*** 이하 글은 지난 '서울 드라마 어워드 2006' 개최 기념으로 발간된 외국인 대상 Dramatique 잡지 특별판에 실린 본인의 번역문입니다(특별판의 약 1/4 분량임) ***
Corner title: Cover Story
Article title: They don’t come any better!
Subhead: Kim Myung-min of
Kim Myung-min who received a prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year for his role in with an impressive acceptance speech won a prize for TV talent again at the 33rd Korea Broadcasting Awards this year. The editorial staff of Dramatique quickly seized the event to meet the actor. If you ask us what kind of a man he is, we have got to say he is a decent man. Really so. And, his humanity was incredibly impressive. His human aspects are so admirable that it was not easy for us to believe he was also one of those actors who live every day on a diet of egoistic narcissism.
Time with Kim Myung-min who has been both immortal and immoral
Park: Surprisingly, it seems you tried at least 70 times to shoot a scene of jumping up. In fact, pictorial photographing is a very difficult work for actors. But, you followed all the directions and detailed processes for the scene over several hours saying “It is really good for me as it gives me a workout!” instead of complaining about it. It is very moving indeed.(laughs) It’s not so easy for a top class actor like you to behave like this.
Kim: No, it isn’t. Recently I went to an exhibition of Picasso’s works and I got more aware of myself. Already before this experience, I had never considered myself a top class star. Picasso held all kinds of exhibitions and was awarded all sorts of prizes at the age of 25. He obtained all possible wealth and fame at the early stages of his life. However, he always made every effort to seek after his own way in his works till the last moment of his life. Though I didn’t know about him, I felt he had been ‘a really great man’ just by looking at his works. I could brace myself for the future seeing his continuous efforts that had lasted till his death.
Park: But, you again received a prize for TV talent at the Korea Broadcasting Awards. It means obviously you are the best actor whose acting ability, popularity and etc. are recognized officially.
Kim: I heard about the nomination from a person who had learned it through TV news. To see one’s own name in news articles seems like a good thing. TV news treats good things or bad things. And, it was a good report. I’m a really fortunate guy. After having played just the role of Lee Soon-shin, I became a lucky guy……
Park: We were pleased at the news, too. As you were not working for TV drama, we were waiting for a good chance to interview you on the pretext of congratulating you on your winning the prize.(laughs) There was a report that you would be exclusively engaged in movie shooting for the time being. What do you think about the difference between TV dramas and movies?
Kim: There is not any basic difference between them, only the circumstances are different. It seems you need much ability to react instantly for TV dramas. And, as you know, sometimes I don’t remember what program I’ve played with such busy broadcasting schedules. To be honest, I play roles for TV programs, but I often do so without any feeling of satisfaction.
Park: I know also you said in an interview you were afraid of playing mechanically.
Kim: Yes I did. Whatever the case, dramas or movies or otherwise, anything with more than 50 installments seems undesirable. The same is true for theater. When same plays go on for several months, actors behave as they want, drinking coffee till all spectators are seated. Although actors are told “the play is beginning in 20 minutes,” they do what they want after only nodding their heads. For them, the plays become just a routine. As they have worked together for several months, they know already how to play like machines not being totally engaged in their roles. In a word, there is hardly any profound feeling in their performance. It was maybe from the 50th installment that I felt the same thing playing the role of Lee Soon-shin. The same daily rhythm repeated always while I was playing on drama sets every Monday and Tuesday and I was frequenting other localities for other schedules. One day, I found myself behaving like General Lee Soon-shin habitually. From that moment, I tried to discard the habit, but it was not so easy. It was because the habit had been fixed strongly. Also the fact that there is a good quantity of lines to memorize is a problem to resolve. So, it means I must learn the lines by heart first for the broadcasting before thinking about the feelings and other things. As a consequence, it’s now second nature to me. It is enough for me to have a look at the lines to know what to do and how to do it for every scene. I was really distressed when others said “he is doing so as he is totally absorbed in the role of Lee Soon-shin.” I didn’t sleep so well that I couldn’t concentrate on my work. But, I was always ready to begin playing my role habitually also when I closed eyes to take a rest. I could manage to play my part without any big problem, which means I had gotten accustomed to my work like a recording machine. It was a very hard time for me. Despite it all, those people who didn’t understand me said to me, “you are wholly absorbed in your role now, you are!” It was natural for them to say so because I rushed to begin my role at once even while drowsing. They said to me also, “now you are the General in all senses.”(laughs) But, unfortunately it was not true.
Park: I heard you were so much immersed in your role that your relationships with others were influenced by it.
