From 'Heart Signal' Unpopular Girl to 'Straw Man': A Dramatic Turn of Events.. Seo Ji-hye, Discoverer of the Year [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actress Seo Ji-hye (30) has achieved dazzling growth through 'Straw Man'.

The ENA Monday-Tuesday drama 'Straw Man' (script by Lee Ji-hyun, directed by Park Jun-woo), which concluded on the 26th of last month, tells the story of detective Kang Tae-ju (played by Park Hae-soo), who investigates a serial killer, unexpectedly forming an alliance with prosecutor Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun), a person he despised. The drama is based on the 1986 serial killings in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, one of South Korea's three major unsolved cases. While Bong Joon-ho's film 'Memories of Murder' (2003) shed light on this case that remained unsolved at the time of its release, 'Straw Man' covers the period up to the arrest of the true culprit in September 2019, leaving a meaningful message.

'Straw Man' received glowing praise throughout its broadcast and concluded with a high viewership rating of 8.1%. This is a record-breaking achievement, ranking first among all ENA Monday-Tuesday dramas and second among all ENA dramas.

Especially, 'Straw Man' captivated audiences by heralding the birth of a gem-like actress, 'The Rediscovery of Seo Ji-hye'. In the drama, Seo Ji-hye portrayed Kang Soon-young, the younger sister of Kang Tae-ju, the lover of Lee Gi-beom (played by Cha Young-beom, portrayed by Song Geon-hee), and the half-sister of Cha Si-young (played by Lee Hee-jun), depicting a tragic life. Pushed to the brink, she expressed the character's emotional journey, ranging from short-term memory loss to desperate revenge and despair, with stable acting skills. As a result, Seo Ji-hye stood out among seniors like Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-jun, and Kwak Sun-young, delivering an indispensable performance in 'Straw Man'.

Ultimately, Seo Ji-hye shed the label of being a former cast member of 'Heart Signal 1' (2017) on Channel A, the original 'Love Realities Program' (연프), and rose as a next-generation actress. Starting with the 2018 drama 'My ID is Gangnam Beauty', she has steadily built her filmography with works such as 'Welcome to 2 Life', 'Crime Puzzle', 'The Speed of 493km to You', 'Accidentally Met You', and 'Assembled Family'.

In a recent interview with StarNews, Seo Ji-hye said, "I really didn't expect 'Straw Man' to be loved this much. It's the first time I've received so many messages from people saying they 'enjoyed it.' Just the other day, women on the street recognized me. They called me by my character's name, 'Isn't that Soon-young?' That was also a first experience. I am grateful for all the praise for my acting."

She also revealed the story behind joining 'Straw Man'. Seo Ji-hye recalled, "From the moment I first read the script for 'Straw Man', I wanted to do it so badly. So when I went to the audition after receiving the script for the first four episodes, I memorized the entire thing. I didn't even bring the script to the audition room because I had prepared so much. I think the director appreciated that part highly."

She continued, "Actually, I thought I wouldn't get the part. It took quite a long time to receive a response. But I got a call much later. I later heard that the writer wanted to work with me, and the director trusted the writer's choice."

In response to the production team's trust, Seo Ji-hye truly displayed her worth. Especially, Seo Ji-hye said, "My weight during the filming of 'Straw Man' and now differs by almost 10kg. I did lose weight for the role, but after filming an emotional scene, I was exhausted as if I had a fever and had no strength to eat. After filming a sobbing scene, I fainted in the car, and as a result, I kept losing weight during filming. Senior Kwak Sun-young, who is extremely thin, would ask me every time she saw me, 'Are you eating?'" She conveyed her all-out acting spirit.

When asked about the reason for such an all-out performance, she said, "The set itself was full of fighting spirit, so a sense of responsibility and mission to work hard naturally arose. And not only because of the case itself, but I also wanted to make sure people didn't forget that there are many victims around us. Soon-young's biggest emotion was 'despair.' I searched for many documentaries and YouTube videos. Although I dare not speak for them, I approached the role with a sense of mission to do my best for the character I was given."

She did not forget to express gratitude to the viewers. Seo Ji-hye said, "Even though it was a heavy topic, I am so grateful to the viewers who watched until the end. I feel most grateful that everyone seemed to like each character."

Furthermore, Seo Ji-hye said, "I was proud that even friends who don't watch dramas said they would 'keep up with Straw Man.' Many friends were surprised, asking, 'Were you always this good at acting?' Since I have mostly played younger roles until now, this was the first time I took on a role with such deep emotions, so people around me seemed a bit surprised. I was also surprised because this is the first time I've received such praise for my acting."

What are her thoughts on the image of being a 'former reality dating show cast member' and the 'unpopular girl from Heart Signal 1'? Seo Ji-hye said, "It's still far off, but I feel like I'm gradually erasing it. But thanks to that, I also received love, so I feel very grateful. Rather than seeing it as a task I need to prove, I think I should work harder to show a new side." She revealed a mature mindset.

She mentioned that she appeared on 'Heart Signal 1' by chance. Seo Ji-hye recalled, "I always dreamed of being an actress. I applied to be a model for 'University Daily' because I wanted to be an actress, which led to contact from the 'Heart Signal' production team. At that time, the term 'Love Realities Program' didn't even exist. So I didn't have big expectations when I appeared. I just went because it allowed me to balance my studies and didn't interfere with my part-time job. I never expected it would go so well."

Now that she has become a full-fledged actress, what are her goals? Seo Ji-hye said, "I think 'Straw Man' was the first work where I showed a new side. After this, I have a desire to do more works and take on various roles. I believe that wanting to tell good stories is the desire of every actor. I want to become an actress who gradually broadens herself through reading books and traveling in her current life, and eventually expresses that through acting."

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*This content was translated by AI.