Kim Hye-soo: "I'm a swan specialized in hiding my impatience; I look fine on the outside, but..." Sincere confession [★FULL Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Actor Kim Hye-soo shared her reflections on successfully completing 'It's Not Just an Affair'.

The OTT Coupang Play series 'It's Not Just an Affair' (hereinafter referred to as 'Affair') is a runaway chain-reaction black comedy in which the lives of popular influencer couple Park Kyung-hee (played by Kim Hye-soo) and Im Jae-hong (played by Kim Ji-hoon), who have built their happy family on a foundation of secrets, become entangled with the neighboring doctor couple Ahn Soo-jeong (played by Jo Yeo-jung) and Ju Bo-seong (played by Kim Jae-cheol), who are in the midst of a messy divorce lawsuit, over an unbearable secret that makes even infidelity seem trivial. The series is directed by Lee Chang-hee, known for directing 'Strangers from Hell' (2019) and Netflix's 'The Uncanny Counter' (2024).

In particular, 'Affair' received widespread acclaim as a true "acting showcase" centered on Kim Hye-soo. Critics praised her for meticulously portraying the character's complex nature, from the glittering surface of a million-subscriber YouTuber's life down to the depths of their inner turmoil. While she naturally embodied a figure who dresses flamboyantly and adopts the formal demeanor of the upper class, she also seamlessly integrated moments where profanity slips out at critical junctures. Moreover, she convincingly portrayed Park Kyung-hee not merely as someone who has seized flashy success, but as a character with a narrative of forging her own path in life.

Thanks to such outstanding performances, 'Affair' received warm love from viewers from its premiere on July 31 until it concluded with its eighth episode on September 3. In fact, the series maintained the number one spot in Coupang Play's overall popularity rankings for five consecutive weeks and went on to claim first place in satisfaction ratings for drama content in Consumer Insights' 'OTT K-Original Content Viewer Evaluation Report' (as of the third week of August), proving its unparalleled box office success. Furthermore, 'Affair' made a significant contribution to Coupang Play's historic milestone of surpassing 10 million users for the first time in its history.

In a recent interview with StarNews, Kim Hye-soo expressed her deep gratitude for the immense interest in 'Affair', stating, "I am so thankful. I heard it ranked first in cumulative viewership during its first week of release, which was completely unexpected. Honestly, from the moment I first read the script, I found it particularly enjoyable among recent screenplays. It blends black comedy with suspense. Moreover, although the events depicted in 'Affair' are not inherently extraordinary, they were woven together in a very unique way, making them intriguing. Such works are rare."

She continued, "The script for 'Affair' was the first full-length series by two female writers, Jeong Eun-kyung and Park Soo-rin. It had impressive writing strength and excellent structure. The way it drives the plot forward through transitions was also impressive. From the moment I read the script, I thought, 'This will be fun.' Even the title itself was so compelling that it felt like saying, 'You have to start with this one.' I truly laughed out loud by myself. As soon as I finished reading it, I had no reason not to do it, so I immediately prepared for a production team meeting." She expressed her high level of satisfaction.

Kim Hye-soo also highly praised director Lee Chang-hee's directing skills. She said, "What made this work unique was that although I thought of it as black comedy, it actually fused multiple genres in a complex way. Rather than feeling ambiguous, it came across as 'very unique.' That was the case when looking at the entire work. That was the best part. Genre works often have divided opinions, but (the fact that this one didn't) seems to be due to the director's great strength. He has the power to expand the entry barrier of genre works to a broader audience. He made all the characters—Kyung-hee, Jae-hong, Soo-jeong, and Bo-seong—so charming that I felt I could have taken any role he gave me. Regardless of gender, they all felt so attractive that I wanted to play them."

In particular, Kim Hye-soo spoke uniquely about her role as Kyung-hee, saying, "Taking on such a flamboyant character was a very long time coming for me." She explained, "For a long time, I hosted the (Blue Dragon) Film Awards, so whether I liked it or not, I wore glamorous dresses every year. Since that's not an ordinary thing in Korea, perhaps my image has become somewhat associated with glamour. So when portraying a character who appears flamboyant, I was very cautious about it potentially being mistaken for my personal image. From the viewers' perspective, they wouldn't be able to distinguish between the two, so I always had to be vigilant at that point. To overcome this, I listened extensively to experts and stylists this time. We chose a method of modeling the appearance after actual influencers and celebrities."

Regarding Kyung-hee's decision to endure her husband's infidelity, she said with sorrow, "Kyung-hee is the head of the household, so she has always lived by the motto, 'Even if we've reached the bottom of this hell, we must make it through.' Others might say, 'You're standing out; are you really that good?' But in reality, even as she gets consumed by her own pain and suffering, she must appear fine on the outside."

She also expressed deep empathy for the setting of a successful influencer. Kim Hye-soo said, "I felt it was similar because they communicate very closely with the public, boldly share their daily lives, and grow together while receiving public support. Above all, whether one is an entertainer or an influencer, it's a profession that cannot exist without public interest and love. That's why they crave public affection and attention, yet also fear it. They can never be completely free from the public gaze. In this regard, I am still struggling myself." She revealed this honestly, drawing attention.

She continued, "The public has experienced and engaged with various eras and actively consumes content, so their level of awareness has risen. In fact, it's at a point where we can't keep up. That's what's scary. I feel like I'm still stuck on 'just my own thing,' unable to move beyond that single mindset. So naturally, there are always regrets. There's also a sense of frustration from the gap between what I know and what I actually express, which hasn't narrowed enough despite my career length." She opened up about these heavy inner thoughts.

Kim Hye-soo said, "Regrets are inevitable. Even if someone tells you, 'You're the best actor in the world,' the person themselves knows where they missed something or where gaps exist. What's peculiar about our job is that we prepare diligently beforehand and may take multiple takes on set, but ultimately, we must pour everything into a single moment. So in a way, it seems like an extremely difficult profession for humans. Because of this, even though everyone calls me 'senior,' I still feel fear when I'm on set. I know where I still fall short, and there's also the fear that 'this part is really important, but what if I can't handle it well?'" Her words revealed traces of deep contemplation while showing her unchanged original intention.

She said, "I am always impatient, but I'm a specialized actor in hiding it completely. What people always see looks fine, but underneath, I'm constantly struggling, so I often think of myself as a swan." While she humbled herself, the passage reflected the dignity of a veteran actress with 41 years since her debut.

Finally, Kim Hye-soo said, "I am truly grateful to have encountered such a good script. Our team, who came together as one, worked hard with the same goal and succeeded. This was a work where ensemble was extremely important; in fact, the filming set was very enjoyable, and the chemistry among the actors was excellent. Since all the actors came thoroughly prepared, we had lively discussions and could naturally harmonize on set." She expressed her special affection for the 'Affair' team.

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*This content was translated by AI.