An interview with the actress Seunghee in Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

When you land at the very end of Episode 8 of the series Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, what comes across amidst a compelling performance of Jeongnyeon by the lead actress Kim Taeri is her counterpart, Chorok, soundingly rivaling against such an enormous aura. This charming knockout is acted out by the rising star actress Seunghee. Originally a lead vocalist of the K-Pop idol group Oh My Girl, Seunghee is now taking a bold step forward as an actress whose character already spans from an amiable banter to a complex tear-shed adolescent. “I hope this will be remembered as the start of another history.” Just as the ambitious wish suggests, Seunghee is never afraid to take herself into new roles and challenges, both on and off the set.

-Since when did you discover acting as your passion?

=I recall five years ago as a critical point. Sometimes I find myself wondering what can I leave behind in this world once I pass away. Of course, as a musician I can leave my voice or storylines in albums, but legendary actors are remembered eternally by marking their presence in films as their myriad identities. I found it fascinating that actors can experience the lives of various characters within their daily lives.

-What was your first impression of your character Chorok?

=Chorok is so different from me. She actively envies and hates others, and she even damages Jeongnyeon(Kim Taeri)’s stage props on purpose. The first line of the script that I dealt with for the audition was “Can’t you smell some weird smell, like a rotting fish?” Ironically, that line made me really want to take Chorok’s role. I’ve never managed to live that way. I tried my best to absolutely immerse myself in Chorok during the five stages of the audition.

-What do you think was the intention behind Chorok’s wrongdoings towards Jeongnyeon?

=I think it’s both love and hate deeply intertwined. Chorok surely admires Jeongnyeon’s talent in her deep self but at the same time she tries to defy such emotions, resulting in much convoluted actions. I put a lot of effort to make sure Chorok does not look like someone who direly hates Jeongnyeon. I heard Chorok in the original webtoon series received great amount of love from the fans. I did not want my version of Chorok to be hated by the audience.

-I was impressed by Chorok's myriad facial expressions, especially when a cheeky tease spontaneously shrinks into an adorable long face. Do you tend to plan and craft detailed expressions per line on the script, or do you lean towards a more instinctive approach on the spot?

=I think I never managed to act exactly as I planned in front of a camera. Each day at work is never the same: every moment at the set presents me with different vibes. Even when I plan to express a line in a calm way, the energy of fellow actresses and the texture of the scene itself influence my action to take a different approach. For example, my wild shout on the line "I'm sorry!" in  Episode 3 was never intended to be that strong. However, the glares of surrounding members and the desperate situation of Chorok naturally led me to belt the line that way.

-If you could define Chorok in one word, what would it be?

=Watermelon! Her inner quality is vastly different from her outer character. She might appear to be hard-shelled with strange, intimidating patterns on it, but once you peek inside her mind you'll realize it's so soft and tender. She's full of warm affection for her loved ones. Once she establishes friendships with others, then she willingly gives everything to them.

-The behind-the-scene clip for the rehearsal scene in Episode 2 gained great popularity from fans. Your chemistry with actresses Kim Taeri and Ra Mi-ran was so amiable.

=The overall filming experience of Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born was so cheerful and enjoyable, but as soon as the camera starts to roll the tension immediately heightens. Ra Mi-ran always led the atmosphere to be so warm. The line where Chorok adds “You are a garbage” was actually an improvised line, as Ra Mi-ran thankfully waved at me during the take to continue a bit more. Also, I was absolutely impressed by Kim Taeri‘s brilliant acting in that scene. I was staring at her back, then her shoulder started to gently shake, and then she bursted into tears. That was truly splendid.

-Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born is a series about Gukgeuk, a Korean traditional theatrical arts. Did this experience lead you to feel any thirst towards acting on stage, such as musical theatre, play or Gukgeuk?

=I originally had a vague fear of musical theatre. Now having experienced stage acting through Jeongnyeon, it was clear that I should not put myself on stage until much later. I am not used to driving cars, and from my perspective, skilled drivers have a much wider field of vision. Stage acting is such a mastery to me. There are so many things to consider simultaneously: controlling your body, projecting your voice to the audience at the other end of the hall, maintaining interaction with partner actors, and more.

-You also played the role Ham Yang-ja, a bright girl who moved from Yeosu to Seoul to chase her dream of becoming a composer, in another TV series Oasis last year.

=Yan-gja is a bright, easy-going character, I guess it was relatively less difficult to portray her. I wished Yang-ja to be an oasis for the audience amidst a relatively heavy storyline. I was so lucky to be able to meet Yang-ja at the start of my acting career. I have to admit mastering the Jeolla dialect was difficult - my aunt lives in Yeosu so I paid a visit to the city, and I also received a lot of help from my friend who lives in Gwangju.

-You originally showed great prominence in TV variety shows, with special talent at doing impressions of fellow members and celebrities. How do you figure out the relationship between the elements of acting in variety shows and in legitimate drama?

=Variety shows and drama are vastly different. The key to surviving in variety shows is to stand out in a short amount of time. This led me to always maximize my posture and reactions in every possible way. While filming Oasis the senior actors advised me to relax and to not be overly conscious of the cameras. While practicing relaxation I also realized that some of my personal traits that I believed were my own was actually not originated from my true self. I think bringing out emotions during acting is more like brewing a cup of tea: slowly, and deeply. It helps you appreciate the time for a sincere awaiting.

-What’s your favorite actor and movie?

=I’d pick Hwang Jung-min as my favorite actor! For a movie, it’d be Constantine. It never disappoints me every time I revisit it. I am a Buddhist, but I also love films that deal with themes like occult and shamanism. I’d love to star in those one day.

FILMOGRAPHY

TV Series

2024 Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born

2023 Oasis

2020 Turtle Channel (Web Drama)

2015 Loss:Time:Life (Web Drama)

Written by Park Sooyong, Photos by Baek Jong-heon