Kim Min-ha: "After becoming the lead in 'Pachinko,' the industry's attention was terrifying… I hid for a year" [31st BIFF]

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Actress Kim Min-ha revealed that she took a year to pause and reflect on herself after filming "Pachinko."

On the 8th, Kim Min-ha's "Actors House" was held at the Culture Hall of Shinsegae Department Store Centum City in Haeundae-gu, Busan, as part of the 31st Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

Looking back on the past four years since "Pachinko," Kim Min-ha said, "It was a short yet long period."

She recalled, "'Pachinko' was filmed in 2020, and at that time, there was a lot of talk about me in the industry. It may sound like boasting, but I received unexpected attention because an unknown newcomer took on the lead role in 'Pachinko.'"

She added, "For about a year after that, I didn't meet anyone and just rested. Instead of immediately joining an agency or looking for my next project, I took time to step back and look at myself objectively."

Kim Min-ha said that this period had a significant impact on her subsequent choices. She stated, "Because of that time, I think it was possible to walk the four-year path I have taken so far," adding, "If I had been pushed by people in the industry at the time and rushed into something, I would have been walking a completely different path now."

She further added, "I needed to let go of my excited self at the time, tell myself to 'stay calm,' and spend time living an ordinary life again."

Kim Min-ha shared, "Because I had been abroad for a long time, I talked a lot with family and friends, and it was a time to rediscover who I am as a person," noting that she also specifically thought about what she wanted to do in the future and how she wanted to continue her life as an actress.

She revealed that after the release of "Pachinko," her concerns about her position became even clearer. She said, "At the time, there seemed to be a strong perception in Korea that I would only work abroad," adding, "The gift 'Pachinko' gave me was enormous, but so was the sense of responsibility."

She explained, "I am Korean, and I thought a lot about how I could establish myself in Korea and continue my work stably and consistently," noting that through this process, her criteria for reading scripts became firm, and she was able to clarify what she pursues as an actress and what values she holds.

She added, "Fortunately, with each new project, I have received a lot of love and have been walking my path little by little," concluding, "Looking back, the four years actually feel very short."

The host said, "'Pachinko' was a project where all the actors you would know by name auditioned. Becoming the lead in such a work was, on one hand, a huge burden, and naturally, it was a major event that made everyone wonder, 'Who is this actress?'"

In response, Kim Min-ha candidly admitted, "That was truly terrifying." She recalled, "There was also the need to keep the project itself secret, and it was my first experience receiving so much attention overnight. I didn't really know how to act or how to handle that interest."

She added, "I remember often saying to those around me at the time, 'I might not be as good as you think,'" revealing, "As expectations grew, the pressure of whether I could live up to them also increased."

Kim Min-ha said, "In my late 20s, I focused even more on the set to escape such a sense of responsibility and burden," adding, "I tried to focus on the acting I needed to do and the present moment, rather than the gazes or evaluations of those around me."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original