'My Favorite Person' Kim Hye-jun: "It took half a day to film just the first location romance kiss scene... Overcoming the cringe" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

• tvN Monday-Tuesday Drama 'My Favorite Person' — Interview with actor Kim Hye-jun, who plays Nam Da-reum

Actor Kim Hye-jun, who has previously shone in intense genre works, has now fully proven her charm.

Recently, Kim Hye-jun held an interview at a café in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and discussed the recently concluded tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'My Favorite Person' (script by Lee Young, directed by Park Ji-hyun), which ended on the 8th.

'My Favorite Person' is an office growth romance about Nam Da-reum (played by Kim Hye-jun), a new employee who becomes 'My Favorite Person's' devotee while trying to meet her favorite idol. In the drama, Kim Hye-jun portrayed the cheerful new employee Nam Da-reum.

This project marked Kim Hye-jun's first foray into location romance (roco). Regarding this, Kim Hye-jun said, "First of all, 'My Favorite Person' was my first roco, so it was a big challenge. I am extremely grateful that many people loved it and supported Da-reum so much. If we could bring a moment of happiness during the hot summer, I feel happy." She expressed her overwhelming feelings upon the drama's conclusion.

The reason she chose 'My Favorite Person' as her first challenge was the script's charm. Kim Hye-jun recalled, "The script was so cute. I believe that location romances should include clichés. Our drama has many clichés, but it portrayed familiar elements in a cute and delicate way. While romance is important, comedy is also crucial, and those aspects were fun and well-integrated into the script."

She continued, "When I first read the script, I enjoyed it immensely. I think location romances should be watched with laughter, thinking 'What is this?' And that's exactly how I was reading the script. I was instantly drawn in. So, without much hesitation, I decided to join the project."

Although the challenge was successful, there were hidden worries before filming began. Kim Hye-jun candidly shared, "Actually, I was quite worried because it was my first roco. Since I had mostly worked on genre dramas until now, I wondered if viewers accustomed to those might find it hard to accept. But since they seemed to accept Da-reum as she is, I felt a desire to take on more challenges."

She also spoke about the effort required to deliver the uniquely awkward acting style of location romances. Kim Hye-jun explained, "The scenes I used to find embarrassing and cringeworthy while watching them on TV were even more cringeworthy when filming them. It seemed that expressing them more boldly would make the viewing experience more enjoyable. So, I worked hard to overcome that."

In the drama, Nam Da-reum reveals her fluttering fan feelings upon meeting Lee Chan (played by Cha Woo-min), a top star and fashion director she has passionately supported. At the same time, she develops a romance with CEO Kang Ga-ki (played by Kang Hoon), a perfectionist with a sharp personality, as they clash in the workplace.

Behind these sweet scenes lay unique challenges for the actors. Regarding the widely discussed romantic scene, Kim Hye-jun said, "The kiss scene looks brief when watching, but I didn't realize it would take so long to film. The director was very sincere about romantic scenes, so we shot many takes. We filmed the kiss scene continuously for half a day."

She added, "There were also many scenes where we had to make eye contact, and in reality, we were closer than what appeared on screen. Since the camera doesn't capture everything, we had to get even closer. Holding eye contact for so long was awkward. I thought, 'What should I do?' but I endured it with the mindset that I had to get through it, and eventually, I became accustomed to it."

Partner Kang Hoon's thoughtful consideration was a great source of strength. Kim Hye-jun expressed gratitude, saying, "Kang Hoon has experience in melodramas. In romantic scenes where the angle is crucial for looking good, he paid close attention to the angles. He told me, 'I'll make sure you look beautiful,' and always thought of me first. Romantic scenes can be sensitive and embarrassing, but he handled them with care rather than treating them as jokes. Instead of making many jokes, he remained calm and considerate. I received a lot of consideration."

Kim Hye-jun also expressed satisfaction with the chemistry she shared with Kang Hoon and Cha Woo-min. She said, "Like me, they are both introverts. But when introverts open their hearts, they become close very quickly. Since we got along well, we had no one else to rely on but each other. We were happy and enjoyed filming whenever we met." She emphasized, "Both of them are kind and considerate, making the set cheerful. I learned a lot from them. I also realized that when lead actors exist cheerfully, it becomes the driving force that makes the entire production environment enjoyable."

Since her debut in 2015, Kim Hye-jun has steadily built a path that has now led to 12 years of solid experience. She shared, "I saw an AI video compilation of my journey from debut until now, and it made me emotional. I thought, 'I haven't wasted my time.' Since so much time had passed, I felt proud and grateful."

She continued, "I was always timid and lacked confidence. But as I worked quietly, more people noticed and listened to me, which helped build my confidence. It seems that the dream I have now is even bigger than the ambition I had when I first dreamed of becoming an actor," revealing her strengthened inner self.

She added, "I don't think things like, 'I still can't do this well,' or 'What if I show my shortcomings after accumulating years of experience?' Instead, I just want to take on more challenges. Whenever I decide to do something again, I strive to do it better."

Kim Hye-jun also had reliable colleagues who walked the path alongside her. Mentioning Hong Kyung and Kim Min-ha, fellow alumni from Hanyang University's Department of Theater and Film, she said, "They are my peers. Seeing them has been a great source of motivation."

She continued, "I feel proud even though I didn't raise them myself. I've watched them since they were young, and seeing them step forward one by one makes me proud. Not only for me but also for those friends, they reached their current positions not in a single leap but through steady progress. We share that experience and understanding. So, just their presence gives me strength," expressing her affection openly.

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*This content was translated by AI.