Kim: No role is easy to play. Lee Soon-shin is a figure that had really existed. People imagine the figure of General Lee Soon-shin who they have never seen before watching my reproduction of him. I thought I had such a big effect on them. Since then, all my behavior began to count for much. So, wherever I went, I tried not to make absurd remarks and to behave prudently in everything. Especially, at the studios. All others were clad in armor and were joking together. But, it was difficult for me to do so. It was just because I was Lee Soon-shin. I couldn’t begin to play sad and pathetic character just after stopping joking. I didn’t know how to confront Japanese forces, either, when they rushed on me in countless number. Besides, I couldn’t immerse myself in my role. So, I spent much time on reading the lines alone all the time when staying at the studios. People came to me seeing me staying alone to ask me, “What’s wrong with you?” This kind of things got on my nerves and annoyed me from time to time. I was feeling so because of those who approached to me just to say, “Is there something wrong with you? Please, tell me something……” when I was trying to concentrate on my role to prepare for the scenes in which I was to be a prisoner, to do what I could for my people and to be bumped against my will in front of the king. I experienced the same thing when I was working for the .
Park: So, it was for this reason that ‘your relationships with others were influenced.’
Kim: Yes, you’re right. The character Yong-hyun of is deeply melancholy. So, this guy is always depressed. Like people follow the feelings of the figures in the books while reading them, so is the case of the actors who read the lines for the scenes of the next day. Once you think about a thing, all of yourself tends toward it. When you really want to buy a thing, you see it in your dreams, too. Later, you come to think of buying it at any cost. When you have something to do, you can’t get into other things. When I think about this guy, about where this gloomy guy will go and what he will do and about the parts to shoot tomorrow, no funny story can really make me laugh. I am in no mood to laugh and feel at ease. After about 6 to 7 months of such life, man itself gets dried-up. All thoughts are gloomy. All of a sudden, I understood that any psychosis could begin in this way.
Park: To the extent that you lost some weight……
Kim: Everybody could know it just seeing my face. It was a little before my marriage, and my wife would talk about it as I didn’t speak much and looked strange.
Park: It’s maybe because of it that I feel there is something profound in your playing. There are some actors who can easily begin to joke after pathetic scenes and vice versa. It can, of course, be understood as a kind of ability. But, frankly speaking, I like your style much more than theirs.
Kim: Disappointingly, I must say I envy them. It’s the ability to immerse themselves in their situations. It’s their ability to make themselves look sad in a second after cracking jokes. On the contrary, I can hardly sit at the table to eat. When there are those kinds of scenes, I think about them all day long. What is worse, when there’re shooting schedules in the morning, I can’t even sleep well the night before. Then, I go to the studios. So, it’s natural for me to respect those kinds of people who can easily laugh after crying scenes and can ask others “Did I play well?” I think I need that ability to do things in an easier way.
Park: On the other hand, those aspects of yourself also contributed to strengthen viewers’ trust and confidence in you. But, it could be a negative aspect, too. Have you never felt, for example, that a fixed image of you like that gloomy image in inflicted some damage on you?
Kim: But, I think like this. What I am going to say is…… To say that actors transform their images seems a little laughable. After all, actors are in a sense a kind of hardware. They should be open to receive various people in themselves like hardware ready to be installed with new chips of different persons. In this sense, the expression ‘image transformation’ doesn’t look appropriate. And, I believe actors should know how to play the role of each figure that is allotted to them. The so-called ‘fixed image’ is a groundless apprehension that does the rounds all the time. Whatever I did, that kind of story followed me. When I began to play the role of Lee Soon-shin, they said the same. They said, “Since he has played only in modern dramas, he is not fit for the role of Lee Soon-shin. His face isn’t suitable for historical dramas, either.” In fact, nobody proposed to cast the role of Lee Soon-shin for the fact that my face resembled his. They said I looked like Lee Soon-shin only after the drama was all finished. Then, I heard people saying “Kim Myung-min was cast in the drama as he looks like General Lee Soon-shin.” To tell the truth, there were very many people who didn’t agree to cast me claiming that I wasn’t fit for historical dramas at all.
Park: You played the role of Dal-geon, namely, a scamp, after the role of Lee Soon-shin. I could see really your acting ability in , but let me see it better. The interpretation of the character of Dal-geon in was much different from that of ordinary scamps.
Kim: I don’t feel like using even the word ‘interpretation’ and I really didn’t want to play the role. I mean I didn’t like the roles of people who are so nasty and so showy. Those people who show themselves as bad and restive are much too immature. The common scamps have something that comes to a head in themselves. And, they try not to show themselves to be ignorant. In the meantime, the hidden part that comes to a head bursts and unexpected things happen. At first, the character used abusive language often, but later I proposed not using it. Presenting a scoundrel who uses abusive language is too commonplace. So, I said we could show a character of scamp also presenting the figure in another way, that is, a scamp who uses normal language.
