soo-hyang' instead.

Im Soo-hyang reminisced about her first lead role in 'New Tales of Gisaeng,' where she beat 2000-to-1 odds by analyzing the female characters of writer Im Sung-han and adopting a graceful demeanor. She shared a humorous anecdote about being unrecognizable to viewers when playing dual roles.

She also revealed behind-the-scenes stories from 'Beauty and the Beast,' which achieved a peak rating of 21.4%. She discussed the challenges of conveying character changes through acting alone, without makeup, and how online rumors about her appearance arose during filming. Im Soo-hyang expressed gratitude to the director and writer for their support.

Determined to break away from her 'sad eyes' image, Im Soo-hyang expressed her desire to take on more profound roles and showcased her bright personality with a dance performance on the show.

By Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr