Kang Hun: "I Started Acting to Meet Taeyeon; Now I Want to Become Someone's 'Favorite'" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

• Interview with actor Kang Hun, who played Kang Ha-ki in tvN Monday-Tuesday drama "My Favorite Employee"

Actor Kang Hun revealed the special motivation behind his acting career: to meet Girls' Generation member Taeyeon. Having finally achieved his dream of meeting Taeyeon as a devoted fan, he now shares his new goal—to continue pursuing the acting he loves for a long time and become someone's "favorite."

Recently, Kang Hun held an interview at a café in Jongno-gu, Seoul, sharing his reflections after the conclusion of tvN's Monday-Tuesday drama "My Favorite Employee" (written by Lee Young, directed by Park Ji-hyun) on the 8th.

"My Favorite Employee" is an office growth romance about a new employee named Nam Da-reum (played by Kim Hye-jun), who becomes the "favorite employee" while trying to meet his "favorite."

In the drama, Kang Hun portrayed Kang Ha-ki, the CEO of a fashion platform called Aphello. Although Ha-ki is a cold and charismatic leader, he shows a clumsy and cute side when it comes to love after meeting Da-reum.

Kang Hun shares many similarities with his character. His own reason for becoming an actor was also to meet his "favorite," Taeyeon from the group Girls' Generation.

Earlier, through the tvN variety show "Amazing Saturday," he finally achieved his dream of becoming a "successful fan" (seongdeok). He confessed that from the moment he received the script for "My Favorite Employee," he could not help but deeply empathize with Da-reum's feelings.

Kang Hun said, "The reason I chose this career and approached it was to meet my favorite (Taeyeon). But as I fell in love with acting, I kept doing it." He added, "There is a scene where Da-reum first meets his favorite, Lee Chan (played by Cha Woo-min), and I felt that moment matched how I felt when I first met Taeyeon. Those parts resonated deeply with me."

He continued, "Memories of liking Taeyeon since childhood flashed before my eyes like a panorama. I was so happy, and I felt incredibly grateful for everything." He recalled the overwhelming moment.

Just as Da-reum in the drama moves toward new dreams after meeting his favorite, Kang Hun's encounter with Taeyeon became a turning point in his acting career. He shared, "After meeting (Taeyeon), my dream grew even bigger. Since my biggest childhood dream came true, I realized I needed to find and pursue other dreams."

He added, "When I was young, my dream was simply to meet her and say, 'I am a fan.' Now, I want to continue doing the acting I love for a long time. I also hope to become someone's favorite."

He also praised his co-star Kim Hye-jun, who shared the spotlight at the center of the production. Kang Hun said, "Since our drama is told from Da-reum's perspective, actress Kim Hye-jun was crucial. There were many difficult moments, but (Kim) Hye-jun always smiled. It was winter during filming, so it was really tough, but every time I went to the set, she gave me strength." He expressed his gratitude.

He further added, "Even in difficult situations, seeing her smile and take care of the staff taught me a lot. She has played more leading roles than I have, so I realized how she leads the set."

The fresh and heart-fluttering romance created by the two was the result of constant dialogue and deep consideration. Kang Hun explained, "I felt I had to like and love that friend very much. They say you look prettier when you're in love, so I tried to do that." He also said, "For the kissing scenes, we wanted them to be different each time, so we discussed extensively with the director on how to create each one. We hoped the expressions of affection wouldn't feel burdensome to viewers."

He also revealed behind-the-scenes details about the delicate secret romance between the CEO and the new employee in the drama. Kang Hun said, "Once Da-reum and I fell in love and started dating, even if we tried not to show it, I felt people would still notice. I thought we should just be open about it. If both of us tried to hide it, it wouldn't be fun. Even if one person hides it, they'll eventually get caught anyway."

So, what if he were actually in a secret relationship? Kang Hun said, "I believe it can be hidden thoroughly. Since my profession is public, I feel confident that I can hide myself well when needed. I usually keep my personal life private. Some people recognize me, but they don't always approach me first." He showed confidence.

He also shared his thoughts on public relationships. Kang Hun demonstrated a considerate attitude toward his partner, saying, "I would ask about their feelings. They might choose to go public, or I might not have an opinion. I think I would ask for their opinion first."

Beyond acting, Kang Hun has showcased his unique presence through variety shows such as tvN's "Amazing Saturday" and SBS's "Running Man," displaying his distinctive charm of innocence and wit.

Regarding his variety show activities, he said, "Variety is always open if time is given. As an actor, I don't want to cause trouble for the drama team, so I'm available during my free time." He added, "If a good opportunity comes up, I'd like to continue participating in variety shows."

In particular, he sent his congratulations on the recent news of actress Ji Ye-eun's marriage. During her tenure as a temporary member on "Running Man," she formed a cheerful chemistry with Kang Hun, creating the "Goo Love Line." Ji Ye-eun announced her public relationship with dancer Bata in April and is now preparing for her wedding in December.

Having learned about the news through an article first, Kang Hun said, "If they invite me, I will definitely go to celebrate." He added, "It was truly happy news. I am celebrating from the bottom of my heart," leaving a warm message.

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*This content was translated by AI.