Park: You said the term ‘image transformation’ isn’t appropriate. But, I think you were a bit anxious about it. Changing from the role of ‘Lee Soon-shin’ to that of Dal-geon in is in a sense quite sensational.
Kim: Just for this reason, people said to me, “you will have difficulty in ridding yourself of the fixed image of Lee Soon-shin.” Saying so, they gave concrete examples one of which was the indication that I could apply the same acting style to other dramas. I dislike seeing Kim Myung-min in my playing more than anything else. What I want is that people remember the figures whose roles I play. Even if they don’t remember my name, it’s OK with me. In fact, I have about ten friends who monitor my performance and speak frankly to me about it.
Park: What do you mean with the word ‘frankly’?
Kim: They praise me little and criticize me relentlessly. I speak to them on the telephone after the broadcasting of each installment. They tell me all they want to communicate to me. We also use e-mails when we can’t speak by telephone. I often feel ashamed, too. I also feel like throwing out telephone receiver many times.(laughs)
Park: To what degree do they criticize you, for example?
Kim: You know…… They say to me, “Hey, are you something so important? Why did you play the scene that way?” or “You were all Kim Myung-min in the scene.” I hate to hear people tell me I was Kim Myung-min. As you know, acting is in a sense a disguise in front of the audience. I speak like this as Kim Myung-min when I’m not working as an actor. But, when I’m working in some dramas or plays, I must hide my original character to enter the role of Dal-geon or others. So, if people see me as Kim Myung-min in my works, it means I revealed my own character in them. Of course, it can be a little different for viewers because they don’t know me personally. On the contrary, my friends know me very well. Here I may say also that their monitoring doesn’t deserve my attention. They can criticize me unconsciously against their will as they know me so well. You can maybe imagine the same thing if you think of being with your family. When you go out with your family and do something, you feel awkward for some reason or other all the time. It may be understood so, but I don’t want to admit even this fact now. I want to deceive my friends also when I play as an actor. Though they mostly speak poorly of my work, they praise me once in a while, too. Even so they are so stingy with me……(laughs) Anyhow, speaking about they told me later I had made a good choice.
Park: I wondered at your change, too. I thought, ‘Kim Myung-min who became Lee Soon-shin is now becoming Dal-geon so naturally.’
Kim: I also heard that many times. Frankly speaking, I have never thought that until now. I have not been worried about being type cast even once. I knew also this thing could happen to me. But, I thought, ‘since I know it, I will be able to manage it somehow.’ The people around me continued to say to me, “You had better concentrate on movies; Another historical drama will be OK; You would rather choose melodramas.” And, others said, “Any sudden shift is not good for you; There will be negative side effects; People consider you Lee Soon-shin. So, serious problems will pop up if you change your character suddenly; Change your character slowly and consistently. You look like Lee Soon-shin. So, whatever you may do, you look out of place always.” Later, I mulled it over and I arrived at the conclusion that I had to change my image some day. I had to change it one of those days. I thought it would be better to change my character drastically all at once, not slowly. I imagined, ‘If I do so, people will see the change in my character with their own eyes. And then, it will be enough for me to play in a really different style, totally different from that of Lee Soon-shin.’ There could be yet those who would continue to say “He is still Lee Soon-shin despite all his efforts” as they didn’t understand my inner world. That could not be avoided. Nevertheless, I was convinced that they would understand by watching my playing style for some period.
Park: Well, when we see actors, most of them, following the current of time, prefer the people who don’t speak negatively of them in everything. So, they keep around them only those, including their managers, who praise them for their beauty and other things that please them. But, I believe you are different from them.
Kim: Yes, I think so because I am neither handsome nor cute. (To his manager) Isn’t it so? But, I think those who are really good-looking like to hear people telling them they are handsome. They answer saying, “Do you think so?” if people say, “You’re such a dandy!”(all participants laugh) Yes, it’s true. When you tell them so over and over, they really like it very much. The same case is with those who are cute.
Park: Ah, why do they react so? They should have had enough of it. Why do they want it endlessly?
Kim: They hear it always, but they want to confirm it over and over.
Park: How do you feel, then, when people say you are handsome?
Kim: ……Are you kidding me? What kind of question is……?(all participants laugh) Now, I am a really lucky guy. When I began to work with broadcasting company, I didn’t know what to do. There were only very handsome men around me.
Park: You’re right. For a certain period, only Jeong Woo-seong or Jang Dong-geon or others similar to them, though not as handsome as they, could be on TV.
