Kim Se-jeong Reflects on Her Role in 'Moon River' and Hopes for Best Couple Award

"I'll be honest with you (laughs). I'm looking forward to it. I don't think the award is just for the two of us. It's for everyone who worked hard for us, so I want to receive it."

Recently, Kim Se-jeong sat down for a roundtable interview at a cafe in Gangnam. She stars as the lead character, Park Dal-i, in MBC's Friday-Saturday drama 'Moon River'. 'Moon River' is a fantasy historical romance drama about a crown prince who has lost his smile and a merchant who has lost his memory, featuring a soul-switching storyline.

Before 'Moon River' aired, MBC faced a series of low ratings with shows like 'Crushology 101', 'Mary Kills People', and 'To the Moon', all struggling with 1-2% viewership. Amidst this, Kim Se-jeong's 'The Moon' was scheduled as the last MBC Friday-Saturday drama of the year, drawing attention. The director had previously expressed his anxiety about the ratings at the production presentation, saying, "I'm so burdened I could die." Ultimately, 'Moon River' premiered with a respectable 3.8% rating and concluded with a peak rating of 6.8% on its final episode on the 20th.

Kim Se-jeong, who debuted in 2016 after finishing second on 'Produce 101', has built a vibrant career as an idol group member, solo artist, and actress. She proved her worth as a lead actress in the 2020 drama 'The Uncanny Counter' and expanded her global fandom with the 2022 series 'Business Proposal'. However, last year's 'Brewing Love' ended with somewhat disappointing reviews. Now in her 10th year since debut, Kim Se-jeong took on her first historical drama, raising curiosity about whether she could overcome the previous project's shortcomings.

Since her first appearance on 'Produce 101', Kim Se-jeong has been loved for her sunny and bright image. Nearly a decade later, she took on the challenge of playing three roles in 'Moon River', once again proving her presence as the 'sunshine heroine' and redefining her career with a new iconic character.

Kim Se-jeong expressed her desire for the Best Couple Award, saying, "Many people worked hard for this project. I think awards are gifts we can give to them." She added, "Looking back after the project ended, I remember how hard the staff worked. Thanks to their beautiful work, 'Moon River' received even more love from the public," she smiled.

"The keyword 'sunshine heroine' came about because the script and direction were so beautifully done. Having received such a big gift, I want to give back. If I receive an award, I can express my gratitude even more during the acceptance speech."

Regarding her co-star Kang Tae-oh, Kim Se-jeong said, "Even though it's a historical character, he naturally blended his own personality into it. He's really good at embodying the character." She continued, "Even though he used historical speech, his real-life mannerisms shone through, bringing the character to life with wit."

She emphasized, "I was often amazed watching Kang Tae-oh from the side. Working together made me want to enhance our chemistry even more. I remember frequently discussing and bringing out the flavor of our performances together."

When asked if there are any other awards she personally hopes for, Kim Se-jeong joked, "I think I need to be a bit insincere this time." She continued, "After a project ends, I always go on a trip. I went on a trip this time too. There was a moment when I could reflect on what 'Moon River' meant to me. If I were to receive a good award, I'd like to share the emotions I sorted out during my travels."

"While traveling, I recorded my thoughts and emotions in a memo. I hope I get the chance to share those stories."

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