[TRANSLATION] Kim So Hyun for CeCi Korea November 2017 Issue

It’s easy for us to think that we know the star who growing up through the public eyes well. It’s lovely to get the title of “Nation’s little sister” or “Nation’s little brother”, but they get the cold headed assessment in each of their growing up phase. We’ve seen many times when the great love and interest turned into harsh comments in a flash moment. However I wonder if sometimes child actors are demanded to live with too “big heart”. Kim So Hyun sits and stands with a bright smile on screen, but she seemed like a girl who dreams to leave into different world. I wonder what they would say if we sat face to face with the actors whose expert in showing the sad and happy expression. She was the busiest actress, she appeared in Drama “The Moon ThatEmbraces the Sun”, "Who Are You?”, “Let’s Fight, Ghost”, “Ruler: Master of theMask”, and Movie “Pure Love” for years. Kim So Hyun who’s ready to break up with the time when there were many words of “growing pains” and “transition period”, was more cheerful and brave than expected.

I thought you would take some rest after finished Drama “Ruler: Master of The Mask”, but you also appeared in “While You Were Sleeping”. Are you like a “worker ant” who doesn’t take a rest?

I’m still young but I think I’m like people who destined to have a lot of work. And also, I like to have many projects. So far, I’ve been continuously working without taking a long break period, I feel more comfortable and happy to keep continuing acting rather than taking a long time break. Sometimes I feel physically exhausted as well, but I’ve found a way to overcome it through exercise and mind control, it’s just that I didn’t try to take a break.

Do you feel anxious because you aren’t used to take a rest?

When I receive a good project, there is desire to do it. I do my best and work hard to do the project that I want to do. So it’s not that I work to reach certain number of projects, at some points I feel like I’ve been doing so much without taking any break. It’s not that I wanted to do the project because I feel anxious, but I choose to take the role depend on the project itself.

But the words “growing pains” and “transition period” has been appeared repeatedly in the interview since last year. How’s your feeling now?

I think it’s about 70%.  It’s just happened a while ago. I’ve talked about it several times, but it’s very hard for me after Drama “Ruler” ended. I have a lot of worries at that time, but now some of them already disappeared.

It must be hard for you, how did you get through it?

I filmed “Ruler” for about 7 months and then I was overwhelmed with the emptiness because suddenly my schedule was empty.  The time that I spent in my home was feel meaningless to me. I didn’t feel comfortable even though I was resting, I was depressed for a while. Then I tried to focus on my daily life. I did my best in work out, I feel great because my body and mind were refreshed. I always like to watch movie at home, I want to have another hobby so I bought miniature DIY. I want to slowly make it. I tend to focus on one thing and can’t be distracted by the other things. 

Anyway, it’s a profession with continuous heavy tension and relaxation. Don’t you have some kinds of tips about the self-rearrangement between those two conditions?

That’s right. I got a lot of help from people around me. Especially from my acting teacher since childhood who gives me many good advice. She told me not to think negatively when I’m experiencing a hard time and try to change my perspective to make me more understand about my situation. And by changing my mindset, I think on the other hand I take it as a process of growing up. I try my best to think positively.

What do you think is still left behind after you get through the hard transition period?

I put down my worries and anxiety. When I’m suffering, actually I think there must be a reason why it’s so hard for me. I’m still young, and there’s so much more to go through from now on. So rather than keep grumbling about my problem alone, which will give the negative impact to people around me, I tried to get through it with a light heart. It makes me more comfortable.

That’s right. I guess you feel relieved because you answered it with a smile.  It seems like most actors who have been active since childhood are kind and upright. All of you are consciously thinking to grow up like that, right?
I don’t know exactly about the others. Anyway it’s a profession which gets attention from the public eyes. Even though I don’t mean to be a role model, I try my best not to give negative influences to people around my age. I think people who have been watching me since I was a child also expect me to grow well.

Have you ever felt pressured or burdened by their expectations?
There are many people who are born with tendency to be cautious ever since they’re in their young age. Because I always together with the adults, I feel more comfortable to be cautious in every aspect. When I think about it now, it would be nice if I could do what I wanted to do. But I have no regrets.

It’s a common thing for people who have entered the adult society since early age. Do you have any worries or gap among your same age friend?
I’ve never felt such a thing. But I once thought that my worries may sound like a complaint from my friends’ point of view. I’ve done what I want to do and accomplished my dreams earlier than my friend, if I complain too much in that situation it might make them upset.

Do your friends give you honest advice? For example, do they tell you honestly about the malicious comments of your acting on the articles?

They tell me about the positive things first, and if there are many malicious comments they will give me a lot of comforts. If it’s hard for me, I won’t hide it and tell them what I feel.  Sometimes I sent them the malicious comments after I captured it. (laugh) Then they would ask me, what’s wrong, and we would talk. They told me not to care too much about it and we would talk honestly and comfortably.

You said before that you used to talk to yourself during shower time, like a self-interview. Do you still have that habit these days?

Yes, I still continue doing it. (laugh) In my mind, I have a lot of questions for myself. I like the process of questioning myself. The questions are about the problems with the others, acting problems, and what I dislike recently. I have a very wide range of questions.

By questioning yourself, do you find the answers for your problem recently?

I kept complaining about my problems, and I wonder what make it so difficult for me. Because I kept whining pointlessly when I took a break from my work, and said that it was so difficult. One day my mom asked me what was so difficult but I couldn’t come up with any answer. Since then, I thought to stop myself from a bad habit of saying “it’s difficult”.

You’ve played dozens of character so far. I wonder which one is the closest to “Kim So Hyun” and which one is the opposite and the most difficult character?

Let me think for a moment. It’s difficult to answer. Yoon Yoo Seul from “Page Turner” is my favorite character. It’s character written by “While You were Sleeping” Park Hye Ryun Writer-nim. Yoo Seul personalities are very different from my real self, but I want to be closer with those kinds of characters. So it made me had a strong desire to play it well as much as it made me feel tired at the same time. The tone (accent) and the way of speaking are all different, I didn’t know how to express it. So I was very cautious for each of the gestures, I changed everything from the eye contact (the way I gaze) to the tone when I spoke my dialogues.

Do you think you’ll do better if you are given chance to play the same character?

I don’t know if I can do better, but I really tried my best at that time. So, I want to play the same character again. As I play the leading role and my roles are becoming bigger, my depth of focus is different than when I was at my young age, when the project (drama) is over I need time to get out from it. I thought I wouldn’t affected by the character, but it remained inside for a while.

Compared to when So Hyun-ssi started acting, now, and in the future, the world changes and the public demands from the actors are also different. I wonder what kind of person that you want to be.

That’s true. Whether as an actress and as a person, I think I should never lose my concern to the world no matter how it changes. It may not easy if I don’t understand, but I want to help whenever I can. 

Maybe you want to give your voice (speak) in the areas where you can give the influence as an actress.

That’s why I want to learn a lot and establish my own values. I think that’s my priority. If I don’t know the differences of how the other people thinking, as an actress I can hurt the others too. It may even more because the actors affect the viewers. I want to find out wisely.

If you have one week vacation starting tomorrow, what do you want to do every day?

First, I want to go to a quiet place. Jeju-do would be nice, and I also want to go to Sweden. I want to spend my time by reading book alone and eating the delicious foods at the beautiful place that close to nature.

You look so happy now (laugh)

Usually my happiest time is when I play with my dog, Mongsuk. I think it’s enough to live a meaningful life rather than trying to find happiness at somewhere else. It means, I’m happy today as well. 

~ BEHIND THE SCENES ~

cr: CeCi
translated by: MsSubak