Kim: Yes, but, I thought differently at the time. I believed the time for other people would come certainly. I want to speak about two friends of mine from my school days. Their acting ability and energy were almost the same, but one of them was very handsome and the other very. But, when they were on stage, made up for the play, the latter came to the fore much more than the former, the handsome friend. When you draw pictures on white paper, the pictures are seen clearly. On the contrary, the pictures on paper with colorful designs are not easy to see. I thought it was the same with my friends. The handsome friend bore such a cute look that drawing other impressive images out of his original color was very difficult. Then, I became convinced that I also would enjoy my best days one day.
I hit upon the same idea when I went to shoot the film in 1996. I played an extra with my two colleagues. Maybe my part was ‘bandit 3.’ We disguised ourselves as bandit 1, 2, 3 for the shooting. My colleagues were all good-looking. When the disguise was finished, only I looked like a bandit.(all participants laugh) I was really surprised. I seemed like a real bandit also in my eyes. But, others were not bandits. They were too good-looking. We were seated together, and I said to them, “No matter what role you take, you are handsome always.” At the moment, the director looked at us, and said to me, “You, bandit 3, come here!” So, I got to act as bandit 3.(laughs) From those experiences, I could see hope for my future little by little. Actors must indeed look like every figure that is allotted to them. They may not seem like themselves. I thought, ‘I somewhat resemble him. I do have hope.’
Park: And, the time has come, really.
Kim: Yes, it has. But, when people like me bustle around too much, the time, the era of handsome people, returns. It’s because the world becomes fed up with people like me.(laughs)
Park: In my view, also in that case you will end up on both sides of the fence.(laughs)
Kim: Ah……
Park: Both the side of the handsome and the not so handsome……(all participants laugh)
Kim: It’s too much to compare me with handsome people. You can’t become handsome imitating them!(laughs)
Park: I’m not joking. I’m speaking from my heart! I was astonished when you were working for pictorial shooting. You showed so much classical and gorgeous style for the first time. You were really great!(laughs) You looked like the son of a tycoon in trendy dramas, too. Do you like these kinds of roles? For example, the role of Sam-sik in the drama .
Kim: Yes, of course, certainly!
Park: Apparently, he’s a little bit haughty, but he’s a good guy in fact. If you take the role, you really would show a completely different style.
Kim: Yes, I like that kind of role. It would be interesting to play the part. He looks like arrogant. But, once you get to know him, you know also he’s not so perfect. There are also some elements of comedy in the drama. That’s the fascination of characters of that kind.
Park: Then, do you mean you’d be willing to play the role?
Park: The works of good quality are needed. At the same time, also these kinds of dramas are necessary to amuse people sometimes. The real problem in our country is that we have too many of them these days. Anyway, we can’t always consider these works poor as we saw well in .
Kim: As I had many difficulties in living in the mountains for 2 years, I need now to go lead a life of luxury for some time……(laughs) If possible, I want to avoid places like mountains and seas for the time being. Growing a beard is also a thing to stop doing…… Living without flush toilet is an unspeakable pain. I hope to play new kinds of roles. It would be interesting. In fact, there were proposals only for comedy programs similar to after this drama had finished.
Park: So I hear. Also Mr. Son Chang-min told me that similarly he had been continuously proposed only for those kinds of roles after the drama .
Kim: Yes, indeed. People think only about what they see. I want to play some cheerful roles in the future. Actually, the roles that I’ve played till now don’t suit my character. They are too much different from my disposition.
Park: Your character seems cheerful and somewhat easygoing.
Kim: Yes, I also like joking.
Park: And, you’re very sensitive, too. (“Yes”) But, you’re not strict with others……
Kim: Yes. I’m sensitive about the things that I have to do. I don’t need to be demanding with others.
Park: There are such people who are generous to others, but very sensitive and objective about themselves.
Kim: Yes, that’s right. I’m that kind of man. I’m a bit excessive. So, I get upset when I make some mistakes.
Park: I see. Your friends can advise you frankly for this reason. But, other people are generally different.
Kim: I know. But, I think one should be very objective about oneself and generous with others at the same time.
Park: I feel sometimes that one loses out living so. How about your case?
Kim: I don’t think I lose out living so.
Park: If I speak about myself, I’m rather willing to acknowledge the criticism of my friends. If I respond by blushing when they indicate my shortcomings, it’s laughable.
Kim: Yes, I think so, too.
Park: I admit my faults saying “Yes, you’re right. I must overcome them” almost whenever they point them out. So, these human creatures go too far sometimes.(laughs) In this case, they’re too frivolous at times.
Kim: Yes, that’s really true. In that case, I ignore them. When my friends point out exactly my problems that I’m not conscious of, I really thank them and bow my head. But, there are some difficult cases. For example, I play certain scenes in my way for some reasons. And, some people who watch the scenes point out my acting style in the scenes just going on what they saw. In such cases, I counterattack saying “You must watch the drama more before commenting” or “You watched the dram
Interview with Kim Myung-min(김명민 인터뷰)
*** 이하 글은 지난 '서울 드라마 어워드 2006' 개최 기념으로 발간된 외국인 대상 Dramatique 잡지 특별판에 실린 본인의 번역문입니다(특별판의 약 1/4 분량임) ***
Corner title: Cover Story
Article title: They don’t come any better!
