Kim Ji-hoon, Confident with Reason: "Great Chemistry with 'Wife' Kim Hye-soo and 'Current Affair' Jo Yeo-jeong" [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kim Ji-hoon (45) captivated audiences with his powerful presence as the husband of senior actress Kim Hye-soo (56) in "It's Not an Affair That's a Problem."

In the OTT Coupang Play series "It's Not an Affair That's a Problem" (hereinafter referred to as "Current Affair"), first released on the 31st, Kim Ji-hoon played Im Jae-hong, the younger husband of famous influencer Park Kyung-hee (portrayed by Kim Hye-soo). Unlike Kyung-hee, who is a "one-million-subscriber YouTuber," Jae-hong is an unknown actor. He is a character overshadowed by his successful wife, Kyung-hee, and has been delivering surprising performances through an affair with Ahn Soo-jeong (portrayed by Jo Yeo-jeong).

"Current Affair" is a runaway chain-reaction black comedy where the popular influencer couple Kyung-hee and Jae-hong, who have sold their happy family life, become entangled in an unbearable secret that makes even infidelity seem trivial alongside the neighboring doctor couple Soo-jeong and Joo Bo-seong (portrayed by Kim Jae-cheol), who are embroiled in a messy divorce lawsuit. The series is directed by Lee Chang-hee, known for directing "Strangers from Hell" (2019) and Netflix's "Squid Game: The Challenge" (2024).

In a recent interview with StarNews, Kim Ji-hoon openly admitted about his role in "Current Affair": "I felt burdened taking on the role of Kim Hye-soo's senior actress's husband." He added, "Senior actress Kim Hye-soo possesses experience, maturity, and aura that are truly hard to approach. Even though I've been working in this field for quite some time, I did feel that pressure. So my only goal was to ensure our acting chemistry matched well enough for her to approve of me. I prepared very diligently."

He continued with a smile: "Fortunately, I believe I received her approval in the end. Senior actress Kim Hye-soo is a very transparent person. She speaks openly about what she likes and dislikes without holding back. Fortunately, she has increasingly praised me over time. When she finds something good, she genuinely expresses it sincerely. Later on, I even tried to perform better just to earn her daily praise."

Ultimately, Kim Ji-hoon elicited top-tier praise from Kim Hye-soo. He shared: "Senior actress Kim Hye-soo carefully monitors performances and told me, 'You look so much like Jae-hong; you truly felt charming as Jae-hong.' She praised me in such detailed ways that it was almost uncomfortable to hear her say it."

Kim Ji-hoon also expressed deep admiration: "I learned so much from senior actress Kim Hye-soo. I could talk about this for an hour alone. First, I was truly amazed that after working for so long and maintaining the top position as an actor for such a long time, she remains so humble. It's not performative humility; even I tend to evaluate myself harshly, but hearing her say 'I still have a long way to go' struck me deeply. She is incredibly strict with herself. She constantly strives for intense self-reflection and growth."

Regarding his character Jae-hong, Kim Ji-hoon joked: "I get along surprisingly well with both Kim Hye-soo and Jo Yeo-jeong." He then elaborated seriously: "Jae-hong is very human and realistic. In his relationship with his wife Kyung-hee, he is faithful at every moment. He lacks resentment or a sense of victimhood and can objectively assess himself. He also values recognizing others. However, reality inadvertently turns him into a 'loser.' His wife has become extremely successful, while Jae-hong, as an actor, has not achieved comparable success, leading others to compare them unfavorably. Although he hasn't received major recognition as an actor, he doesn't feel deeply dissatisfied or deny his situation. He simply possesses a transparent mindset of wanting to do better and gain recognition. Yet reality keeps making Jae-hong appear insignificant. In a way, this 'insignificance' could be Jae-hong's charm."

He further reflected: "Thinking about it, we all encounter moments where we feel diminished in our lives. No matter how wealthy or successful someone is, there will always be moments of feeling small. Jae-hong represents someone who overcomes such feelings with an unwarped mindset and strives to move forward. I hope viewers can relate to him, thinking, 'I've seen people like that around me' or 'That's just like me.' That was my intention when performing."

Asked about his synchronization with the character Jae-hong, Kim Ji-hoon replied: "If Jae-hong is an 'age-gap husband,' I am closer to a 'Tetris man.' However, in terms of self-objectification, we seem similar. I also have good meta-awareness of myself. I strive to understand where these emotions originate and accurately recognize myself."

He also shared his reflections as he approaches his 24th year since debut. Kim Ji-hoon stated: "I believe I've accumulated valuable experiences across a wide range of genres, from daily dramas and weekend series to trendy dramas and even children's programs. This seems like a particularly unique career path. When I was younger, I enjoyed variety shows, so I tried everything back then. Thanks to the depth gained through these diverse experiences, I now feel no significant fear regardless of the role or position I take on. This solid foundation has become my greatest strength."

Nevertheless, Kim Ji-hoon added: "However, I am now at a stage where I can walk steadily on two legs. There are still many mountains to climb ahead, and the road is long. Even if I advance far, I feel that an actor's path requires creating new paths from wherever one stands." He continued to express his burning passion.

"Current Affair" consists of eight episodes in total, with five episodes released as of the 14th. It can be watched every Friday at 8 p.m. on Coupang Play. Both Coupang Wow members and general members can watch it for free.

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*This content was translated by AI.