Subhead: Kim Myung-min of
Kim Myung-min who received a prize at the KBS Drama Awards last year for his role in with an impressive acceptance speech won a prize for TV talent again at the 33rd Korea Broadcasting Awards this year. The editorial staff of Dramatique quickly seized the event to meet the actor. If you ask us what kind of a man he is, we have got to say he is a decent man. Really so. And, his humanity was incredibly impressive. His human aspects are so admirable that it was not easy for us to believe he was also one of those actors who live every day on a diet of egoistic narcissism.
Time with Kim Myung-min who has been both immortal and immoral
Park: Surprisingly, it seems you tried at least 70 times to shoot a scene of jumping up. In fact, pictorial photographing is a very difficult work for actors. But, you followed all the directions and detailed processes for the scene over several hours saying “It is really good for me as it gives me a workout!” instead of complaining about it. It is very moving indeed.(laughs) It’s not so easy for a top class actor like you to behave like this.
Kim: No, it isn’t. Recently I went to an exhibition of Picasso’s works and I got more aware of myself. Already before this experience, I had never considered myself a top class star. Picasso held all kinds of exhibitions and was awarded all sorts of prizes at the age of 25. He obtained all possible wealth and fame at the early stages of his life. However, he always made every effort to seek after his own way in his works till the last moment of his life. Though I didn’t know about him, I felt he had been ‘a really great man’ just by looking at his works. I could brace myself for the future seeing his continuous efforts that had lasted till his death.
Park: But, you again received a prize for TV talent at the Korea Broadcasting Awards. It means obviously you are the best actor whose acting ability, popularity and etc. are recognized officially.
Kim: I heard about the nomination from a person who had learned it through TV news. To see one’s own name in news articles seems like a good thing. TV news treats good things or bad things. And, it was a good report. I’m a really fortunate guy. After having played just the role of Lee Soon-shin, I became a lucky guy……
Park: We were pleased at the news, too. As you were not working for TV drama, we were waiting for a good chance to interview you on the pretext of congratulating you on your winning the prize.(laughs) There was a report that you would be exclusively engaged in movie shooting for the time being. What do you think about the difference between TV dramas and movies?
Kim: There is not any basic difference between them, only the circumstances are different. It seems you need much ability to react instantly for TV dramas. And, as you know, sometimes I don’t remember what program I’ve played with such busy broadcasting schedules. To be honest, I play roles for TV programs, but I often do so without any feeling of satisfaction.
Park: I know also you said in an interview you were afraid of playing mechanically.
Kim: Yes I did. Whatever the case, dramas or movies or otherwise, anything with more than 50 installments seems undesirable. The same is true for theater. When same plays go on for several months, actors behave as they want, drinking coffee till all spectators are seated. Although actors are told “the play is beginning in 20 minutes,” they do what they want after only nodding their heads. For them, the plays become just a routine. As they have worked together for several months, they know already how to play like machines not being totally engaged in their roles. In a word, there is hardly any profound feeling in their performance. It was maybe from the 50th installment that I felt the same thing playing the role of Lee Soon-shin. The same daily rhythm repeated always while I was playing on drama sets every Monday and Tuesday and I was frequenting other localities for other schedules. One day, I found myself behaving like General Lee Soon-shin habitually. From that moment, I tried to discard the habit, but it was not so easy. It was because the habit had been fixed strongly. Also the fact that there is a good quantity of lines to memorize is a problem to resolve. So, it means I must learn the lines by heart first for the broadcasting before thinking about the feelings and other things. As a consequence, it’s now second nature to me. It is enough for me to have a look at the lines to know what to do and how to do it for every scene. I was really distressed when others said “he is doing so as he is totally absorbed in the role of Lee Soon-shin.” I didn’t sleep so well that I couldn’t concentrate on my work. But, I was always ready to begin playing my role habitually also when I closed eyes to take a rest. I could manage to play my part without any big problem, which means I had gotten accustomed to my work like a recording machine. It was a very hard time for me. Despite it all, those people who didn’t understand me said to me, “you are wholly absorbed in your role now, you are!” It was natural for them to say so because I rushed to begin my role at once even while drowsing. They said to me also, “now you are the General in all senses.”(laughs) But, unfortunately it was not true.
Park: I heard you were so much immersed in your role that your relationships with others were influenced by it.
Kim: No role is easy to play. Lee Soon-shin is a figure that had really existed. People imagine the figure of General Lee Soon-shin who they have never seen before watching my reproduction of him. I thought I had such a big effect on them. Since then, all my behavior began to count for much. So, wherever I went, I tried not to make absurd remarks and to behave prudently in everything. Especially, at the studios. All others were clad in armor and were joking together. But, it was difficult for me to do so. It was just because I was Lee Soon-shin. I couldn’t begin to play sad and pathetic character just after stopping joking. I didn’t know how to confront Japanese forces, either, when they rushed on me in countless number. Besides, I couldn’t immerse myself in my role. So, I spent much time on reading the lines alone all the time when staying at the studios. People came to me seeing me staying alone to ask me, “What’s wrong with you?” This kind of things got on my nerves and annoyed me from time to time. I was feeling so because of those who approached to me just to say, “Is there something wrong with you? Please, tell me something……” when I was trying to concentrate on my role to prepare for the scenes in which I was to be a prisoner, to do what I could for my people and to be bumped against my will in front of the king. I experienced the same thing when I was working for the .
Park: So, it was for this reason that ‘your relationships with others were influenced.’
Kim: Yes, you’re right. The character Yong-hyun of is deeply melancholy. So, this guy is always depressed. Like people follow the feelings of the figures in the books while reading them, so is the case of the actors who read the lines for the scenes of the next day. Once you think about a thing, all of yourself tends toward it. When you really want to buy a thing, you see it in your dreams, too. Later, you come to think of buying it at any cost. When you have something to do, you can’t get into other things. When I think about this guy, about where this gloomy guy will go and what he will do and about the parts to shoot tomorrow, no funny story can really make me laugh. I am in no mood to laugh and feel at ease. After about 6 to 7 months of such life, man itself gets dried-up. All thoughts are gloomy. All of a sudden, I understood that any psychosis could begin in this way.
Park: To the extent that you lost some weight……
Kim: Everybody could know it just seeing my face. It was a little before my marriage, and my wife would talk about it as I didn’t speak much and looked strange.
Park: It’s maybe because of it that I feel there is something profound in your playing. There are some actors who can easily begin to joke after pathetic scenes and vice versa. It can, of course, be understood as a kind of ability. But, frankly speaking, I like your style much more than theirs.
Kim: Disappointingly, I must say I envy them. It’s the ability to immerse themselves in their situations. It’s their ability to make themselves look sad in a second after cracking jokes. On the contrary, I can hardly sit at the table to eat. When there are those kinds of scenes, I think about them all day long. What is worse, when there’re shooting schedules in the morning, I can’t even sleep well the night before. Then, I go to the studios. So, it’s natural for me to respect those kinds of people who can easily laugh after crying scenes and can ask others “Did I play well?” I think I need that ability to do things in an easier way.
Park: On the other hand, those aspects of yourself also contributed to strengthen viewers’ trust and confidence in you. But, it could be a negative aspect, too. Have you never felt, for example, that a fixed image of you like that gloomy image in inflicted some damage on you?
Kim: But, I think like this. What I am going to say is…… To say that actors transform their images seems a little laughable. After all, actors are in a sense a kind of hardware. They should be open to receive various people in themselves like hardware ready to be installed with new chips of different persons. In this sense, the expression ‘image transformation’ doesn’t look appropriate. And, I believe actors should know how to play the role of each figure that is allotted to them. The so-called ‘fixed image’ is a groundless apprehension that does the rounds all the time. Whatever I did, that kind of story followed me. When I began to play the role of Lee Soon-shin, they said the same. They said, “Since he has played only in modern dramas, he is not fit for the role of Lee Soon-shin. His face isn’t suitable for historical dramas, either.” In fact, nobody proposed to cast the role of Lee Soon-shin for the fact that my face resembled his. They said I looked like Lee Soon-shin only after the drama was all finished. Then, I heard people saying “Kim Myung-min was cast in the drama as he looks like General Lee Soon-shin.” To tell the truth, there were very many people who didn’t agree to cast me claiming that I wasn’t fit for historical dramas at all.
Park: You played the role of Dal-geon, namely, a scamp, after the role of Lee Soon-shin. I could see really your acting ability in , but let me see it better. The interpretation of the character of Dal-geon in was much different from that of ordinary scamps.
Kim: I don’t feel like using even the word ‘interpretation’ and I really didn’t want to play the role. I mean I didn’t like the roles of people who are so nasty and so showy. Those people who show themselves as bad and restive are much too immature. The common scamps have something that comes to a head in themselves. And, they try not to show themselves to be ignorant. In the meantime, the hidden part that comes to a head bursts and unexpected things happen. At first, the character used abusive language often, but later I proposed not using it. Presenting a scoundrel who uses abusive language is too commonplace. So, I said we could show a character of scamp also presenting the figure in another way, that is, a scamp who uses normal language.
Park: You said the term ‘image transformation’ isn’t appropriate. But, I think you were a bit anxious about it. Changing from the role of ‘Lee Soon-shin’ to that of Dal-geon in is in a sense quite sensational.
Kim: Just for this reason, people said to me, “you will have difficulty in ridding yourself of the fixed image of Lee Soon-shin.” Saying so, they gave concrete examples one of which was the indication that I could apply the same acting style to other dramas. I dislike seeing Kim Myung-min in my playing more than anything else. What I want is that people remember the figures whose roles I play. Even if they don’t remember my name, it’s OK with me. In fact, I have about ten friends who monitor my performance and speak frankly to me about it.
Park: What do you mean with the word ‘frankly’?
Kim: They praise me little and criticize me relentlessly. I speak to them on the telephone after the broadcasting of each installment. They tell me all they want to communicate to me. We also use e-mails when we can’t speak by telephone. I often feel ashamed, too. I also feel like throwing out telephone receiver many times.(laughs)
Park: To what degree do they criticize you, for example?
Kim: You know…… They say to me, “Hey, are you something so important? Why did you play the scene that way?” or “You were all Kim Myung-min in the scene.” I hate to hear people tell me I was Kim Myung-min. As you know, acting is in a sense a disguise in front of the audience. I speak like this as Kim Myung-min when I’m not working as an actor. But, when I’m working in some dramas or plays, I must hide my original character to enter the role of Dal-geon or others. So, if people see me as Kim Myung-min in my works, it means I revealed my own character in them. Of course, it can be a little different for viewers because they don’t know me personally. On the contrary, my friends know me very well. Here I may say also that their monitoring doesn’t deserve my attention. They can criticize me unconsciously against their will as they know me so well. You can maybe imagine the same thing if you think of being with your family. When you go out with your family and do something, you feel awkward for some reason or other all the time. It may be understood so, but I don’t want to admit even this fact now. I want to deceive my friends also when I play as an actor. Though they mostly speak poorly of my work, they praise me once in a while, too. Even so they are so stingy with me……(laughs) Anyhow, speaking about they told me later I had made a good choice.
Park: I wondered at your change, too. I thought, ‘Kim Myung-min who became Lee Soon-shin is now becoming Dal-geon so naturally.’
Kim: I also heard that many times. Frankly speaking, I have never thought that until now. I have not been worried about being type cast even once. I knew also this thing could happen to me. But, I thought, ‘since I know it, I will be able to manage it somehow.’ The people around me continued to say to me, “You had better concentrate on movies; Another historical drama will be OK; You would rather choose melodramas.” And, others said, “Any sudden shift is not good for you; There will be negative side effects; People consider you Lee Soon-shin. So, serious problems will pop up if you change your character suddenly; Change your character slowly and consistently. You look like Lee Soon-shin. So, whatever you may do, you look out of place always.” Later, I mulled it over and I arrived at the conclusion that I had to change my image some day. I had to change it one of those days. I thought it would be better to change my character drastically all at once, not slowly. I imagined, ‘If I do so, people will see the change in my character with their own eyes. And then, it will be enough for me to play in a really different style, totally different from that of Lee Soon-shin.’ There could be yet those who would continue to say “He is still Lee Soon-shin despite all his efforts” as they didn’t understand my inner world. That could not be avoided. Nevertheless, I was convinced that they would understand by watching my playing style for some period.
Park: Well, when we see actors, most of them, following the current of time, prefer the people who don’t speak negatively of them in everything. So, they keep around them only those, including their managers, who praise them for their beauty and other things that please them. But, I believe you are different from them.
Kim: Yes, I think so because I am neither handsome nor cute. (To his manager) Isn’t it so? But, I think those who are really good-looking like to hear people telling them they are handsome. They answer saying, “Do you think so?” if people say, “You’re such a dandy!”(all participants laugh) Yes, it’s true. When you tell them so over and over, they really like it very much. The same case is with those who are cute.
Park: Ah, why do they react so? They should have had enough of it. Why do they want it endlessly?
Kim: They hear it always, but they want to confirm it over and over.
Park: How do you feel, then, when people say you are handsome?
Kim: ……Are you kidding me? What kind of question is……?(all participants laugh) Now, I am a really lucky guy. When I began to work with broadcasting company, I didn’t know what to do. There were only very handsome men around me.
Park: You’re right. For a certain period, only Jeong Woo-seong or Jang Dong-geon or others similar to them, though not as handsome as they, could be on TV.
Kim: Yes, but, I thought differently at the time. I believed the time for other people would come certainly. I want to speak about two friends of mine from my school days. Their acting ability and energy were almost the same, but one of them was very handsome and the other very. But, when they were on stage, made up for the play, the latter came to the fore much more than the former, the handsome friend. When you draw pictures on white paper, the pictures are seen clearly. On the contrary, the pictures on paper with colorful designs are not easy to see. I thought it was the same with my friends. The handsome friend bore such a cute look that drawing other impressive images out of his original color was very difficult. Then, I became convinced that I also would enjoy my best days one day.
I hit upon the same idea when I went to shoot the film in 1996. I played an extra with my two colleagues. Maybe my part was ‘bandit 3.’ We disguised ourselves as bandit 1, 2, 3 for the shooting. My colleagues were all good-looking. When the disguise was finished, only I looked like a bandit.(all participants laugh) I was really surprised. I seemed like a real bandit also in my eyes. But, others were not bandits. They were too good-looking. We were seated together, and I said to them, “No matter what role you take, you are handsome always.” At the moment, the director looked at us, and said to me, “You, bandit 3, come here!” So, I got to act as bandit 3.(laughs) From those experiences, I could see hope for my future little by little. Actors must indeed look like every figure that is allotted to them. They may not seem like themselves. I thought, ‘I somewhat resemble him. I do have hope.’
Park: And, the time has come, really.
Kim: Yes, it has. But, when people like me bustle around too much, the time, the era of handsome people, returns. It’s because the world becomes fed up with people like me.(laughs)
Park: In my view, also in that case you will end up on both sides of the fence.(laughs)
Kim: Ah……
Park: Both the side of the handsome and the not so handsome……(all participants laugh)
Kim: It’s too much to compare me with handsome people. You can’t become handsome imitating them!(laughs)
Park: I’m not joking. I’m speaking from my heart! I was astonished when you were working for pictorial shooting. You showed so much classical and gorgeous style for the first time. You were really great!(laughs) You looked like the son of a tycoon in trendy dramas, too. Do you like these kinds of roles? For example, the role of Sam-sik in the drama .
Kim: Yes, of course, certainly!
Park: Apparently, he’s a little bit haughty, but he’s a good guy in fact. If you take the role, you really would show a completely different style.
Kim: Yes, I like that kind of role. It would be interesting to play the part. He looks like arrogant. But, once you get to know him, you know also he’s not so perfect. There are also some elements of comedy in the drama. That’s the fascination of characters of that kind.
Park: Then, do you mean you’d be willing to play the role?
Kim: Why not? It’s fairly good!(laughs) It’s chic!
Park: The works of good quality are needed. At the same time, also these kinds of dramas are necessary to amuse people sometimes. The real problem in our country is that we have too many of them these days. Anyway, we can’t always consider these works poor as we saw well in .
Kim: As I had many difficulties in living in the mountains for 2 years, I need now to go lead a life of luxury for some time……(laughs) If possible, I want to avoid places like mountains and seas for the time being. Growing a beard is also a thing to stop doing…… Living without flush toilet is an unspeakable pain. I hope to play new kinds of roles. It would be interesting. In fact, there were proposals only for comedy programs similar to after this drama had finished.
Park: So I hear. Also Mr. Son Chang-min told me that similarly he had been continuously proposed only for those kinds of roles after the drama .
Kim: Yes, indeed. People think only about what they see. I want to play some cheerful roles in the future. Actually, the roles that I’ve played till now don’t suit my character. They are too much different from my disposition.
Park: Your character seems cheerful and somewhat easygoing.
Kim: Yes, I also like joking.
Park: And, you’re very sensitive, too. (“Yes”) But, you’re not strict with others……
Kim: Yes. I’m sensitive about the things that I have to do. I don’t need to be demanding with others.
Park: There are such people who are generous to others, but very sensitive and objective about themselves.
Kim: Yes, that’s right. I’m that kind of man. I’m a bit excessive. So, I get upset when I make some mistakes.
Park: I see. Your friends can advise you frankly for this reason. But, other people are generally different.
Kim: I know. But, I think one should be very objective about oneself and generous with others at the same time.
Park: I feel sometimes that one loses out living so. How about your case?
Kim: I don’t think I lose out living so.
Park: If I speak about myself, I’m rather willing to acknowledge the criticism of my friends. If I respond by blushing when they indicate my shortcomings, it’s laughable.
Kim: Yes, I think so, too.
Park: I admit my faults saying “Yes, you’re right. I must overcome them” almost whenever they point them out. So, these human creatures go too far sometimes.(laughs) In this case, they’re too frivolous at times.
Kim: Yes, that’s really true. In that case, I ignore them. When my friends point out exactly my problems that I’m not conscious of, I really thank them and bow my head. But, there are some difficult cases. For example, I play certain scenes in my way for some reasons. And, some people who watch the scenes point out my acting style in the scenes just going on what they saw. In such cases, I counterattack saying “You must watch the drama more before commenting” or “You watched the dram